Gone fishing

Last week we attended a hunting and fishing exhibit at a park near our home. We arrived an hour before it was going to shut down. The exhibit was only put on for 3 hours. While we were there we rode on a canoe, got in a police boat and walked around looking at stuffed exotic game which Jaxon was not all that sure about being around polar bears, brown bears and stuffed heads of all the gazelles, deer, etc...
Before we knew it, all the stands were rushing to put things up to leave the exhibit grounds. All of a sudden a man, sponsored by the Toyota Fishing Team, walked up to us and said, "Hi, would you two like a fishing pole?". Alicyn said sure and he gave Jaxon a Spider Man pole and Alicyn a great new pole....brand spanking new!!!! We were stoked, big time.
It was all the talk on the way home and needless to say once we got home, they both wanted to try them out. Alicyn has had some experience with fishing with her uncle Ricky, but as he has described, it only lasted about 12 seconds and she said, "This fishing stuff is BORING...", and went on to something else. Jaxon didn't get it really, after a little explaining on what to do, he still insisted on trying to use it as a hockey stick. Ha Ha.
So ever since that day we've been talking about going fishing. Today was the day!!! I really didn't know how it would all shake out, but both of them did surprisingly good, thanks to some lollipops, soda and gum. We went to a new lake that is only 15 minutes from the house and was "made" some 2-3 years ago so it was new environment for all of us.
I started with the worm factor while Alicyn screamed and Jaxon was just in wonderment at what was going on. On the way out to the lake I had told Alicyn about putting the worms on a hook and that you have to spit on the worm before you cast it in the first time for "good luck", (I was told this as a kid, so why not carry on the tradition, right?). She thought that was funny until it came down to it. Of course, I had to hold the worm as she spit from 5 feet back.
After the worms, I spit on Jaxon's worm and casted it in, sat him down in his chair and went to work on Alicyn's casting. I helped her on the first cast, turned around and Jaxon had reeled his all the way in already. Obviously he doesn't understand the whole watch the bobber idea. This was an ongoing theme for him. Help Ali, throw for Jaxon, watch Ali cast, throw for Jaxon, etc... Until he said he was, "All Done, Daddy". 10 minutes, tops.
Alicyn on the other hand was quite good and listening instead of talking. I need to take her more often. Ha Ha. Anyway, after a bit, she was getting bites on her line and I explained to keep her line tight, pole low, and when you see the bobber go under, YANK!!! We never did pull one in but the experience was great for all of us. After a while I told Alicyn to bring her line in real slow so we could, maybe, get a look at the fish that was stealing our worms....low and behold, that stinking fish was no bigger than my thumb. I do have to say, he should sleep well tonight!!!

The two anglers enjoying the day. Jaxon had given up already and was enjoying the two dogs down at the next dock, swimming and chasing a stick, while Ali gives some concentration and the bottom picture she's trying to land the fish with a strike/yank. Little did we know how big the fish was:)

Alicyn's great ability to multi-task; casting and able to hold on to her lollipop. She did ask me to hold it, but I had worm dirt all over my hands:)

These video's show Alicyn's ability to deal with the worm after the little fish had stolen it; and how Jaxon spent his time after he was "all done" fishing. All I heard was him growling as he tried to get the wrapper off the gum while filming Ali casting. Too much fun. All I could do was laugh.