Passing It On

Last Thursday I picked up my two grandchildren at their home. We returned to my home and started preparation for a day of work, learning, and enjoyment for both grand kids, and grandparents.

At home Morgan began to put together a lunch of PBand J sandwiches, along with some other snacks as well as water. Ethan and I got together the other things necessary for the outing.
We were going to visit a small stream and do some enhancements, along with removing some natural debris. I was also going to show the two grand kids some of the wonders of a natural environment.

One of their first projects. They were to help place stones into the stream to help channel water to a deeper undercut pool. They assembled the stones, wood twigs, and some vegetation, which were collected in the woods along the stream.
While the work was going on I explained to them the importance of what we were doing, and how much this would benefit the resident trout population.

The completion of their water deflector.  An  A+ was given.

I told Morgan and Ethan the importance of a cold clean environment needed to sustain a wild trout population. I gave them a stream thermometer and told them how to take a water temp. They just about checked all of that streams waters during the outing.

While checking the streams temps. Morgan found this.... a small streamer, apparently lost from one of my previous outings.

We stopped work and sat along the stream and enjoyed the shore lunch that Morgan had fixed. The kids asked lots of questions about the goings on of the day. I answered them to my best. Children are like sponges, they will absorb what they're told, and what they're doing.

After lunch Ethan picked up the fly rod, and attempted to fool a brookie in one of the promising looking runs. Morgan and Jeanette were looking for any special item they could find along the stream.
Ethan soon found out that wild trout in small clear streams, were not as easy to catch as the crappies he catches in the marina. He did not get frustrated, but instead asked why. I told him of the approach needed to help in his task. Then showing him how to present the fly. He took the rod and applied the teachings. He soon had a fish rise to the fly, but missed.
The excitement of that rising trout was all that was needed. I may have him hooked.
We moved to another run, and I took the rod. Several drifts of the fly produced nothing. As we were talking of moving to as Ethan put it, a better spot, the fly was sucked under, and a beautiful brook trout was at hand. Morgan came from her side of the stream, and as I lifted the trout, Ethan held it in caring hands. A quick photo and off he went.

Their first view of pure wild beauty.


At the end of the day as we were walking out. I asked how did you like your day in the woods..... together they said, Loved It. I said Thanks guys.

This is a Small Stream Reflection. It's one I'll never forget.


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