by Bob Johansen, August 18, 2008

It was early September. Mom and Dad (I still called them "Mama and "Dada") got me up real early to go perch fishing with Grampa on Lake Washington. Although Grampa and I had taken several trips in his bass boat this would be the first one out of his garage. With all my training and practice at steering the boat, pushing miscellaneous switches and putting the key into the ignition switch, I already felt like a seasoned bass boat operator.

We met Grampa at 7:00 o'clock in the morning at the Albertson's parking lot. Actually we got there a little earlier than that so Mom could go in the store and buy some more snacks to take out on the boat.

We followed Grampa (I still called him "Papa") down to the boat launch at the Newport Marina. After launching, I steered the boat out of the marina -- the tricky part, and then let Grampa drive while I took a nap on Dad's lap. After reaching the fishing area, I continued my nap while Mom, Dad and Grampa started to fish.

When I woke up, the sun was shining, there was no wind and it was getting nice and warm. We were anchored in Fair Weather Bay, one of Grampa's favorite perch fishing areas. Mom was sitting on the front seat catching lots of fish. Dad was on the back seat catching a few and Grampa was cutting bait.

I looked in the live well to check on the fish (I stilled called them "blub-blubs" at this time). There didn't seem to be very many fish in the live well so I decided to help out. I had Grampa rig up my little pink Zebco rod with its pink spin cast reel. I had my name engraved on the reel so Grampa would know which outfit was mine.

Grampa took off my favorite casting practice plug and put on a real hook and sinker. I had him put on the bait too. That was one thing we hadn't practiced during our many fishing trips in the garage. My little pole worked pretty well and four or five perch were caught on it. I was quite adept at pushing the release button on the reel but admittedly, I did have some problems cranking the handle. They said I was turning it backwards. Maybe it was a "right handed reel" and I was cranking left handed.

A while later, I checked the live well again and it looked like we had plenty fish for dinner. I decided to take a break from fishing and have some snacks. Mom had packed some graham crackers, Cheerios and raisins. They were very good. I even shared some of my graham crackers with some ducks and sea-gulls that were hanging around the boat.

After finishing my snacks, I decided to check out the boat switches on the console, adjust some of the "fish finder" buttons and practice some more on steering the boat. I wanted to be sure that everything was "ship shape" for the trip back down the lake.

After a few hours, we had caught lots of perch so with Mom driving, we headed back down the lake. It was Mom's first time at the wheel and Grampa looked a little nervous. I think he would have preferred to have someone with more experience, like me, at the controls. Mom did quite well though, considering her lack of training.

I think everyone had a good time and I hope we can go perch fishing again sometime soon.

By: Allyson L. Willoughby, age 20 months
As told to Grampa, Bob Johansen