Here’s what it’s all about! This is 2 1/2 year old Tori with good friend & pond owner Ned. Now I catch “H” when I show up without her!
Mike
Mike,
I haven’t seen that photo before. That is priceless! I’m not sure which one I like the most, the photo above or the one where Tori is squatted down next to her bluegill.
Thanks for posting it,
Mike
Mike,
If I’m feeling blue or not, Tori puts a smile on my face! 
Thanks,
Doug
Yeah…Tori’s enthusiasm is contagious & she & Ned are real buddies! Only thing is that this picture of her with Ned was BEFORE she got her hands on my fly rod. Now she hardly touches the spin cast. Makes Grandpa happy for sure.
Mike
We have a 13 year old young man at our church who due to a skiing accident is paralyzed from his sternum down. We have spent the last month remodeling his bed and bath rooms and adding a patio off his rec room. I have been thinking about teaching him to use a fly or spinning rod and seeing if we can get him in my pontoon, there’s a pond in his neighborhood I could accompany him in one of my tubes. Does anyone have in experience in a situation like this where you can offer some good advice?
Uncle Jesse - I took a blind fellow fishing several times. The only advice I can give you about a person who has a disability is to be prepared to exhibit your aptitude of patience.
Best of luck!
Tim
Not with paralysis, Jesse, but many of the kids we’ve taken fishing from our school’s special education class have multiple physical handicaps. Be prepared for a lot of smiles and giggling (among the kids, too).
well Buddy sanders, i for one am grateful that some people like to take a kid fishing. if my neighbor had thought the same way as you, i would never have started flyfishing. id probably be locked up inside probably playing video games most of the day.
thank you to those of you who DO like to take kids fishing. i guarentee you it means a lot to them.
I had the priviledge of taking both of my daughters, and 4 step sons at different times…And introducing my wife to the sport… its not for everyone it seems my wife loves it and 3 of the steps seem intrested…To me there is alot of joy showing people my love for the outdoors.
I agree with several points here particularly with the getting real tackle as opposed to the snoopy/barbie rods. My youngest daughter really wanted one so I got her one and the thing is difficult to cast. My son got a small spinning combo and he does really well with. He soon wants to move up to baitcaster and fly rod.
My usual rule to taking kids out fishing is to not bring anything for myself to fish with. This way I can dedicate myself to watching, helping and teaching them. I’m like their guide in a way. Now that my kids are fairly independent with their tackle and techniques I do on occasion bring a rod but will fish if I see them doing well.
http://texasflyfisher.blogspot.com/search/label/Kids
Jesse,
A few years ago there was a young man on here, paralyzed from the shoulders down (a result of being shot in the neck while serving in Iraq). He wanted badly to return to flyfishing. I made a hand piece that fit his hand and enabled him to “palm” his reel, and reel in the line. More, greater, advancements have ben made recently, that allow for the rod to be attached to the arm (with velcro). You’ll not want to get too far away from him if you’re going to put him in a pontoon!! And you’ll want to be close enough to net his fish, if he wants the help. Allow him to do what he feels capable of doing, and a bit beyond. Start slow (frustration factor on both behalf’s!). Don’t plan on doing a lot of fishing yourself till he’s comfortable. Make sure his extremities are warm. Enjoy totally, the incredible experience!!
Betty
A classic great pic! Some of the best pics I’ve ever seen are a kid smiling as they hold a fish (usually their first and it comes after a bit of struggle to figure it all out).
Great advice too on being the guide instead of co-fishing.