Tripp (my oldest son 4 1/2 years old) has been requesting a trip to Weldon all season. I took him up there last year for shad season along with my father who ended up passing away on the 16th of May last year. It was our last fishing trip together and a very memorable one since Tripp was old enough to join us. As fate would have it, we ended up along the same stretch of bank that we caught our shad last year, and Tripp, his BFF Christopher, my friend Brandon, and his 8 year old daughter Taylor were able to put the hurtin’ on some stripers. The boys caught a handful each and quickly turned their attention to snacks and the baitwell. At first, I tried to keep the little boys’ hand out of the tank, but I quickly just gave up and let them weaken (or kill) a few before they were able to serve their duty by catching a fish. Poor baits!
At age 8, Taylor was able to get alot more out of the fishing part of the trip than the two boys. She showed great focus, hooking many of her fish on her own and displaying excellent skill with the rod. Her efforts were rewarded with the largest fish of the day on the very last bite of the day. The last bite was a double header. Taylor caught her best fish of the day, a 26 incher about 10 pounds. Many of our fish still had not spawned. Tripp fought the other nice fish right to the boat and that one ended with the rod somehow finding its way into the river. If you happen to catch a nice striper with a 20 year old 6′ Star Med. Action spinning rod with a Quantum Iron 25 on the other end, it’s mine. You just have to laugh at that.
What a fitting finale to a great season….lots of wonderful memories and happy anglers. That’s what it’s all about! Come see us next year on the Roanoke (lower or upper end) for the best striped bass fishing on the East Coast!
