For the Love of Fishing & a New Fly Rod

I recently caught wind of a great opportunity for young anglers to win a new fly rod set (pictured above) - an opportunity offered by the Compleat Thought blog. One fly fishing wannabe youngster will be chosen to receive a full Youth Crosswater Outfit. What a deal!

I knew right away that I had to enter up my 7 year old nephew who has recently become interested in "all things related to fishing." I quickly got on the phone and informed my sister to pass along the interview questions to Andrew.

Here are Andrew's responses...

Compleat Thought: "Why do you love fishing?"

Andrew: "I like to go fishing because I love to catch fish!"

Compleat Thought: "Why do you want to learn to fly-fish?"

Andrew: "I have a regular rod and reel but I caught a fish on my Grandpa's fly rod one time. I want to have my own fly rod so I can learn to be a mountain fisherman just like my Grandpa."

After receiving his initial responses I wanted to pry a bit deeper, so I got him on the phone. The conversation went something like this...

Emily: "What are some of the other things you like about fishing?"

Andrew: "I like getting to reel the fish in. I like taking the hook out of their mouths."

Emily: "Wait a minute... Have you done that before? Take the hook out of their mouths?"

Andrew: "Nope. But I would like to. And I like eating them too - the fish, not the hooks!"

(I laughed here because he got really mad at me when we released a baby trout back into the stream last year. He wanted to know what a mountain trout tasted like and I had to explain to a teary eyed boy that this one was too small to keep.)

Emily: "What is your favorite fishing place you've fished so far?"

Andrew: "Our secret fishing hole - the one where only we know about."

Emily: "If you get your very own fly rod, what is the first fish you want to catch on it and why?"

Andrew: "A pike!! Because I saw a picture of a boy who caught a pike at Eleven mile." (I guess you can dream big - he told me he was going to catch a Blue Marlin last time we were fishing Eleven Mile.)

Andrew: "Auntie Em?"

Emily: "Yes"

Andrew: "What other questions do you have for me? I really want to win my very own fly rod. Can you look up some more questions online? I have my cozy pj's on. Do you have your pajamas on?"

Emily: "How about you call me back if you think of anything else you want to share. K? And, no, I don't have my pj's on yet. I'll talk to you later. Good night - dream about fishing and turkeys"

(I'm taking him on his first turkey hunt this Sat.)

Andrew and I are crossing our fingers that he is selected for the Youth Crosswater Outfit set. I know that he would have some great adventures this summer with his entire family, including mountain grandpa and Auntie Em. Thanks to Compleat Thought and Redington for this opportunity to encourage a young angler.