Even more canoe

 Lately the canoe has gotten my attention more than the waves. I went out for a quick mid-week paddle at sunset with my son. This weekend the waves were probably good, but instead I did housework, watched a movie, napped, and took the canoe out. Saturday was doing all the chores, and Sunday was the lake day. I started by double checking the access at one reservoir (closed) then another (closed) then another in a different county (reservations required at least a day ahead). Frustrated but not defeated, I expanded the distance I needed to drive and found that Lake Hennessy in Napa County was open. It's kind of Lake Berryessa's little sister, but still plenty big enough that I wouldn't want to try to paddle to the far end with my son. (Partially because he likes to play with his oar, dragging it in the water and occasionally paddling backwards.)

The weather was perfect being sunny with a very light variable breeze. Before I even got the canoe loaded with gear my son was already exploring the muddy beach. He continues to be more interested in wandering the shore than being in the canoe or fishing. We paddled across to a spot next to some bullrush and I set-up the poles for fishing while he wandered the shore. I got one hook in the water and looked for him again. He had climbed up past where I thought he could make it, and it made me nervous. I reeled in and went to go get him.

He had found some exposed roots and that's how he climbed the 2-ft "cliff" between the rocky shore and the forest above. When I got there I found that mixed with the roots were leafless poison oak stems. I explained to him what probably happened (he brushed them) and that it wasn't an emergency, but we would need to take a good bath when we got home. He let me carry him back to the fishing poles and we got two hooks in the water for the first time in awhile.

He isn't interested in sitting and watching a bobber, so he's always fiddling with the line, reel, rod holder. He sat down to eat and had a few bites of everything I brought. While he was eating I was fishing, casting bait and bobber upwind next to the bullrush and letting it drift downwind away from the vegetation. He got excited watching me cast and wanted to give it a try. I gave up on catching anything and instead we worked on his casting. I remember how hard it is to learn and was able to remain patient with him. He remained calm too, and tried for about 10 times before loosing interest and suggesting we go for a hike. We negotiated that he would walk along the shore and I would follow along in the canoe. This worked pretty well and he asked for a ride across to the other shore. A little exploring up into the trees, but not far and always on the lookout for more leafless poison oak.

The day continued with more of the same activities, punctuated by people landing fish near enough to us that we could see what they caught. I would point it out to him, but he wasn't interested and didn't watch them land the fish. I really don't know about this kid. I think he's different than me and doesn't like the water so much. The fishing is probably just that he's young, and also that he's never caught any fish. I think that if I want a full fishing experience, or just a full day of canoeing, I need to go solo, or find another partner.

Next week will be a staycation at my parents beach house. I won't bring the canoe and instead bring a bunch of different surfboards. Hopefully the weather is good because I can find waves as long as it's not stormy.

More Fishing, and a lot more canoe paddling

 Back to the same spot for more fishing off the canoe. This time mom was hiking with friends so it was just my son and I. I had to haul everything up and down the boat ramp, and do all the paddling too. It was a beautiful day and we got an early start on the water by 8am. The weather was overcast and light breeze. We just paddled across the lake from the dock and hunkered down. I dropped the one anchor and we spun around it as the wind changed directions. This ends up with the line getting wrapped around the canoe and the anchor line, so I'm going to make myself another anchor of maybe a coffee can filled with cement. Or maybe score something off craigslist.

No bites and my son wanted to explore the shore. I made a mistake and landed along a muddy spot and we got muddy but walked around anyway. We saw a family of otters argue over a fish one caught and I scoped out a backwater cove that was high and dry that day. We went back to the canoe, got our shoes stuck in the mud, and paddled back to the dock. We sat on the dock and ate more snacks with a hook in the water and my son wrapped in my arms against the chilly breeze. I watched a heron catch a fish in the shallows and a cormorant strike like lightning to startle the heron and steal the fish it dropped. He was rewarded with all his cormorant friends responding to the commotion and chasing him off trying to steal the stolen fish. It eventually warmed up and we agreed to go for one more paddle around. I let a line hang in the water as I paddled us slowly downwind to the part of the lake where no power boats are allowed.

No bites, but I saw a seagull chasing a bald eagle around. And then the family of otters came close to see what we were doing. They got close enough that I got nervous and told my son to get his hands out of the water for a minute. By then we'd been at the lake for hours and we were out of food. I paddled us upwind slowly dragging the line behind us. Then it was back to hauling gear, but this time I parked the car down the boat ramp to save myself some steps.

It was a good long day on the water and we saw some wildlife and had a good time. My son might be done with "fishing" for awhile now, but I'll keep offering. I'm not done with it and might go out solo, or try some beach fishing or clam digging. I also want to harvest a meal worth of mussels once the season opens up for the winter.

Family fishing isn't fishing

With the canoe finished and the surf verging on terrible last weekend, I opted to take the canoe down to the reservoir and try some lake fishing with my 4-year old son. The slow start to the day was keeping things low stress, and actually blended well with my wife's plans. She joined us for the maiden re-voyage. With the three of us and unorganized fishing gear in the canoe things were a bit disheveled, but it was working out. It was late morning by the time we were on the water and we paddled directly for the only shady spot which was near a small peninsula. I experimented with the canoe anchor about 20-ft from shore and set-up my son's rod with some salmon eggs. I handed it down to him and he said, "I don't want that, I want to go to that beach." But we saw some fish jumping, and my wife tried to redirect him by offering him some of the lunch we packed. They ate while I held the rod and tried to deal with the swirling of the canoe in the light breeze. Half a sandwich later and my son was once again talking about shore. I could tell my wife wasn't enjoying sitting in the canoe, so we paddled over to shore and they got out. I paddled back out a little ways and sat with the rod. They played for 15min or so, and then the shade ran out and they were both ready to go. So that was it. Less than an hour of hook in water, just like the "First time fishing with your kids." websites described it would be.

When we got home I took a rest, but an hour later I was considering going back to the reservoir. With the unusually warm weather, the amount of effort it takes to launch the canoe, and the fact that all boats are supposed to be off the water by 5pm, I decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Next weekend is within sight and I'm wondering if I should try again with my son, or if I should go surf even with the poor forecast, or maybe I should go fishing by myself. It's kind of nice to have options, but it also can lead to decision paralysis. I have a few days to decide at least.