Ice Fishing

Every year in Salmon, the Fish & Game, along with other businesses, sponsor a kids' ice fishing derby. This was a first for Jonah and Micah, but Ammon's third. Each one of our boys have been taught how to fish by their Grandpa Perkins. Grandpa taught Ammon the summer of 2006, so the following January, Ammon went to his first ice fishing derby. Since Grandpa taught Jonah and Micah this past summer, this derby was their first ice fishing experience.

Ammon, the experienced Ice Fisherboy

On that Saturday morning, I watched Josh (yes that's right, I stayed home where it was nice and cozy with the baby) as he packed up food and drinks, took some camping chairs, got a portable heater, prepared all the fishing gear, and made sure the kids were dressed warmly from head to toe. It was obvious that he'd gone before and knew just what was needed for the

several-hour, roughing-it-in-the freezing-cold, fishing-in-the-hole experience.

All the holes on the frozen pond had already been augered, and after arriving and signing up at registration, the boys found an available hole and started fishing.

Jonah, braving the cold

Micah, hoping for a fish (see all the crowds of people that ACTUALLY give up a Saturday morning to sit outside in the cold for a few hours around a hole in the ground!)

Jonah and Micah had a hard time just sitting by their hole the entire time. They ventured around, slid on their tummies and butts on a snow-covered hill, and Micah accidentally stepped in one of the holes in the pond. Luckily Josh (the Eagle Scout) knew just what to do! Unfortunately, none of our boys caught any fish this year. But, they all came home with prizes: a fishing patch, new hooks, a fish ruler, some magnets and stickers, and some sugary treats!