I put the fishing gear together last night. There wasn’t much assembly required. The Zebco’s I got for the kids weren’t little-kid fishing poles. They’re full-sized jobbies that are about six feet long! I didn’t realize this when I bought them, but they’re light enough that I don’t think any of the kids will have trouble with them. When I told the kids what I’d gotten they weren’t all that impressed. I could see that they noted it as something of interest, but they didn’t get very hyped up about it. I was puzzled, because I thought this was the sort of thing that would really get their engines revving.

When they SAW the rods and equipment they got VERY interested. Clearly the fact that they were able to see and touch the gear made a big difference. Now all the kids want to be the first one to go. I still think Chloe may be, overall, too young. Not because of the number of months she’s been alive, but because she doesn’t listen and pay attention. Maybe I’ll take Ben and Gabe individually first and see how they do.

It turns out you have to wind the fishing line around the spool! When I was a kid I always used someone else’s equipment and it never occurred to me that you’d have to wind your own line! I’ve been a little concerned that I would have trouble with it, but when I sat down to do it last night everything went well. I followed the directions on the box of 6lb line and after I got it threaded correctly it wound around the spool just fine! Actually it was pretty loose. So I had Liz hold the spool it was delivered on and provide some tension on the line while I reeled it in. That did the trick. It worked out really well. I can see how why a person might want spare spools of fishing line. I think 6lb test ought to be just fine for now, so I shouldn’t need to change it out.

Now I just need to figure out the right place to go! I have some equipment and some enthusiasm — all I need now is some fish!

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