Boat Spotlight: S.S. Teach a Kid to Fish

If you give a kid a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a kid to fish, he'll throw every set of pliers you own in the river.

Which is why we are putting Connor with his Grandpa on Day 1.

This boat has some real challenges ahead of it. It isn't without some things going for it though, either.

Connor is as rookie as rookie gets and with that comes quite a bit of historical fortune. I am really excited he is going on this trip and even more excited I will be around to see his face when the first 30+ inch pike comes to the top of the water. At some point during the week, he will catch a pot winner, all his Dad has to do is not screw it up with the net. One thing I know for sure, is that Connor will figure out how to get the fish to bite and then perfect it with each cast. He might do it in a stealth-like manner but he will do it nonetheless.

Theron is a first time returnee and could very well be the quickest a guy has gone from just keeping all of his tools in the boat to Boat Captain. There is a lot to learn on that first day: The motor, the depth finder, trolling speed, the anchor, tying lures on, taking fish off, making sandwiches, the list just goes on and on...what more could be expected of the guy other than keeping his son dry and catching a few fish in the process. A pot winner just seems totally out of the question.

But what happens when Connor does catch one, he gets it up to the boat and Theron, in the midst of all the other responsibilities has forgotten to untangle the net from the rods. While he works to get the net loose, Connor is reeling against the drag and the fish breaks him off. Oh, Theron will hear about it the rest of the week. Connor is not the type to pat his Dad on the back and say, "It's OK fella, we'll get 'em next time." It will haunt Theron until he has a chance to redeem himself.

Speaking of redeeming himself. I hear he is bringing extra pliers. We are going to count the number he brings on the first night of camp and again before we leave just to see if 2006 taught him anything. Wow. Has it really been 5 years since Theron was up there last? The MNR takes our fish and Theron doesn't go back for 5 years. I would be pissed too if I donated two sets of pliers to their waters and they still had the nerve to take all my fish.

Welcome Connor and welcome back Theron. As a welcoming gift, I am going to put you at the bottom so it will be easy to find your boat in the list. Prove me wrong, nothing would make me happier.

Confidence List:

S.S. Eye to Eye
S.S. Camp Director
S.S. Boy Was He Pissed
S.S. Almost Heaven
S.S. Teach A Kid To Fish

Two More Weeks and just one more boat spotlight...It doesn't look like there is any space in between any of these to put another boat. Only space at the top and at the bottom...we'll have to wait and see.