Well, the kids had been up all night, if not since dawn, and they were ready and raring to go and do some fishing!! We piled them all up in the back, and a kite too for good measure, and headed up to American Fork Canyon. Tibbel Creek reservoir to be exact.

We arrived at just about 7:00 AM, and it was beautiful!

Without being told what to do, these kids excitedly got their chairs out and wanted to get fishing. But it takes a bit of set up, and there were so cute duck families to observe.

Zac decided he wouldn’t fish today, he wanted to be a supporter to his two ladies as they fished.

Lucas was the most eager, so Karl got him all set up with a pole, hook, and bait first.

Mirah was very patient.

She also couldn’t decide if she wanted to do it, so Karl got us all set up, gave me a little lesson (yes, this was my FIRST time fishing) and we were off.

 

Mirah was unsure about it all, so we sat and fished together for a little while.

Karl was the first one to catch anything…even though it was just a branch.

Then Krysta got one!! It was very exciting! I came running over, it was all happening so fast. She got her fish out, and as she tried to take a picture with it, it wriggled off and got away. Zac every speedy and determined to help her, jumped in after it, but alas, he was already far away.

Karl had so much success that day. He caught FIVE fish.

Here he is with his first rainbow trout.

We found that getting hooks out of these little guys was tricky. And was not very pleasant.

We had really intended to mostly catch and release. BUT, when you kill the fish trying to get the hook out, well, you eat that fish.

It was around this point Mirah got courageous and started to fish on her own.

Lucas was having a hard time.

And Karl let me reel in one of the fish he caught.

He caught a fish for all of us to reel in.

Mirah reeled in this one. She was very excited, and really getting into the whole thing at this point.

Cutie. With her purse. I keep telling her to leave it home, but she just wants to bring it along.

Quickly Karl got another one, for Lucas.

 

 

Lucas was very proud of his efforts, and this success perked up his mood.

My boy, do proud.

I haven’t even mentioned Karen! She was doing so awesome. She has just caught her second fish when I took this one.

 

Then it happened, we were deciding to pack up, when I did it! I caught my very own first fish, all by myself!

No sooner had I gotten my fish off the hook, when Karen caught her 3rd fish!

The star of the day: Powerbait.

We brought 6 fish home.

And lots of smiles and a fun story.

 

 

 

Back at the house I was exhausted. So I went up to nap while the rest of the gang gutted and cleaned the fish. BUT when I looked out the window, and heard the kids squealing, I had to go down.

Karl had done some online learning, about filleting fish, and so was a total pro.

Zac had stopped by work and grabbed a fish fillet knife for us to use.

The girls were grossed out, while Lucas couldn’t get close enough to the action.

I was so tired, I pulled up a chair. Lucas wanted me to make him a fish sandwich with graham crackers.

Zac was up.

 

Zac was determined that Karen fillet a fish.

Karl grilled them up.

And my fish loving Lucas ate it all up.

The kids played in the water out back.

And I will say, that was a pretty successful day fishing!