My son in going in for open-heart surgery on Tuesday, so I figured I'd take Firday off and spend the day with him and his brother to get his mind off of it.

So I ask him what he'd like to do..........should we go to the beach, the zoo, Game Works in Seattle, flying? Nope, he wants to go fishing!

So mother Cowlitz, here we come. My guide buddy Sean is going to take my boys and I out to drag some bait.

Looks like he was raised up right.

Wish us luck...........

OK, here are the results from today's trip to the Cowlitz. First, yuck! That crap in the river is enough to drive a guy to drink.

We wound up going 6 for 10 with each of the three boys (My two sons, Drew and Cole and Tony D.'s son Kyle) getting a pair each. It was tough fishing, but the kids were troopers and kept serious about it.

Drew got a nice hen early on. Sean shows it off for him.



After we clowned him for not holding his own fish for the pic, he got with the program operating the wood shampooer and tossing the fish in the fish box.

His pose with his second fish is a little more manly.



All the kids had a great time, and Sean did a fantastic job of finding us fish and dealing with some of the fiascos that come up when three kids are fishing from the same boat.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes everyone. I'm sure Drew will have visions of hot steelhead running through his mind while he recovers from a successful surgery. Thanks again.

Like father Like son they say.
Hope you guys have a fantastic day out there.

Ok Now everyone stay off the river for the rest of the week to rest it up for Dan's son!

He'll be in my thoughts and prayers Tuesday.

Dan S

Wow...with all those choices and fishing with dad was his pick. I'd say he's got his priorities in order alright. And I bet he'll out-fish everyone. Good luck and have a GREAT day!

My Fishkid and I are wishing and praying that everything goes extraordinarily well on the surgery and he has a speedy recovery!

Sincerely, SloMo & Fishkid

Good luck fishing tomorrow and even more on Tuesday.

Good luck for both the fishing and surgery!

Best wishes to you and your son on both days Dan!

Dan,
Best of luck fishing...Also, from my family to yours best wishes!!!
Winterun.

I had open-heart surgery when I was younger, (1977) and was the first in California to have this type of surgery done. I am sure this is a common thing these days, not to say that it is an easy one. I will pray for your family and your son in my prayers the next few weeks. Go get those fish.

Good luck fishing, and I will be thinking of your family and praying for your son to have a quick recoevery so he can get into some fall kings and silvers. Best wishes JFK

Best of luck fishing Friday and a speedy recovery.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Dan,
My wife is a cardiologist and I will be the first to tell ya...that type of surgery these days is as high tech as anything (they are extremely good at what they do). Your son will be in good hands on Tuesday. Beyond that...I wish you guys the best of luck fishin' on Friday. Enjoy yourselves! Your family will be in my prayers.

Dave

Dan,

Hope he gets to bonk a real toad!

Your son, and family, will be in our thoughts and prayers on Tuesday.

All the best,

Mike B

Good luck to you guys fishing, and good luck to your son.

In my prayers for both a good fishing trip and successful surgery on Tuesday.

Dan

I have no doubt that Drew truly loves to fish but I suspect that most of all he just wants to be like you. And I don't doubt that he will either. Glad you guys have each other and I hope the fishing is every bit as good as the windshield time you will share together.

I pray that surgery will go well for Drew and that your entire family will have a peace in knowing that he is in The very best of hands.

God bless.

PS
How about some pics of Drew showing us how to fish the Cow?

My thoughts will be with you and son and your family

Results added at the top of the page.

Great pics Dan! Best of luck on Tuesday. We'll all be thinking about you and yours...

Hope to see and hear that you and Drew are back on the water real fast, please keep us posted..................Fishy