I love hearing about kids catching the really big ones. This young fisherman shows how it's done, with the one that didn't get away.
Link to the story and photo in The Olympian:
http://theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050512/OUTDOORS02/505120360/1038/OUTDOORS THE OLYMPIAN
ROCHESTER -- At age 7, Austin Nachatilo has a fishing resume that puts many veteran anglers to shame.
In what has become a tradition since he was old enough to hold a pole, Nachatilo, his stepdad Tim Murphy and grandfather Greg Nachatilo went fishing on opening day April 30.
Austin Nachatilo, a first-grader at Rochester Primary School, has a knack for catching big fish, but nothing compares with what he hooked into during the Elma Sportsman's Club Derby at the Elma ponds two weeks ago.
"We were walking around to the back side of the pond and saw a fellow fishing," Greg Nachatilo said. "He said, 'You can fish in this spot if you want.' "
About five minutes later, the rod tip bent sharply.
"All of a sudden, whoosh! You see this fish roll," Greg Nachatilo said. "He reeled and reeled. He reeled till his arm was so tired and the pole tip was in the water."
With some assistance, Austin Nachatilo was able to land the fish. They took it to a scale and weighed it. The rainbow trout was 16 pounds, 11 ounces. Nachatilo was the derby's clear winner for biggest fish.
What did Nachatilo think when he saw the trout jump?
"I thought, 'I think we're going to smoke that one,' " he said.
The trout had gobbled the black corky with green sprinkles and light green Power Bait that Nachatilo used as bait. The youngster was using a steelhead rod just in case he hooked into a large fish. And he was fortunate the stranger who had suggested his fishing spot also brought along a salmon net.
Said Greg Nachatilo: "He said, 'They were laughing at me when I got here. Nobody's laughing now.' "
It's great that organizations such as the Elma Sportsman's Club put together events like this to get the kids out and interested in the outdoors. Way to go!
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