Educating Erik

Poppa instructs Erik on bluegill hunting with a flyrod and popper...

Nephew Erik arrived Monday night. After being embarrassed by his friends in a recent fishing trip to the lake, he is keen to learn some fundamental fishing skills. We are beginning to suspect that he was adopted, as no one else in the Ott family line has ever shown the slightest interest in the angling arts. He is 23 now, so sadly it is probably too late for Erik to acquire the key skills his parents failed to to impart during his formative years.  We are doing what we can, but repairing the damage after a childhood of parental neglect is a significant challenge.

... and how to dock the boat.

... and how to untangle a line

... and how to catch undersized pike (which he already knew)

We are doing all we can.

It's working - Erik gets an undersized bass off the dock on a fly.

Flycasting drills on the dock

Cousin Mike K. tried to improve Erik's technique, then gives up. 

More success - the smallest bluegill ever pulled out of Shag Lake on a hook and worm.

There is only so much we can do.