You can teach a girl to fish...

I have had a blessed life, filled with an amazing memories and events that I consider to be special moments. Growing up in the country I was lucky enough to experience many things that others my age did not; I have milked a cow, watched a horse give birth, pushed beached whales back into the ocean, fallen out of many trees and have known a freedom that many children don’t experience these days.

My childhood was amazing, my parents made sure my brother and I had everything we could ever want, and made every moment good ones. Camping and holidays were high our list of priorities, we ventured away from home nearly every second weekend. No matter the weather, it seemed like there was always something to do, or an adventure to be had.

When I turned five, my dad enrolled me in our local boating and angling club, I remember being so excited I was finally old enough to go with dad on a fishing weekend. Mum and my younger brother tom tagged along (as they did), and we headed off once again in to the wilderness. My first fishing trip took us to, Eagles Nest, a beach only known by locals at the time; about 60km’s west of Denmark, there was only way down to the Nest a small 4wd track that even my Dad struggled with.

While my Mum entertained my brother, Dad and I headed off down the beach, to Dads ‘secret ‘spot. He cast our lines and we waited, and waited and waited. Dad caught a few fish before it happened; I got my first bite! Honestly it gave me such a fright I nearly dropped my rod, luckily Dad was right behind me told exactly what to do “plant your feet into the sand, lean back and wind it in slow and steady”. It wasn’t as easy as it looks; it was a fight, the fish was pulling me, rather than me pulling the fish. That’s when dad picked me up, and held me up on the beach while wound that fish in slow and steady.

My first fish, a 22.5cm long Skippy; was the first of many that weekend, it even won me the mini junior weigh-in for the month. Looking back my first catch, was probably my Dads proudest moment, it made our bond even stronger and was the beginning of many father daughter fishing trips to come. Who knew catching a little fish would be such a memorable moment in my life.
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