Central VA Cast-n-Blast...sortof...w/pics

[netman9]

Not a typical cast and blast with me taking Wyatt on a Youth Day Waterfowl Hunt and Karen taking Nolan to a mountain stream while the youngest Ewing headed to Busch Gardens with his grandfather and cousins for some BOO-TIME!!! in the park.

Wyatt had a great day on the Lake Anna hunt taking his first goose of the morning wearing a piece of jewelry. Bright blue sky morning with ducks hanging somewhere else, we decided to move to a wooded area. The lake is as low as we've hunted leaving alot of shore exposed and when we headed into an area on foot, Wyatt picks up his 1st SNIPE to go with his first band. The makings for an unusual morning. Find a raft of maybe 5-700 geese hanging in a pond caused by the low water levels and he makes quick work taking another on the wing for his morning limit. We stalk a few creek banks in search of a woody and on the last section our hunting buddy Zach wonders further back and flushed 3 Wood Ducks out giving Wyatt a shot at the pair of drakes coming up empty. We discuss the unusual shots with Wyatt being elevated 15 or so feet above the creek shooting at the approaching ducks that appeared to be lower than us slowly climbing when the shots began. Youthday makes time for lessons on shots, leads and misses taking this miss and making a possitive out of it. Wyatt actually lead the bird pointing under the duck thinking that was where he needed to shoot with it being under us and this made for a little waterside wing shooting lesson rather than just a miss. The birds were actually above our line of site but made for a new shot that Wyatt had not seen before. End of day 3 for 9 on the wing, not bad for a 10 year old shooting his little 20ga!

Nolan was passing on the waterfowl as he places fishing a touch higher than hunting. Plus he talked his mom into taking him into the mountains giving him a chance at some trout. Karen said it was amazing watch to watch her 13 year old son pull one fish after another from the stream with grown men standing around with jaws dropped. He was culling the smaller fish in search of a nice keeper while the local fishermen watch struggling for a bite. Nolan even gave up his little trout magnet 64th oz jig trying to teach the older fishermen how he did it. They were not able to copy and gave the jigs back. This would have been a chance for a streamside lesson on what not to share when you're on the X when fishing. Nolan did fine, job well done working with the others! All morning we shared our stories and pictures back and forth with the aid of the cell phone making for more action on both ends.

A few pics...then we are walking over to the neighbors PIG ROAST!

[gottaflylee]

waht a great story netman..."it's all about the kids" well done...

[Glenn W]

10 yrs old and 3 for 9 on the wing???--- ain't nothing wrong with that--- I see a ducker in the making, no doubt.

Those are some whopper Brookies for Va. Ya gotta love it when a youngster mommicks the fish and the grown men are are sneaking peaks on what the kid is doing.

Fill us in when you get the band info back.

[gameover]

my first boy was born monday. You can expect to hear from me looking for pointers....

Fine Job.

[netman9]

10 yrs old and 3 for 9 on the wing???--- ain't nothing wrong with that--- I see a ducker in the making, no doubt.

Those are some whopper Brookies for Va. Ya gotta love it when a youngster mommicks the fish and the grown men are are sneaking peaks on what the kid is doing.

Fill us in when you get the band info back.

Funny thing we were talking about the new 1700fps steel slammed full of shot in a 3 1/2" load from Remington today and I said Wyatt is bringing the geese down just fine with the 20. His load is the Kent Fast Steel 7/8 oz. 1550fps, 1st goose was his #4's he uses for duck and the 2nd fell to #3's.

Went to www.reportband.gov and the goose was banded in VA 2009. Wyatt will have more details when his papers come in later. I find it exciting with the bands waiting on info. Alot of info and history comes from them including an eleven year old hen mallard a buddy got a few years back. Man did he fill bad knowing what a producer he just ended.

[netman9]

my first boy was born monday. You can expect to hear from me looking for pointers....

Fine Job.

Congrats on the new friend/son you gained on Monday!

Thats gotta be the best reply I've seen. I've got a couple pair of FTGH real small neoprene 1000gr Thinsulate boot foot chest waders in need of a little boy wanting to hunt with dad. Going to post pictures and sizes for those interested and you can have first choice of either pair.

[Ponce]

Fantastic report, I love seeing the young ones involved in any outdoor activities.

[SeaBiscuit]

Beautifully done Netman, thank you!
SeaBiscuit

[merry marlin]

Casting and blasting at it's finest! Congratulations father & son...

[Nauti Natured]

Awesome report ... great pics!