At days end on the river, when a 13 year old young man who loves to fish but has never touched a fly rod, let alone cast one, tells the guide that he’s thinking of spending the $90.00 he’s saved from mowing lawns along some more cash he will earn on a fly rod, bass bug taper line, cheapo reel, and some poppers—now that is the best “tip” a guide can receive. Money we appreciate, of course, and Malekhi’s grandfather John took good care of me, but when people like Malekhi catch fly rod fever, it’s truly gratifying!
Neither Malekhi or John had fly fished before plying the Muskegon River with me, but they learned a ton, and Malekhi, in particular, was totally fired up about it all. Of course, he out-fished grandpa, so that might account for some of his enthusiasm, but be that as it may, he is eager to fly fish the largemouth bass/pike pond that he and his buddy fish with great success—only in the future, he wants to tease the fish with fly rod poppers.
Here, Malekhi poses a largemouth bass with grandpa John and his first ever smallmouth. All in all, just a delightful day with these guys and all due respect goes out to John for making it all possible.
Captain Tom Kuieck
