Outdoor Storytellers- A Father And Son Fishing Tale

It’s one o’clock in the afternoon on the Clearwater River just outside of Lewiston, ID and J.D. McCarthy is just getting out of Kindergarten. While most of J.D.’s classmates are heading home, J.D. is heading fishing.

J.D.’s father, Jim McCarthy, helps J.D. add another layer as the two jump in the boat to hit the river for a bit of Steelhead fishing.

“It’s real nice,” says Jim, “it’s not so much the fish, it’s being out with [J.D.]… We don’t care if we catch one, but we usually do.”

Indeed they do catch fish and not just one or two.

“It’s going down…” says J.D., as he struggles to bring in just one of the many fish that the father and son pair catch on this cold winter day.

As quick as it took the pair to hook the fish they release the big steelhead back into the Clearwater. Then it’s off they go to catch another steelhead.

Jim reminds J.D.’s of his fishing history.

“How old were you when you caught your first fish? I think you were about 3.”

And as to how many J.D. has caught, Jim knows that number too.

 “30? 40? Quite a few!”

That sure is a lot of fish for just a three year fishing career. Considering that some people don’t catch that many steelhead in 3 or 4 years, let alone 30, makes that number even more impressive.

When asked if there any tips they the two would like to share the reply was simple and to the point.

“Yeah, but if we told you we’d have to kill you.”

Seems like the family’s fishing secrets are safe with J.D. .