I had been having what we thought was back pain and it turned out the pain actually was my left hip had gone out and was going to have to be replaced.

The dates were close to our drawing and I explained to my Doctor that this “Take a Kid Fishing” Contest had been planned back in the Fall of last year. So the drawing was on and I was due to have the hip replaced days after our fishing trip.

The big day arrived and the store was full of people waiting for the drawing, I had been given plenty of Lures, line, stickers to throw out to the crowd by Strike King and Pure Fishing.

At 1PM, I made my way to my Bass Boat with the help from a walker and crawled into my boat. The box was handed up to me and the name was drawn.

The Father and Son were present and went through the ceiling, when their name was called out.

I held the Drawing on a Saturday and was going fishing the following Saturday, this was explained to the winners.

The following Saturday we all met at Walmart parking lot and proceeded to Lexington, Tennessee for a fishing time that I would hope will always stick in the Father and Son’s minds for a long time.

Walmart saw to making sure that the snacks and drinks were in the boat and we had the best time that day.

I have since been called by the Father thanking me again for the trip.

I try and make a great effort to try every year to take at least two or three kids fishing every summer.

It is my hope and wish that anyone with a Bass Boat would do the same. Just looking at the joy in the kids’ eyes and knowing another new angler is now enjoying the sport is the only thanks that is needed.

Oh, by the way I had that hip replaced and three weeks later broke the other one just standing on my Driveway.

Took a year to get over all that and now, I am back at it.

I’m looking forward to taking some kids fishing this summer that have never been in a Bass Boat.

It would be great to hear from everyone who reads this and join in on making a kid’s dream come true by participating in Taking a Kid Fishing.

Also, Don’t forget about the senior citizens that would love to get back on the lake just one more time.

Keep The Hook Wet! 

Steve McGoldrick