Another great-grandkid catches his first fish, much to Bud's delight

Several years ago, when I was writing the Outdoors with Bud column for the Kokomo Perspective, I featured an article and picture of my great-granddaughter Leonny Marie Zeck. She had caught her first fish using the rod and reel I presented to her when she was first born, and even though she didn’t realize it at the time, I promised her as I held her for the first time that when she caught her first fish, I would put her picture in my column and mention her achievement.

If you hadn’t already heard, many years ago I started a family tradition of presenting my daughter and son and every grandkid and great-grandkid a brand-new fishing rod and reel combination as a birthday present, and so far, I have continued that tradition.

I am not trying to brag, (well, I guess I am actually) but I have presented 10 fishing combinations to grandkids, 12 combinations to great-grandkids, and as long as I am able, I will present many more. I even asked my wife, if I am not around, to continue the tradition as long as she is able.

I even presented several fishing rod and reel combinations to other kids who were not related because they showed an interest in fishing. I presented a rod and reel combination to a young boy who was struggling with personal issues and contacted me about wanting to learn how to fish. I was, indeed, honored to meet him and his mother at a farm pond, and I taught him as much as I could. I still communicate with him now as he is an adult.

I sent a copy of the article featuring Leonny and her first fish to her home in Batesville, Ind. Her mother sent me a video as her father told her she received a message from her Papa Bud. He opened the envelope and showed her the article with my picture and her picture holding her first fish.

Leonny was so excited and proud. While she was showing her mother the picture, her little brother, Emmett Wayne Zeck, asked his daddy, “Where’s my picture?” His father told him, “You haven’t caught your first fish yet, but Papa Bud promised that when you caught your first fish, he would use your picture in an article also!”

Well, you may have noticed in many of my articles, I like to feature kids smiling and fishing. I am proud to say many of those young kids are my grandkids and great-grandkids. My photo gallery on my cellphone has a huge number of fishing photos, and the vast majority of those pictures are my kids grandkids and great-grandkids smiling holding fish.

I also have photos of my kids when they were young and even as grown-ups, holding fish. Yes, you could say Papa Bud has been passing the tradition of fishing for many, many, many years!

So, with this article, I am keeping my promise to Emmett Wayne Zeck by using a couple pictures of not only his first fish, but another where he showed “who was boss.” He is doing quite well and has several fish to his credit.

As you can tell from the smile on his face, he is a chip off the old block! His daddy, Colton Zeck, and all of his aunts and uncles, were also taught how to fish by Papa Bud.

It might need noting that there are several other of my great-grandkids who have not caught their first fish yet. My No. 13 great-grandkid will be here before long so you can rest assured there will be more photos of smiling young ones. I also have two grandsons who are not married yet, so that means there will be many more fishing rod and reel combinations being purchased.

Papa Bud and Grandma Nana have kept the fishing industry in business since they were married in 1965 and started their family.