New Rod & Reel go swimming without life jacket

[Topsail Angler]

My wife asked me what we should get our son for Christmas this year. Without hesitation I said a new "fishing outfit". Before she could run down to JC Penny's men's department, I explained that would be a ROD, REEL and LINE , not the latest Columbia clothes. She agreed and that's what we did. Got him a nice light weight ultra sensitive, fast action job that he can use for Sea Trout or inland bass and trout fishing (he is stationed at Fort Bragg).

So we go out this morning on the boat to try it out. It was windy and the water was very cold (46 degrees) but we were catching Drum and nobody wanted to quit. After about 4 hours of fishing, all of sudden my son hollers "I can't believe I just did that".

Yup - he threw his new rod and reel overboard by accident. Next thing I know his Army buddy that came home with him for the holidays jumps in to the water to try and retreive the rig. Galant effort but a bad idea, that water was very COLD. I pull him out, marked the spot with my spotter float, call the wife to meet us at the dock with warm clothes and a ride for son's buddy and a garden rake for me.

after meeting my wife, son and I head back to the spot and I'm thinking, there's no way we are going to find this rig. Well lot's of praying went up about that time. We get back to the spot where the float is, anchor up so we will drift back next to the spotter float. I stick the rake into the water next to the spotter float to see if it's long enough, it is barely but I touch bottom and feel something. I bring it up and ...you guessed it, it's the rod & reel.

Whew............... I kept telling him if he didn't like it he could just give it to me....... So much for our kids actually growing up.....

Answered prayer and a happy ending for sure.

By the way, his buddy is fine, we got him warmed back up quick.