TAKE A KID FISHING
Of all of the outdoor activities I write about, this is one of my favorites. It combines two of my top ten loves in the world; my Grandchildren and fishing. In the past eleven years, since my wife Nancy and I started having kids with kids, I have had four of the most enthusiastic young anglers a Grandfather could ask for. Not only do they love to fish, they love the outdoors as a whole, and for that I am very grateful.
I remember this last spring when my eldest Grandson Ayden and I were practicing baseball. As much as he liked putting on the gloves and fielding grounders, his first question was, "Can we hit a farm pond after we get through playing?" I smiled as answered affirmatively. We were both tickled with my answer.
I asked him which fishing lure he wanted to use as we arrived at the pond about 9:00AM. "My DESTROYER spinning reel and a Wacky Worm," he said as if he had been doing this for twenty years. He said that way he might be able to catch bluegill AND bass. Where did this twelve year old learn so much about fishing? Silly question, huh?
#1 Ayden Dietrich with His PISCIFUN Destroyer spinning reel and his biggest bass to date. (Photos by Mike Roux)
As I worked my away methodically around the 2-acre impoundment studying each cast before I made it, Ayden picked a spot and never moved his feet for over an hour. He varied his casting direction and the length of his casts, but he never changed positions. He out fished me on largemouth bass three-to-one, including his biggest bass ever.
When you take a kid fishing be prepared for one thing: com-munication. It is a great opportunity to listen and communicate with your youngster, and it will be an experience you will both treasure for a lifetime.
It can be a chance to talk about nature, his or her school, their friends, things they like or dislike. You get the idea. Plus, it builds a foundation that will keep that youngster focused on this great American sport for many years to come. Make it the most pleasurable outing you can imagine for the child.
#2 CJ Dietrich slammed the bluegill with is new Venom spinning reel. (Photo by Mike Roux)
Plan your trip to some place that is easily accessible and that is sure to produce some catching; a city pond stocked with trout, carp or bluegill, a fishing pier, or even a pay-per-catch pond or lake that is heavily stocked.
When you plan that first trip for a youngster, it is very important to make it a short, but exciting adventure. A child's attention span can be pretty short, so hold your trip to two or three hours, just long enough to catch a bunch of fish. Do not drag out the event for several hours and let the kid get bored.
Remember, catching is the key to keeping their attention. Target the easiest to catch species in the particular water you are fishing. Not every child has fished as much as Caleb and may not be satisfied catching one or two bass a trip. Panfish are the best bet and a can of worms or a tube of crickets will usually get the job done.
Most any fish will hit these live baits, and there is nothing more exciting for a kid than to see their bobber disappear and know there is a fish on their line. They feel that vibration and the tug on their rod and they often get hysterical they're having so much fun. Therein lies the magic of teaching your child to fish.
#3 Girls love to fish, too. Makenzie Dietrich loves bass fishing with the PISCIFUN Venom spinning reel. (Photo by Mike Roux)
Just this past Saturday my two more of my Grandkids were for the long weekend. We got their PISCIFUN Venom spinning reels and some worms and hit their favorite pond. We found the big bluegill hungry and ready to cooperate. And also a couple of nice bass. Their smiles and squeals of excitement are some of the biggest blessing of life for Grandparents. Do not miss out on these joys. Take a kid fishing!
#4 Mike Roux with new Venom spinning reel. (author of this article)
by MIKE ROUX