Venting!

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

Remember takin a kid fishing is going to be one of the most memorable things they will ever do. Especially for the ones that never get to do it. Ridding in a boat or fishing from the bank its awsume.

The most important thing to remember and remind them is not to make this a competition. You can teach a kid the basics of how to fish in a day. If they like it and wanna go back anybody can learn to compete with enough time on the water! This AINT the most important lesson. Its not why you take em fishing. And if it is..... Congrats you've just learned your teaching your child to be just as materialistic and selfish as yourself!

Its your duty to teach em to preserve and enjoy what its all about. Its your duty to teach that kid its not about loading the boat down with flopping scaly creatures. Its not about catching the biggest. Dont load em in a Big ole shinny bass boat and drive 100 mph, showem your flashy $300 dollar set up and emphasize on how good you are for having it.

In my local water I can catch just as many fish with a safty pin, striped down haybale twine and a pc of bamboo from a canebrake behind the house. Ive spent more time on the in my local water than anybody I know in the past 2 years than anybody around here. 3 to 5 days a week. ( I learn a dozen new things everytime I go) Instead Slow down and let them soak it up like a sponge! Theres a ton of animals, Birds, Frogs, Gators, Bugs, Flowers, Trees, You name it....Its endless what you can show them so they learn that just being out there is what its all about. Teaching this will ensure a love for not only fishing but a sense of self and a responsibility that one day they may pass on.

Maybe this blog was just wrote because Im tired of watching what I seen today. A few guys with there $100,000 dollar rigs at the dock and a poor kid lookin miserable like he wanted to go home in the first 5 min his dad had him out there. This guy was showin off his fish to some buddys and rubbin it in that the kid didnt catch anything, That he had to do all the work but at the same time fussin at the youngen cause he missed a spot while wippin the boat down after they came out of the water. Tellin him "you cant even wipe the damn boat down rite, How you expect to catch a fish, Get in the truck!"

I bout came unglued! I bit my tounge and rolled on! As I drove by the truck the kid was climbing in and I asked him did he have a good time, He just smirked and shrugged his shoulders. I told him next time take a bucket of crickets and you shoulda seen the smile when he said " Thats when I go with grandpaw!" I knew then at least somebody was teachin instead of showin off in front of him.

Never in a hurry, just glad to be there

Take a kid fishing
Mayo

[Magnolia Rick]

To see one of my grandkids run into the house yell "Mawma I caught more then pawpaw" That make my day. Asking question about bait. "is this hock to big Pawpaw" How deep are the cat fish? and the best "CAN I COME BACK OVER NEXT WEEKEND" Just don't get no better then that.

[Nick Holt]

I'm not gonna throw in anything new words of wisdom about what has already been said about kids and fishing. My dad started me out at a young age and I have never forgotten what he told me, showed me, and the pride he showed when I pulled one in. I have grown kids of my own. My son lives in Macon, Ga. and has two boys and a girl all under the age of 7. When he's home and the weather is right, he and the kids go to one of the local lakes and have a ball catching bream and an ocassional bass. All fish are released and he shows them the value of re-generation. Each one of my grandchildren have caught at least one bass and I have the pictures to prove it. I'm proud that my son is carrying on the family heritage, and I hope others will do the same. Nick.

[Jim Gronaw]

Amen to all that, my friend! You're right, Jeremy...a little friendly competition is OK now and again, but when that becomes the main focus of fishing, well, then, it's time to start over, or go do something else.

Kids might not always like fishing, but they might enjoy being outside and noticing other living critters like birds and wildlife. Some like to just play in the water...and that's OK, so long as we teach them about the natural world and to respect and protect it. Not every child wants to do local league sports or sit home glued to a computer game.

Just last night I had a very sad dream about the small pond I fished at when I was 8 years old. In this dream I had a friend drive me to the farm and the pond, which was on my uncles place. Developement and housing had overtaken the area...my fondest place as a child was discarded and left to be a shallow, swampy sedement pond. In the dream, my uncles house and farm buildings were torn down and their home had burned to the ground. I remember just breaking down, overwhelmed with sadness, and sobbing at the state of it all and of those memories, so fond and so strong, just lost and now no one would ever enjoy them as I had. When I woke up from the dream a tear trickled down my cheek, and I knew how painfully true that setting had become.

I am old, and if I have learned one thing about children it is to take time, patience and love to show them anything that is worthy. If we truely love this great sport like we say we do, then we are left with no choice but to pass it on to our kids, and others kids as well. It takes patience, time and love. It is worthy.