Late Beginings
By Bradley J. Durick
Every time you read an article or watch a television show about fishing you will see or hear some remark to take a kid fishing. Take a kid fishing is always followed by it is for the future of our sport. That statement is one thousand percent true. If we don't teach our young people early they won't experience or understand the rewards of fishing.
I didn't get this chance and the vast world of fishing almost passed me by. When I was growing up I didn't get to go fishing but three times. Two were at 4-H camp where they give you a rod with a hook worm and bobber on it and told you to wait until a fish bit. That's fine except nobody knew to set the bobber depth. Needless to say you're not going to sell a ten year old on fishing. The other time I went with a friend of my family. This time it was pull a crank bait around the lake for a couple hours. We did catch one fish and it was exciting but still not enough to make the sale.
Now let's fast forward about 12 years. I had just graduated from college and was going to the lake with a friend's family for a long weekend. Here I am sitting in a boat on a hot day watching everyone fish. I was getting bored and figured with two days of this left maybe I should buy a license and at least try this fishing thing so I don't die of boredom. I bought that license and pulled a spinner around that lake for two days. I even caught a fish. The fish was only a small pike but the excitement of that fish biting and fighting me as I reeled it in is still near and dear to my heart.
I was so excited when I got home from that trip that I ran right out to the store to buy a new rod, reel, and some tackle for the next trip. The next trip was only a couple weeks away and I couldn't wait. Now I wanted to go and learn about different lures and structures to catch fish. I learned and experienced and just had a ball doing it. After the second trip I was buying books, magazines and watching every show I could find on tv. I didn't care if the show was Bill Dance catching bass or In-Fisherman casting for muskies I was watching it. Any chance I got I would go to the local pond to try my hand at sunfish and perch. If I could catch a ride in a boat with somebody who really knew what they were doing it was as good as going to Disneyland.
Fast forward seven more years I'm sitting here writing this article remembering back to all of the things I've learned, people I've met, articles I've read, and shows I've watched to learn about fishing. I'm smiling as I write this thinking of all of the walleye, northern, perch, and catfish that I've caught since that one long weekend. I'm also smiling thinking about that big sturgeon, musky and lake trout that I still have to catch in the future. I still read, watch tv and visit with who ever will talk to me about how to catch more fish and hear stories of fish that they've caught and the trips they've been on.
Yes, teaching the young of the joy of fishing is critical. If we don't our great sport will continue to decline. When I was a kid my parents didn't take me fishing. I found out later that then reason they didn't take me was because nobody ever took them. They didn't grow up going fishing with their parents so they didn't know how to do it when I was growing up. If you don't know a skill you certainly can't be expected to pass it along to your kids. That almost cost me my favorite hobby.
If you're an adult that is caught at a crossroad or looking for something new to try and you haven't had the rush of a fish pulling on the end of you line, or maybe you have small kids and you want to just spend some quality time with them. Give it a try you may find that you missed something growing up or you still have that kid inside you.
Every time you read an article or watch a television show about fishing you will see or hear some remark to take a kid fishing. Take a kid fishing is always followed by it is for the future of our sport. That statement is one thousand percent true. If we don't teach our young people early they won't experience or understand the rewards of fishing.
I didn't get this chance and the vast world of fishing almost passed me by. When I was growing up I didn't get to go fishing but three times. Two were at 4-H camp where they give you a rod with a hook worm and bobber on it and told you to wait until a fish bit. That's fine except nobody knew to set the bobber depth. Needless to say you're not going to sell a ten year old on fishing. The other time I went with a friend of my family. This time it was pull a crank bait around the lake for a couple hours. We did catch one fish and it was exciting but still not enough to make the sale.
Now let's fast forward about 12 years. I had just graduated from college and was going to the lake with a friend's family for a long weekend. Here I am sitting in a boat on a hot day watching everyone fish. I was getting bored and figured with two days of this left maybe I should buy a license and at least try this fishing thing so I don't die of boredom. I bought that license and pulled a spinner around that lake for two days. I even caught a fish. The fish was only a small pike but the excitement of that fish biting and fighting me as I reeled it in is still near and dear to my heart.
I was so excited when I got home from that trip that I ran right out to the store to buy a new rod, reel, and some tackle for the next trip. The next trip was only a couple weeks away and I couldn't wait. Now I wanted to go and learn about different lures and structures to catch fish. I learned and experienced and just had a ball doing it. After the second trip I was buying books, magazines and watching every show I could find on tv. I didn't care if the show was Bill Dance catching bass or In-Fisherman casting for muskies I was watching it. Any chance I got I would go to the local pond to try my hand at sunfish and perch. If I could catch a ride in a boat with somebody who really knew what they were doing it was as good as going to Disneyland.
Fast forward seven more years I'm sitting here writing this article remembering back to all of the things I've learned, people I've met, articles I've read, and shows I've watched to learn about fishing. I'm smiling as I write this thinking of all of the walleye, northern, perch, and catfish that I've caught since that one long weekend. I'm also smiling thinking about that big sturgeon, musky and lake trout that I still have to catch in the future. I still read, watch tv and visit with who ever will talk to me about how to catch more fish and hear stories of fish that they've caught and the trips they've been on.
Yes, teaching the young of the joy of fishing is critical. If we don't our great sport will continue to decline. When I was a kid my parents didn't take me fishing. I found out later that then reason they didn't take me was because nobody ever took them. They didn't grow up going fishing with their parents so they didn't know how to do it when I was growing up. If you don't know a skill you certainly can't be expected to pass it along to your kids. That almost cost me my favorite hobby.
If you're an adult that is caught at a crossroad or looking for something new to try and you haven't had the rush of a fish pulling on the end of you line, or maybe you have small kids and you want to just spend some quality time with them. Give it a try you may find that you missed something growing up or you still have that kid inside you.
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