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CONSERVATION CORNER
(For the week of March 31, 2008)
Take A Kid Fishing
by James L. Cummins

Some of the fondest memories from my childhood are the many outings spent with my father, fishing the productive farm ponds in the hills where my grandparents lived or in the oxbow lakes of the Delta. Whether we were successful or not usually didn't matter. The important thing to me was spending time with my father as he introduced me to all the wonders of the outdoors.

Even more important to me now is thinking back on how hard my father worked, and how busy he always seemed to be, yet he always made time to take me fishing. He firmly believed in that old saying, "If you introduce your kids to hunting, you won't ever have to hunt for your kids." That goes for fishing as well.

As parents, we should be willing to give our time, just as our parents did, to ensure that our children can participate and have fun doing the things we enjoy. If you enjoy fishing, introduce your kids to the sport, and chances are they will enjoy it as well.

In the beginning, the most important things to remember are to keep it simple and fun. Don't expect your kids to be able to handle your fishing gear. Get them started with small, spin-casting equipment. This will be easy for them to handle and they will become accustomed to it quickly. I recommend purchasing a combination kit for starters.

Begin by teaching your kids to cast in the backyard. Simply tie a sinker, hook-less or practice plug on the line and turn them loose. You will want to supervise the first few sessions, but encourage them to practice on their own.

On your first outing, take them to a farm pond, small lake or other area you are familiar with so, hopefully, the fish will be easy to catch. Bluegill, or bream as they are commonly called, is a species that is easy to catch when they are biting. An impoundment with an abundance of small largemouth bass would also be a good choice. Use simple equipment such as small artificial baits for bass, and crickets or worms with a float for bluegill.

Keep your outing short. The younger the children, the shorter their attention span. You should be able to read the mood of your kids to know when they have had enough. Always try to take along snacks and drinks, even on those short outings, to help keep them exciting.

Make the experience enjoyable for them by pointing out bugs and small reptiles or amphibians. Let them take in everything that nature has to offer on each outing. Also, teach them to care for and respect the environment.

So, the next time you plan a fishing trip, invite your children along. The look on their face when they hook that first fish will stick with you for the rest of your life. Get your kid hooked on fishing. You may just end up with a fishing partner for life.