Take A Kid Fishing!

This was written for the York Dispatch by a very good friend of mine and former fishing guide at Yes bay Lodge, Andy ( Whiplash) Snyder!

Get a kid hooked on fishing

COLUMN By ANDY SNYDER For The York Dispatch
Updated: 04/09/2010 07:00:40 AM EDT

Preparing for a child is a daunting endeavor.

Not only do I have to worry about the "normal" things, such as clothes, food and college education, but as any angling and hunting nut does, I have to contemplate things such as making sure my tackle bag has enough room for some spare diapers and whether I'll need a two-man deer stand this season or next.

With a couple of months to go before I hear those first intimidating, yet invigorating screams of my first child, I must admit I was a bit jealous this past weekend. As I walked the banks of the area's streams in search of trout, my eye was drawn to something else, those brightly colored children's fishing rods bearing characters such as SpongeBob, Snoopy and Barbie. I was a tad jealous -- not of the rods, but of the opportunity to take a kid fishing. Sharing in a first fish, a first deer or even a first cast are all memories I look forward to making over the next, well, lifetime.

Seeing so many fathers and mothers helping their sons and daughters search for trout this past weekend reminds me of a line I've heard a lot as I read all of the obligatory books and attended all of those repetitive parenting classes in anticipation of a little one. It says: "Children don't need your presents. They need your presence."

What could be a better reason to introduce them to the outdoors? Instead of plopping your kids in front of a TV set and letting some violent cartoon raise them, take the time to show them what lies outside.

Chances are it will become a lifetime activity that you can enjoy as a family for years, perhaps even generations.
What if you don't know how to fish or don't know much about the outdoors? No problem. It takes about as much skill to catch a fish or take a hike as it does to fire up a computer game.

Even if you still don't think you have what it takes to get the job done, there are plenty of outdoor-oriented camps coming up. Invest in a week of on-the-job training and you'll surely create a fan of the outdoors.

If you want to take a kid fishing this spring, here are a few pointers to get you started. First, keep things simple. All you need is a cheap rod, a can of worms and a few hooks and weights. Next, let them do the work. It may be a little more frustrating for you, but it will be a lot more enjoyable for them when they get to feel that first addictive nibble. Finally, keep it fun. Don't let the pressure of catching a fish overburden the joy of sharing time together. Some of my best memories on the water don't involve fish.

Getting ready for a third seat at my kitchen table is a scary notion, but knowing that I'll soon have a live-in fishing partner more than makes up for it. I just hope I can find a pair of waders that small.

Andy Snyder writes about the outdoors for The York Dispatch. He can be reached at sports@yorkdispatch.com. Read his blog, "The Outdoors Insider," at the Blogzone at yorkdispatch.com.


Enjoy,


Captain Jim