Fishin' Talk

By Boots Johnson

I recall the first time I took my Grandson fishing. The idea was for his Dad and me to get him out on the water and enjoy a morning catching a few fish. We really didn’t care what kind of fish, but just a couple fish to get him interested in the world of fishing.

Back in those days computer games were not even thought of and Grandpa had a pretty good chance to get that youngster hooked on fishing. With the help of his Dad we had pretty good success for his first time on the water. Of course there were a few problems like his not liking the life vest I insisted he wear and the fact that he refused to touch a worm. All in all we must have done something right that morning because he loves to fish and hits the water on a regular basis.

My grandson is past the 30 year mark now and has not yet married. Someday, I hope to see him get hitched and have a son to take with him and show that little boy the same thing I showed him so many years ago. As I recall, he was just shy of turning four years of age that wonderful morning so long ago when he got hooked on fishing. My Grandson will need to compete with computers, TV and those computer games that keeps our children indoors, but I know he will someday help his son to love fishing as he, his Father and I do.

I have a few words of advice about taking the boys and girls fishing. Don’t make the experience difficult and be sure to be excited when the child (or even yourself) lands a fish. Remember that in a child’s eyes all fish are fun to catch, no matter what the size is. In addition, do not look down at a small child, but sit or get on your knees so you will be reasonably the same size. Never tell a child how to do something but show him and be patient.

We all know that children’s attention span is short so bring along something to eat or drink and maybe even a game to play. In closing, I wish to remind everyone that taking a picture of the child with his or her fish will remind them of the great time they had fishing and more than likely help them to want to go on many more fishing adventures.

As I have stated in this column so many times in the past….Kids are the future of the sport of fishing and we must encourage them to participate. Just do it slowly, with love and admiration and we will succeed.

Closing thought: Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.