Take your kids fishing..by Dan Bryant
Take Your Kids Fishing There is an old adage that if you give a man a fish he can eat for a day, but if you teach him to fish he can eat for a lifetime.
The same is true that if you take a kid fishing he can enjoy it for the day, but if you teach a kid to fish he can enjoy it for a lifetime.
When was the last time you took your son or daughter fishing and really took the time to teach them the right way to fish? When was the last time you took your kid’s friends on a fishing trip and taught them how to fish? In this day of self gratification and immediate reward, we often neglect to instill in our younger generation the heritage of hunting and fishing for food that helped expand the frontiers of our country.
In many cases these were skills learned from Native Americans who taught our ancestors how to live off the land. Maybe we don’t need to live off the land today, but the fun and recreation of landing a big fish still excite most outdoorsmen and pump adrenaline to the body.
Teaching the skills of fishing also instills in our younger generation the need to protect and preserve the heritage as well as the natural resources that allow these recreational pursuits. Many of our younger generation are being taught to preserve the land for its beauty and natural resources but not how to interact with nature without damaging that beauty and natural resource. With spring having finally arrived many fishing enthusiast are already planning that trout fishing, bass fishing or surf fishing trip.
Plan a trip with your kids and their friends and spend the time to truly teach them how to fish. Let them experience the thrill of that native trout jumping from the stream, while fighting them on a light tackle fly rod. Take the time to teach them how to land a fly in a teacup at ten paces, even if you can’t. If you are a bass fishing enthusiast, take your kids bass fishing and teach them not only how to fish, but boating safety and common courtesy on the water. Teach them how to pick the right lure or bait for the conditions you are fishing in. Teach them how to cast to the brush pile without getting tangled.
Teach them the value of catch and release. If you are a surf fishing fanatic like me, take them to the beach and put a rod in their hands. Let them feel the tug of a blue fish or puppy drum on the rod. Teach them how to cast a surf rod and to tie the knots for rigging lines. Show them how to care for the equipment. Get your kids away from the video games and television and let them learn the self esteem that can be gained from successfully fishing with friends and family. Take a kid fishing and you will find that you enjoy teaching them as much as you enjoy fishing yourself.
About The Author
Dan Bryant is an avid surf fisherman who spends as much time as possible on the Outer Banks of NC as possible. Visit his website at http://www.saltysport.com
