Take Me Fishing, Dad

by David Alan

Dad get the net, I got a big one on! Those words will stick in a father and son/daughters mind for a lifetime they certainly have help shape the person who I am today. I began fishing when I was a very young child with my dad and it has become a passion and a way of life for me. It has taught me to be patient, hard working, crafty, environmentally conscience, and respectful.

Fishing has filled my mind with memories that I will cherish my whole life. I was recently fishing with my 71-year-old father and I got to admire him reeling in a 10-pound plus steelhead. Even at 71 and after a lifetime of catching fish the excitement of reeling in a large fish can turn a man into a child again. The power of fishing is captivating and the knowledge one can gain from fishing is endless.

Taking a child fishing can change a kid’s life and change a father’s life in the process. The smile I get from my son when he is reeling in a fish is awesome to say the least, but there are several ways to make sure that those fishing days are filled with fun and not frustration and boredom. Fishing can be a tough sport, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to go after the biggest fish in the sea when taking a kid fishing. Kids are just as happy really in a ton of bluegills as they are reeling in a monster fish. There are several ways you can make you father son/daughter a successful fishing trip.

First, plan your trip then re-plan your trip. Make sure you have everything you need to go fishing with a kid. Remember your taking a kid fishing not you and a couple of buddy’s going for the day. You will need lunches, drinks, fishing gear, bait, and a plan B. A plan B can be as simple as an empty mason jar with a lid, fishing isn’t always fast and furious and an empty jar makes a great bug collector and will allow you to explore the outdoors with your child. Also take the opportunity when catching fish to release a fish.

A fish released is a fish to be caught another day. However kids love to keep fish and eat there catch. Don’t feel you have to release every fish, there are several fish that are great in the frying pan such as crappie, bluegill, trout, and walleye and your child will be full of excitement when he or she gets to show off there catch.

Second, you will need to know where and what to fish for. Bluegills are an excellent choice and can be found anywhere. Bluegills always relate to some sort of structure in the water whether it is weeds, wood, stumps, or docks. If you don’t have a boat a boat dock is your choice to catch bluegill, but don’t be in a hurry to jump on the dock and go fishing. Fish from the shore and cast beside the dock with a bobber/worm and put the hook down only a couple of feet. This will keep your bait in front of the fish that are directly below the dock. If you have a boat you can find panfish around weed lines, downed trees, and stump fields.

The easiest spots to find are downed trees on the shoreline, but often get fished the most. Weed beds are great attractors to panfish and also will attract larger fish in the meantime. What I have found is a great method of fishing with my child and gets a lot of smiles is having him fish for panfish around the weed line casting a bobber/worm combo and also dragging two bobbers from the back of the boat with shiners. This will allow the child non-stop action with his rod and maybe allow him to catch a much bigger fish with the shiners that are dragging behind. Also on a second note if your child is a youngster leave your fishing rod in the box. You won’t have time to fish you will be putting on bait, fixing tangles, taking fish off the hook, and laughing.

In conclusion, taking a kid fishing will definitely be a winner of an idea. You may not always catch fish, but you will have the opportunity to spend time with your child outside. And maybe will become a sport in which you and your family can spend quality time together and build a catalog of memories. Taking your children fishing is all worth it when your kid looks at you says Dad remember when you took me fishing and…..

Owner of Penns Ads http://www.pennsads.com which is a community guide for all of central Pennsylvania.

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