By John Mosley
I’ve spoken with and interviewed many anglers during my career as an outdoor writer. One of my favorite questions is, “Do you remember the first fish that you caught?” It’s amazing to me how many anglers do in fact remember the very first fish that they ever caught. Most recall every element involved in that first catch. All seem to instinctively smile when recounting the event. It’s a fond memory, one that glistens each time it’s retold.
This rite of passage can occur at any age. For me I was four years old standing beside a small pond with a cane pole, red and white bobber and baited hook in the water, with my dad kneeling beside me. I remember that it was a sunny day and that we were both smiling.
As the bobber went under my dad said, “Catch him, Son!” and I instinctively raised the cane pole to bring the brim to my dad’s reach. We put the fish in a metal bucket full of water and I stared at it and observed it the entire ride home. I remember how proud my dad was as he shared the story of my catch with the rest of our family, and thus began a lifetime of catches and smiles and fond memories and a sense of pride and accomplishment. A lifetime of those wonderful elements thanks to my dad.
Teach a kid to fish. They’ll likely never forget you, and you’ll likely change their life for the better.