I think just about every one of us has at some time had an adult fishing mentor, or even a family friend that offered to take us fishing. I know my life wouldn’t be the same without my Dad who started us off fishing; heck I was in diapers holding a Snoopy rod and 303. Later as we got old enough to handle fishing out of the boat, my dad would take us with numerous fishing guides, both inland and inshore saltwater fishing.
Even if you don’t have children yourself, you can take part in expanding and growing as an angler by taking a kid fishing just once. Another option is to contact Big Brother/Big Sisters or any orphanage or foster kids and play it forward by getting to know a kid by taking them fishing. You never know, that one act of kindness and generosity could be a life-changing experience, and they may stick with it for their entire lives. I know that my life would be entirely different without having been mentored by several outdoorsmen over my life like my dad, a couple of dad’s friends, Capt. Steve Hillman, Capt. Steve Soule, Capt. Chuck Uzzle and Capt. Ernest Cisneros as well as some others.
Here are some pointers to simplify getting a kid started. Have your trip be more about giggling, laughing and telling stories than it is about catching a limit of fish. If the child’s age is less than 8 or if they have not done much fishing at all, then take them to a farm pond, stock tank, creek, canal or even a catfish tank so they will catch some fish. Perch (sunfish) are typically always ready to eat a cricket, corn-nibblet or piece of a hot dog on a small light-wire hook. Keep it simple with the rod and reel choice; you don’t have to run out to BAAD Marine Supply to buy a new rig or anything. A small 4 ½-foot-long, light-action rod with a closed-face reel is a good starting point. Bobbers are fun to watch and take out the guesswork. Sometimes knowing what not to do is also important. This is not the time to take the kid out for a long grind with lures; that’s a good way to make it boring for a kid and have them want a video game.
If a kid has been started correctly and he’s bored with farm ponds, then it’s time to get him on the boat looking for numbers of fish. Cherry pick your days and take him during the summer months using live bait for the first couple of times until he’s confident. As he grows, you can start to bring in the lures. Now this is the point to book a trip with a guide and allow them to be your partner in his mentoring process as well.
Tobin Strickland is a Field Staff Writer for Sun Coast Marine Works in LaMarque, Tx.