Can you remember the first fish you caught and where you caught that fish?? Mine was a Bluegill on Mercer Lake in 1962 at the age of five. Even now, I can still remember, not only the tug on my line, reeling the fish in, but my dad netting (wasn’t necessary, but made a big deal out of it) my (6 inch) monster. I also remember not only feeling proud, but how good I felt when my dad praised me for catching my first fish. The only thing I don’t remember is, if I ever told my dad how special that day was to me or thanked him for taking me fishing.

Maybe that could be one of the reasons I believe it is so important to me that people take kids fishing. When you take your daughter or son fishing, they see this as a fun day, but I would call it quality family time. With all the electronic (video games, iPads or iPhone) there doesn’t seem to be as much family time, but while you’re out on a lake, you have a captive audience. Being on the water or just outside can also be a learning experience about nature and wildlife.

Some may say watching a bobber is boring for kids. To that, I would say pick the right spot and that bobber will keep the kids mind focused on fishing and that bobber doesn’t go down often, because the bite slowed down, then you’re teaching the kids patience, right? The point I’m trying to get across here is, getting the kids to unplug, get them outside, spending time together as a family and having fun. The biggest thing is making memories, take pictures (totally wish I had a picture of my first tiny Bluegill) so years from now your kids will remember catching their first fish. My father passed many years ago and being so young, I wish I could go back and tell him, THANKS DAD FOR TAKING ME FISHING THAT DAY AND PRAISING ME ON A GREAT JOB OF CATING MY FIRST FISH.