Fond memories when children are taught to fish

The late collegiate football coach, Woody Hayes, once said you can never pay back; but you can always pay forward.
What the former Ohio State University coaching legend felt was, if good things have been done for you, you really can’t pay them back.
But you can certainly pay them forward by doing good things for others in need.
While Hayes was known more for exhorting his players on the gridiron, his philosophy is most certainly applicable in the world of angling.
Especially when a seasoned angler can extol the virtues of what the sport offers and by sharing some tricks of the trade to the younger generation.
These are the individuals who will represent and possibly dictate the future of what this time-honoured recreational activity has to offer in years ahead.
Taking a youngster out on a fishing expedition can be a fun experience and fuel plenty of fond memories for both parties to reminisce about.
If you are making plans to go fishing with a youngster, there are some things to consider if you want to enhance their appetite in generating future outings.
Part of the approach should be to keep things simple.
That would include searching for a place where the odds are likely the fish will be in a fairly co-operative mood to sample your offerings.
Such preferred launching pads might include a stocked trout pond or a lake or river possessing a healthy panfish population.
Look for a site that’s within a short driving distance from home. And with a little assistance from the weather man, aim for a day when Mother Nature is in a co-operative mood.
In equipping youngsters with their first fishing outfit, a combination spincast rod and reel kits is a good starting point. Such outfits often include other terminal tackle accessories like a small round float, soft plastic artificial baits, split shot sinkers and hooks.
As youngsters get older and if they take a more enthusiastic approach to the sport, they can then turn to utilizing more sophisticated equipment.
But before setting foot out of the house for that special outing, there’s plenty of preparations to be carried out.
Bring plenty of food, snacks and cold beverages. Spending time in the outdoors can enhance a youngster’s appetite not to mention yours.
Being in the outdoors for a significant amount of time, it’s imperative to have them properly attired to combat the elements. With summer now upon us, protecting them from the sun’s ultraviolet rays is paramount. Make sure they don a wide-brim hat, loosely-fitted clothing with some form of UV protection and sunglasses. Don’t forget to bring along the sunscreen and insect repellant.
When dealing with youngsters, bear in mind for the most part, their attention span and level of persistence won’t be on a similar level with you.
Keeping this in mind, if a youngster wishes to bring along some small play items allow them do it. More often than not there will be occasions when the fish will develop a case of lockjaw and the action will slow down to a crawl. In those instances, they can be preoccupied with other things to do.
As an alternative to when a lull in the action occurs, you could explain to them how certain fishing items in your possession work or give them some pointers pertaining to conservation.
If your outing involves going out on a boat, be sure to have them wear their personal floatation device at all times.
In the event they land that first fish, which hopefully might be one to boast about, be sure to bring a camera to capture those moments that can be talked about for years to come.
On that maiden voyage, don’t make it a long outing unless they insist they are having fun and wish to stay.
When they elect to call it a day, oblige with their wishes.
There’s always another day when the fish will be there.
Taking a youngster out fishing is certainly one way in which we as adults can pay forward to the next generation of anglers.