There is a special God that looks out for kids when they go fishing. If any adult were to mimic what the kids are doing, we would get skunked, but kids have an advantage.
There are plenty of skills required to be a master angler. It starts with casting, using bait, tying knots, understanding fish biology, using and adjusting the equipment, all while not falling out of the boat or into the lake.
The other day I took my Grandson and his dad out for some bank fishing at the Causeway, near Helena. It was a tad windy and cold, but he was happy to be out fishing. Having lots of snacks and playing games helped. He was diligent with watching the rods and as a result he netted 3 monster rainbow trout.
Next to us was a crew of several kids, a mom, and a couple adults. They were using short ice fishing rods and power bait. The mom and kids were casting in every direction and threw over my gear several times. Some were tripping, stumbling around, others complaining, and some were just playing games.
In between the distractions, they managed to hook up! Their first big trout required a net, so the guy came over and borrowed mine. Despite a lot of splashing, yelling, and trauma, the big trout was on the stringer.
The kids managed a couple more and everyone got a turn reeling. Bushels of rocks and sticks were thrown in the lake, snacks were consumed, and songs were sung. Once the thrill was gone, the kids were not paying attention as a huge trout dragged one rod and reel into the deep. Oh well, that is just the price you pay.
The young anglers caught their dinner and survived the day. No technology, no toys, just short rods and long fish. Even the inferior gear was not a handicap. None of the adults caught a fish but the kids shined. Just being outdoors and fishing was enough. The smiles are wide and full. You don’t see these smiles from playing puter games or being lazy.
Most importantly all the kids and my grandson had FUN!
Take a kid fishing!
Montana Grant
