Get the Kids Outside

I still remember it sitting propped in the corner of the garage. I also remember taking it into the backyard and casting it over and over to pretend fish off of the deck. My grandfather gave me my first fishing rod of my own; however, it was not a fly rod. The old Zebco 33 push button combo was, like many in the South, my first “fish getter.” I would spend the Summers in Mississippi with him chasing everything from bream to bass. It was there in those Mississippi backwaters and ponds where I became afflicted with a lifelong addiction.

As Summer approaches, children become a more common sight around the Farm, and I often get asked the question “How do I get him/her started fishing?” or hear the statement “I really want them to love it like I do.” This is something I have thought a lot about myself, as I too have a couple of wee anglers that I would love to see have the same admiration of the outdoors as myself. So, how do we do it?

I believe my grandfather had it somewhat right, whether intentional or not. An introduction should be gradual and successful. Kids base success on the tangibles, and a tug on the end of the line is the best way to get them started. If they find they can be successful, we begin to cultivate and care for that seed as our gardeners do here on the Farm. Getting a kid involved in the outdoors is not a plant-and-forget endeavor. Keeping them outside is the only way to help them find enjoyment and a lifelong love for the outside world.

So, is fly fishing the best introduction to the world of angling? Probably not. Much like putting a kid on a horse and starting hunter/jumper course would not be the right avenue to starting a future equestrian. Ease them into it in a way that is enjoyable and minimally frustrating.

Here are a few tips:

1. Try to insure success. Ponds and lakes make great nurseries for future sportsman, as they often offer a variety of panfish that are often willing to take an offering of a bait, lure or fly.

2. Take the frustration out of the game. Experienced anglers know that it is a part of fishing, but it can be a game ender for a young one. That often means getting a child started means the parent bears the brunt of the frustration. But isn’t that parenting? Make it fun for them and gain a fishing partner for life.

3. Every child is different, but fly gear may not be the best avenue for introduction. Conventional gear is easier to operate and requires less skill in presentation. It paves the way to ensuring the first two tips.

4. Make a commitment to keeping them active in the sport. Life is busy no matter how we look at it. Finding time to get kids outside will pay off not only in the future but in the present as well.

5. Use gear that fits the angler. Little hands make everything more difficult. There is gear manufactured specifically for youth sportsmen. This helps with the frustration.

6. Keep your trips short. Match the adventure to the attention span. If the fishing is slow, find something else out there to fill the time. This could be something like swimming, hiking or hunting bugs.

7. Be patient. An outside world and a love of all that is outside is something that grows over time. Some will show interest and some will not. However, if it is made available and accessible, we let them find their way. Get them outside.

Much like all of parenting, there are no sure-fire books or methods, as every child is inevitably different. The outdoors offers many lessons for those who look, and outdoor adventures with your future sportsman offer these lessons to both instructor and pupil. The only way to teach it and learn is to be out there. Enjoy the outside and hopefully they will too.

– Alex Quick, Fly Fishing Manager