| by: Rick Vogelbacher |
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| Have you ever wondered what got you hooked on fishing? Was it your dad, a friend, or a uncle? Or maybe just a fishing show you were watching on TV. Whatever the reason may have been, it was most likely a very memorable experience. Otherwise you might not be fishing now. So you say to yourself what should I do to help this sport I love so much. Your State fisheries rely on money from license fees. You and I pay each year to maintain the fish management. In most states 80% of the DNR fishery funds is provided by the selling of fishing licenses. Some states may rely on even a higher percentage. Sometimes when we are on the lake fishing, you might think there is more anglers than the water can handle. Actually the last decade there has been a decrease in the selling of fishing licenses. This results in less money to be provided to your fish management. Many times research has to be shortened or eliminated. This may include census reports on fish populations in a particular body of water. Without these census reports, the fishery departments can't effectively make rules and regulations. For example if a bass population is hurting, they might come to the conclusion to enforce a slot limit on that particular lake to get the bass population back to desired levels. So it all boils down to the same question. What can I do? TAKE A KID FISHING Our responsibility as a angler is to maintain the resource that has brought us such great joy. This can be done by passing on these few joys to our kids, nephews, nieces, or just provided advice to kids who want to learn to fish. So you say to yourself: How do I get them hooked? It can be said in three words. KEEP IT SIMPLE Here's some of the do's and don'ts of kid fishing. Start with the tackle. Obviously a kid or new fisherman isn't going to pick up a basitcasting reel and just start casting it out without having a birds nest. So start them out with a spincast (closed face) reel. These are very easy to operate. All they need to master is pushing and releasing the button at the right time. So what about the rod? You should start them with a rod that is fit for their size. 5 to 5 1/2 foot rod for children 5 to 10 years old. A little 3 foot snoopy reel may be in order for children that are younger than that. Remember their not going to want to fish unless it's fun. Kids 10 years or older, or more advanced younger anglers may want to move up a spinning reel combination. Spinning reels with triggers prove helpful. WHAT SHOULD BE YOUR GOAL? Make sure the kids are going to catch fish! You can do this by increasing their odds. Start with fishing water that has abundance of bluegills, green sunfish, or other non discriminate eaters. The kid isn't going to care how big the first fish is. They just want to catch something. The feeling of accomplishment is a must. Use simple tactics. Bobber-hook-worm. No simpler method of catching fish. Don't start the kids bass fishing, Pike fishing, Muskie fishing, or another species that could skunk them for the day. The first experience needs to be a good one. Make sure your weather conditions are good. Cloudy, overcast, warm not hot, and calm water so they can watch there bobber. Make sure they are comfortable. If they are too hot or too cold, they will lose interest quickly and not want to fish again. You might want to bring a bucket or fish basket along so the kids can put there fish in the water and watch it swim for awhile. After a good day of fishing hopefully you will have a bucket or basket full of fish. Take this opportunity to teach your kid or guest the importance of selective harvest. If you don't like fish to eat, release all of them. If fish is on the menu, you can show them which ones to keep and which ones to release. Take pictures! What better way is there to remember a great day of fishing. WHAT TO DO AFTER SOME PRODUCTIVE TRIPS? Hopefully, they are ready to try some new things, and fish for some different kinds of species. Here are some options. Stick with the bobber and hook, but use a live minnow for bait instead. Locate a school of crappies and enjoy the experience mentioned above with a different species. Night fishing for bullheads or catfish is another option that you might want to consider. You can use the same bobber-hook-juicy nightcrawler routine for these whisker friends. Soon after sundown the bite will pick up. Make sure you have bug repellant, flash lights, and possibly a lantern. The whole atmosphere itself will be enough to get the kids excited! ALRIGHT THE BIG STEP: BASS FISHING What should I start the kids out with? I have a few suggestions to get you started. Easiest way is live bait. Hook a shiner, or a big juicy night crawler on a bobber and wait for the bass to suck it down. If you think they are ready for artificial lures. I have a few that might help them on there first bass adventure. My favorite for kids is a prerigged worm that has a 6 inch loop leader that you can put a small split shot (Pac Man shaped sinker) above it for weight. First tie on a snap swivel so the line doesn't twist so much. Place the spit shot above it, and tie to the loop. Have them cast out and just do a slow steady retrieve. If the worm is working properly it will do a slow spin and wiggle motion back on the retrieve. If it's not doing this you should try pushing the tail hook upwards into the bait or even the middle hook. This should make a little bend in the worm. This is what makes the worm rotate on the retrieve and trigger strikes. My second choice would be a lipless crankbait. All they have to do is cast it out and reel in a fast speed. Choppy water usually increases the chances of getting bites. If you want to take a chance. This will certainly get a charge out of them. Tie on a Jitterbug or buzzbait and have them cast this out in early mornings or late evenings before dusk. Casting parallel to the shoreline or over the tops of shallow weeds will get a splash. They will not soon forget this. (Caution: topwaters will fly back towards the angler if the hook is set when the fish is not on. So please be careful if you try this technique. We wouldn't want you taking the kids to the hospital to remove a hook out of their skin. Leave that experience to the dads. lol Good fishing to you and our future anglers, Rick Vogelbacher |
| What Hooks a Angler? |