After casting out a minnow and cork, I quickly lost interest in fishing and turned my attention to the beautiful surroundings. There was just too much to do and explore to keep all of my attention on the water. And then it happened, my rod and reel combo started sliding towards the water and was gone in a flash.

A large bass had swallowed the minnow and was carrying my whole rig with him! As most youngsters tend to be, I was excited and distraught at the same time. In a flash my dad appeared and saved my rod and reel combo with the help of a long stick and a split second response.

After saving my rod he handed it to me and I had the fight of my young life while catching my first bass. I was not yet school age, though I can’t remember how old I was at the time. I do know that one fishing trip and my first bass were indelibly etched in my mind and a fisherman was born that day. Though I didn’t know a whole lot about what I was doing, that one trip with my dad, Jack Giles, and grandfather, Vernon Giles, ignited a spark that eventually fanned into a passion and love of the outdoors. Take a kid fishing!



True Saying



“Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Or so goes an old saying. And in this day and time of an entitlement society, it might not be a bad thing to learn how to catch fish and feed your family. When times get tough, an angler will always be able to feed his or her family. And it’s even fun catching the fish. Take a kid fishing!

But there’s just one catch to that. Somebody’s got to teach them how to fish and they can’t learn in the house while playing video games, watching television, or chatting on the computer. If you haven’t got a child, then find one. Carry them fishing!

Right now is the time to get ready to go fishing, as we’re on the beginning edge of springtime fishing. With water temperatures in the 50’s the perch, bream and bass are beginning to move towards shallow water in search of good spawning grounds. And they’ll readily bite almost any offering put in front of them. But you have got to carry them to the nearest pond, lake, or river to teach them. Take a kid fishing.

Over the next few months thousands of fish will be caught all around our state. When the crappie, bream and bass start feeding in the shallows, they will be much easier to catch than later on when the water gets hot. But don’t wait until later to go fishing, go as soon as you can. And take a kid fishing!



Make It Fun



It doesn’t matter where you go, or how long you stay. The main thing is for the kids to have fun. Carry them to a place where they can get a bite pretty quickly. Make it fun for them. Put the emphasis on those children catching fish, there’ll be plenty of time to for you to catch them later. If they’re young, help them catch one. If they want to catch one or two and start playing, then let them play. If they’re tired and ready to go, then go home and return another day. Just take them fishing.

The important thing about taking kids fishing is to make it enjoyable. Of course if they don’t catch anything they’ll quickly lose interest, so make it easy for them to catch a fish. And don’t stay a second longer than they want to, there will be another day if you don’t burn them out.

But take a kid fishing today and you just might ignite a flame of passion and desire that will last a lifetime and provide food, fun and many happy memories. Thanks dad, for taking me fishing!