I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, and my mentors, from where my strength and passion come from.

    Where would we be without fathers? A lot worse off for sure. One doesn’t have to look very far to see the ill effects of the fatherless society that is growing ever larger. But I thank God for my father, and grandfathers who led by example, giving me the training, talent and perseverance to overcome. And I thank them for the passion instilled in me to succeed in the wild, yea the world even.

    As a mere child I looked up to these men, Jack Giles, J. P. Nolen, and Vernon Giles not as teachers, heroes, or disciplinarians, but that is just what they became to me, leading by example and with a love and passion. But the lessons they taught me were tempered with trips to the streams, ponds, lakes and rivers. Passion doesn’t come from the classroom; it comes from a desire born from doing and succeeding. Although it comes from somewhere deep within us it must be ignited by someone who cares like a dad, grandfather, or maybe even somebody else’s dad. Take a kid fishing today.

The passion

    Passion can be good, great, and even wonderful when developed in a positive way, tempered by love and discipline and channeled in a good direction. How many children and teenagers do you know who have a passion for the wild, hunting and fishing, who are troubled? If they have a passion for the positive, the outdoors, fishing and other related outdoor activities, and are successful, they’ll not be looking for trouble. Take a kid fishing today.

    “Passion of the heart conquers wisdom of the head so choose your passions wisely.”

    A short trip to Goat Moseley’s pond in Kemper County in the early 1960’s lit a spark in me that ignited a flame of passion and love for fishing that hasn’t waned to this day! The momentous occasion wherein I caught that first bass, came on a trip with my dad and grandfather Vernon Giles. While it probably wasn’t significant to them, it remains my earliest and most cherished childhood memory. Take a kid fishing today.

    As I grew up and continued fishing, my grandfather James Patrick Nolen carried me to another level and taught me how to read the waters, both on the surface, and how to see below it also. And yes, he taught me how to hunt for bass and bream and crappie and striped bass. He taught me how to catch them once I found them. Anybody can catch a fish if you put them near them, most of the time. Finding is the key to fishing, and catching.

    Ever hear of anybody who didn’t like to fish? I know more than a few folks like that. On the other hand, I don’t know of anybody who doesn’t like to catch a fish and that’s the key, taking them and teaching them how to find them and catch them. Take a kid fishing today.

Our opportunities

    The great thing about fishing is that there are unlimited places to fish down here in the Southern Promised Land. Yes, our area is full of small ponds, creeks, streams, lakes and rivers, with a wide variety of species to pursue and catch. Catching them for fun, food, or just pure enjoyment is simple yet inexpensive. All you need is a pole, bobber, hook and bait and you can catch a fish. Take a kid fishing today.

    Change your thoughts and change your world, is a popular saying, but I say change your actions and you change the world by doing, not talking about it. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, but teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” is a popular verse that is filled with truth and wisdom so we should teach those children how to fish, by first hand example.

    A passion for fishing, born of experience and training from knowledgeable adults will set most youngsters on a path to a successful future in all endeavors. But someone must first ignite and develop that passion. Take a few minutes this weekend to take a child fishing and spend a little time in God’s Great Outdoors and experience the thrill and passion of fishing and catching. Thanks Dad, for taking me fishing so long ago, I’ll never forget it!

    Contact  Mike Giles at 601-917-3898

or e-mail him at mikegiles18@comcast.net.