4/10/2007

Take a kid fishing and pass the tradition

Fishing is a perfect way to relax, share memories and connect with family or friends, especially kids. And people don’t have to be an expert angler to have a fun, successful fishing trip.

With information from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, new anglers can find places to fish and snag a few tips to make the trip fun.

“Most kids – and adults too – would love to go fishing if someone would take them,” said Ron Payer, DNR fisheries section chief. “Avid anglers and beginners alike can be that person. Introduce someone – an adult or child – to the sport and start a tradition.”

Finding a place to fish is easy. Check out www.dnr.state.mn.us. Click on the fishing button and then lake finder to catch all sorts of inside information. Or visit www.exploreminnesota.com to find great places to stay, play and fish. Finally, visit the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Web site at www.rbff.org. Click on Take Me Fishing to hook great tips to make the trip a success.

Planning on fishing with a young person?

Here are a few tips to get started.

Keep it simple. A cane pole, live bait or canned corn, bobber, split shot and tiny hook make the perfect kid’s fishing rig. Look for action. Walleye, northern pike or smallmouth bass might be your preferred catch but to a kid, any fish is a trophy. Panfish are often the most cooperative and can usually be found near shore.

Distractions. Pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cookies or just a bag of crunchy granola. A pair of binoculars, bird books or even a bucket of minnows can delay the sound of “I wanna go home” for hours.

Safety. Wear a lifejacket. Kids are great imitators – if they see adults wearing a lifejacket, they’ll wear theirs. Be sure to pack band-aids, pliers, a handkerchief, sunscreen and raingear.

Have fun. At its heart, fishing is about memories. So make them. Be willing to stop and turn over rocks, feed the ducks or just wander around looking for frogs. It doesn’t matter. Wonderful memories will be formed when people make fishing fun.

Minnesota’s walleye and northern pike opener is May 12. The bass season opens May 26 for most of the state, and muskellunge become legal on June 2. Seasons are already open for crappie and sunfish.