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Continuing the Tradition (Guest Article)
by Jerry "Ouchigan" Rodgers

"I want to come!!!" I am sure those of us with kids have heard that many times and most times we make some sort of excuse or say, "Next time you can go". Well, that next time might never come and we lose out on some of the best fishing buddies we could ever have. I've been taking my 2 boys tromping through creeks and streams since they where old enough to hold their heads up. A fabulous sight is a 20-some year old with a rod in hand and a content baby in a baby backpack, wading a creek in the middle of downtown Springfield Ohio, catching smallies. Now granted I doubt if either of them remembers those times, but when they got older they both got rods and reels for X-mas or their birthdays. I try to take them fishing at least once a week when the weather is warmer. Granted we may be fishing for bluegill, crappie, smallies, or whatever, but the point is getting them on the water and making it fun for them. So over the past 3 or 4 years I have found a few ways to do this.

1. Keep it fun and entertaining. If the fish aren't cooperating and the kids are getting restless, try looking for crawdads or other life in the creeks or ponds. Maybe just sit and throw rocks and watch the wildlife in general.

2. Keep them comfortable. Don't let the cold, heat, or rain keep them from enjoying themselves. Invest in a cooler for sodas, jackets for the cold, and rain gear of some sort for them.

3. Let the kids dictate when it's time to quit. Usually if the fish are biting they aren't gonna want to go. Let them decide when they want to go home or try someplace else if the fish aren't biting.

4. Let them help prepare for the fishing trip. Let them help gather bait and load the gear.

5. Leave your gear home (rods) if they will let you. My 2 boys won't go unless I bring my rod, too. By leaving your rods home it allows you to focus on their enjoyment.

6. Let them practice casting before the trip. By letting them be able to cast their own rod it increases their enjoyment. Nothing tops the look on the face of a 4 year old reeling in a fish that he/she caught all on his /her own.

These are but a few tips on increasing our kids enjoyment. By making sure they enjoy and find fishing interesting we can be sure for the most part that we are continuing the tradition that was instilled in us by someone who took the time to show us how.