I've loved fishing since I was a little kid. My first taste of fishing came when I was 3 or 4. My Dad took me to a park lagoon. I had a small plastic rod and reel and dipped my hook and line in the shallows. Dad cast his baited hook to the middle of the lagoon. There were fish in there somewhere, but we didn't catch any that day.
Since then, I've gone fly fishing in Idaho, deep sea fishing on the outer banks of North Carolina, and river and lake fishing throughout the Midwest. Then there was that ice fishing experience on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota that still makes my blood run cold.
But some of my three best fishing experiences took place early in life. After that trip to the park lagoon, my next fishing memory was going out on a lake somewhere in Wisconsin with Dad and Mom. I was 5 and Sis wouldn't be born for another year. I remember Dad guiding us out to the center of a choppy lake. All 3 of us fished, me with my little plastic rod and reel. Nobody caught anything that day either. Then suddenly, I felt a weight on my line. A fish! I started reeling it in. Dad and Mom cheered me on. I remember Dad saying it must be a big one. When the fish broke the water I saw a flash of silver and heard the clank of metal against the side of the boat. It was a can of sardines that Dad had tied to my line. I remember being angry and really miffed when they showed some men on shore my "catch." They all laughed. I wanted a real fish :(
Another time, Mom, Dad, Sis and I were in the car driving north to spend two summer weeks with relatives in northern Wisconsin. Suddenly Dad pulled over on the side of the road. He yanked out the rods and he and I cast our lines into a little nameless creek. I had a real casting rod by then. I remember the summer breeze, the smell of clover and the beautiful colors of the blue gills we caught and released. When I think of that day I feel a surge of happiness and warmth.
Then there was the time that Sis and I went out on a motor boat with Dad on White Sand Lake, not too far from Minoqua, Wisconsin. Mom had gone antique hunting with two friends who had driven north to a lake resort with us. Dad took Sis and me out to a good spot on the lake and after a slow start we caught some nice bass. Again, I remember the warm sun, a lake breeze, laughter, the lapping water and feeling good that the three of us could spend some time together.
Fishing isn't always about the size of the fish we catch. Really good fishing is tied up with warm memories of family and friends. Take your kids fishing and you'll create great memories that will last a lifetime. :)
