All of us have to do our part in introducing more people to the sport of fishing. Your own kids, your neighbours’ kids, nieces, nephews, your friends and acquaintances—take them fishing. What I really want to emphasize in this column is that we all have an opportunity and an obligation to get more people, especially youngsters, into this sport.
Fishing is an activity that most people get involved with at an early age and it’s almost always an adult who starts them off. Studies show that teenagers and young adults aren’t likely to pick up fishing on their own so, if we don’t take the lead and introduce them to fishing, the chances of them picking up on this sport are going to be fairly remote. On the other hand, if we do get them involved early they are likely to become lifelong anglers.
For the last decade or so we’ve promoted our Kids & Cops Fishing Events and we currently do over 70 of these each year. In a lot of cases young people who have never fished before are showing up at these events with their parents or friends or neighbours and they’re getting introduced to the sport through a fun-filled day of fishing.
There’s something about fishing that gets into your blood and stays with you throughout your life. Unlike most other sports that kids get involved with, like hockey, golf or soccer, their fishing ability doesn’t decrease as they get older. In fact, the longer people fish, the better they get at it. There aren’t many top-level hockey or soccer players in their 40s, and most golfers don’t hit as far when they get older, but some of the best senior anglers in the world are still catching fish and even winning tournaments.
In these tough economic times, fishing is a great way to leave your cares behind and it doesn’t cost a lot of money to get involved. A basic rod and reel setup can be purchased for about a hundred dollars and it will give you years of enjoyment. You can’t say that about hockey equipment or video games!
Fishing is a sport that anyone can enjoy at their own pace and in their own way. There aren’t any right or wrong ways to do it. As long as the open season and the catch limits are obeyed, fishing can be done pretty much however and wherever you like. It’s a sport that can be enjoyed by men or women, young or old, rich or poor. It can be fast-paced and high-energy, as in competitive fishing tournaments, but it can also be enjoyed at a slower pace. There’s nothing wrong with just sitting on the bank under a tree with your rod propped into a forked stick waiting for a bite if that’s what you like.
If you need a break from everyday living, fishing can be a great way to get some peace and solitude. Sitting on the water, surrounded by nature, sure has a way of clearing your mind of your cares and recharging your batteries. Having said that, fishing can also be a social sport where friends can get together for a few hours or a few days. For most of us, some of our fondest memories are of fishing trips with our families or friends.
I’ll never forget a number of years ago when my son, Darren, was with me in the boat while we were getting ready for a tournament.
We were fishing along a weed line when I said, “Darren, don’t move.”
He froze and I said, “Look, there’s a big buck!”
Darren slowly turned and looked toward a row of cottages on the shoreline where someone had a plywood cut out of a deer on their lawn. We had a great laugh and to this day Darren has never forgotten that moment when his dad was “acting goofy."
It’s times like that that you never forget. Sometimes it’s not the fish catching as much as the good laughs and fun that you have together that makes a fishing trip special. The ultimate bonding experience is taking your kids on a fishing trip to a remote lodge. There are no distractions, the conversations will be candid and the memories will last a lifetime.
Fishing is a big part of our heritage and it’s something that we should all strive to preserve. The more people fish, the more important fishing will become to the country both socially and economically. That will ultimately lead to more access to fishing and better management of the resources we all depend on. It’s up to all of us to do our part by introducing as many people as possible to this great sport—and there’s no better time to do it than right now.
