Formula For Happy Kids

When I think back to some of my happiest times as a kid, they usually revolve around riding a bicycle with a fishing pole strapped to the handlebars. I once wrote that every kid should own a good rod and reel by the time they're five years old, and that for a happy childhood, they should get a bike when they're a little older. To top it off, they should have a fishing hole within bike-riding distance. I thought I was living in Utopia when our family moved to a small, central-Kansas town when I was 11 years old. Of course I had the rod and reel and bike, and now we lived about a mile from the state fishing lake. Yep, that first summer was heaven. Every morning, my cousin and I would ride to the lake and have a ball catching fish, frogs, tadpoles, and getting muddy. Every kid should find that kind of happiness, but I know not every kid can ride their bike to the lake. However, it is possible, even necessary, to get a youngster their own rod and reel. Buy a quality spincast reel. I've spent too much time working on old hand-me-down or cheap reels kids brought to fishing clinics. A good reel doesn't have to break the bank, but a quality spincast reel will ensure more time fishing and less time working on the reel.  A 5 1/2- or 6-foot medium-light casting rod will work for about any situation. Buy each youngster a small tackle box of their own, and fill it with a selection of spinners, jigs, a few small crankbaits and a couple of bobbers. Then, take them fishing! Take advantage of the great spring weather we're having and go to your local state or community lake. You'll find a listing of all fishing waters in the 2012 Fishing Regulations Summary, and there is even a Family Friendly designation for community lakes suited for family outings. Get out and pass it on. I can assure you, your kids will never forget.

Fishin' Time

You gotta love spring. Even though this has been a mild winter for Kansas, spring is a welcome season. Spring brings warm temperatures, new growth, and most importantly, cooperative fish. You can find and catch fish in shallow water in the spring, and fish are always easiest to catch when they are shallow. First, fish move shallow to find warmer water and food. Soon after, they move shallow to prepare for the spawn. This is a perfect time to take a new or young angler. When fish are concentrated in shallow water near shore, they are not only easy to find and catch, they are accessible to bank anglers. And maybe one of the best ways to catch them is with a bobber and a small jig. It's an easy rig for a youngster to handle, and it works. The bobber keeps the jig from sinking into and snagging on rocks or brush, and it holds the jig tantalizingly in front of the fish. Even though springtime fish are hungry and eager to bite, cool water makes them somewhat sluggish, so a small, slow-moving bait is best. Let the bobber sit; wave action will be enough movement. Try to get it as close to the brush and weeds as possible, and set the hook if it goes under. Seeing a bobber go under is exciting, even if it's not on you line. And while you can catch just about any pond fish with this rig, crappie might be the most sought-after. Nothing tastes better than fresh crappie fillets. Try the rig in a pond or state fishing lake this spring, and don't forget the kids.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL WATERS

I've used it and I'll bet you have, too. We probably all use the excuse, "I don't have time to go fishing," too often. The problem is that you'll be just as busy tomorrow and the next day. Making time for really important stuff like fishing is important to your health. I've found a way to go fishing more often by rediscovering small waters. There are a couple of local ponds that provide great fishing, and I can be on the water in less than 30 minutes. Now that we're back on Daylight Savings Time, an evening fishing trip after work is doable. Recently, my dad, aunt and I took advantage of unseasonably warm weather and found the crappie cooperative. We didn't catch a bunch, but those we caught were large and scrappy. Take advantage of the next really nice day this month and fish a small pond or lake close to home. Small waters warm up more quickly than larger lakes, so March is a perfect time to fish them. Take a youngster or adult friend along, and you'll both be glad you did. You'll be amazed at how just a few hours of fishing can improve you're mood and general outlook on life.