Let’s Go Fishin’
There is something magical about fishing. It typically is either something you love or you hate. For me fishing started at an early age. I couldn't say for sure why I liked it so much.
Perhaps it was just getting to the lake. Or maybe it was we rented a row boat back then. Maybe it was because WE CAUGHT FISH!
Whatever the reason it is something that has stayed with me my whole life. It is hard to have a bad day fishing. I have come close for sure, with boat malfunctions or bad weather. But regardless it gives you a story to remember and usually everything turns out just fine.
Fishing is something that I recommend that you teach your kids. Teach them about conservation. Taking care of our ponds, lakes and streams. How to be polite on the water. I can't tell you how many morons I have seen that drive their boat like they own the lake. Fortunately for me, my dad taught me how to be a courteous boat operator.
Safety is number one when it comes to being on the lake. Especially in a boat. You are plenty safe if you ACT in a safe manner. Even when I have had motor malfunctions things always turned out great.
But really you should teach your children the thrill of watching a bobber waiting for a big bluegill to take it under. Or show them how to cast artificial lures. I knew grade school age kids who could put it inside a hula hoop from 30 feet away time after time. They can learn quick. And don't forget this is a great time to get quality time with your family. This is a time when you have their undivided attention, far away from the video games and the televison.
My grandfather even took me out in a small aluminum boat and taught me how to fly fish. Those are memories I will have with me for the rest of my life. I was in grade school at the time. We drifted along steep rock walls and fly fished for perch and small bass. It was great. And to make it all more special...here YEARS after my grandfather is gone, I now have that bamboo flyrod hanging on my wall.
I have loved fly fishing and bait casting with artificial lures since those days. Myself, fishing with a cork is not as exciting. But for a kid it is a THRILL.
Later on in life I went to work for a fish finder company and got numerous opportunities to go offshore and fish for everything from Amber-jacks to Barracuda to whatever we could find suspended over an old ship wreck.
Being in a 20 foot boat in 10 foot seas 20 miles offshore is not something I would recommend but I've done it. Again, it has given me lasting memories. I have also been on the ocean when it was so calm you could see the tiniest fish surface and disturb the water. We even got to see whales in the distance. Porpoise swimming around the boats was commonplace in Florida. And seal spotting was just as easy on the west coast.
For me I still even like pond fishing. In fact, we bought property that had a pond and I took our daughter with her little "Snoopy" fishing rod up there and she brought in a pretty good sized black bass. I had to catch her to keep her from being drug in the water. She was probably 4 or 5 years old. Our daughter is married now and to this day I have not caught a bigger fish out of that pond than our daughter did with her little fishing rod. What fun!
So pack up the gear. Find a pond (ask permission to fish!). Find a stream, or access on a lake. If you have a boat even better.
What ever fishing equipment you need, you might find it here. We have lures and baits of all types. We have fishing rods, reels for both fresh and saltwater. You can find tackle boxes, fish finders and even vintage fishing equipment for the collector.
We hope you like what you find.
So pack up the equipment and the family and head out for YOUR own fishing adventure.
