I started doing this several years ago, when my cousin’s kids started to become of age where fishing peaked their interests. With Lani growing by leaps and bounds, I will do the same for her some day. It is one of my more memorable fishing experiences, and think every kid should have one of them.
It started back in the day, when I was 8 or 9 yrs old. My dad’s cousin, Uncle Joe and I were fishing. Now Unc was a river rat from years back on the Detroit River, and this guy knew his fishing. He gave me this small frog patterned Believer to fish with. It was only 3 inches long, but still looked like its big 8 and 10 inch muskie cousins. Back then they were made in Michigan (now Toledo, OH).
Ok, so the scene is set, me and Unc fishing. I catch a 30 some inch Northern Pike while trolling around one of the lakes next to the cabin. To a fourth grader, it was HUGE. I was having such a good time fishing with that lure, I didn’t want to come in for dinner. But when the time did come to come back to shore, Uncle Joe gave me that lure to keep. He said something to the effect, if caught something on it, you get to keep it. Did I mention that I love my Uncle???
I have never forgotten that, and have passed it on to the younger relatives when I take them fishing. Last year it was my Cousin Ruthie’s boys, Jack and Scott. I took them out in the rowboat and went around the lake, giving them each a spinnerbait to fish with. I told them, if you guys catch a fish on those lures, you get to keep them. Sure enough, both the boys caught pike on those spinnerbaits, and they got to keep their lures. Now they have a memory from Uncle Chuck. Scooter liked his lure so much, when he got it snagged on some brush in his Grandma and Grandpa’s lake, the crazy kid dives right in and gets his lure back.
Fishing is a great way to get kids outside and excited about the outdoors, so take one fishing, and bring plenty of extra lures to hand out. They will love you forever, for just one moment in time.
You certainly have a way of tugging at the heart strings – I don’t have memories of getting a lure – but I do have many cherished memories of fishing with my dad growing up – from a rowboat, to the pontoon boat – to the starcraft and now to the imperial. I was lucky enough to love the sport and have the passion for fishing – and I thank my dad for that everytime we go out on the lake.
Dont know about all that, but, I too am grateful for my father getting my brother and I out into the outdoors and experiencing it all. He worked swing shift back in the day, and what time we had together, was either spent on projects around the house, fishing or hunting. August is my favorite time of the year, because our whole family was either in the UP camp or down by the lake campground, every summer. Everyone should be so lucky, just to be out and about with their parents, and extended family.
I guess we’re a couple of the lucky ones – and are fortunate enough to have a passion for the sport(s) and grateful of spending time with our families.