By Jim Gronaw
As a child growing up in the Randallstown , Baltimore area, I was blessed to be in a region that was still country in the mid 1960’s, and there were numerous options for fishing back in that day. There were many farmponds around, some of which still exist to this day. And the small streams and creeks that snaked through the woodlands and farms gave me my first experience at ‘moving water’ fishing. Suckers, chubs and the occasional smallmouth bass would be high on the list of ‘favorites’ and catching them was a schoolboy’s challenge.
As I got older, my dad bought a boat, and things really opened up then! We fished Liberty and Loch Raven, catching mostly crappies, bluegills and the elusive, to us anyway, largemouth bass. As time passed on, we graduated to things like graphite rods, braided lines and new-fangled lures that would surely catch us the big one. But through all the trips, and all the tackle and technology changes, I still have a blast every time I take a child out fishing. It brings me back to my roots, grounds me once again and put a capital ‘P’ on priorities in life.
During the 2012 season, I finally got back to some of those roots and enjoyed some great times with some great kids by introducing some of them to the world of fishing. Nothing fancy, mind you, just straight forward, simple bobber and worm dunkin’ for cooperative bluegills and pumpkinseeds. A couple of the youngsters caught impressive largemouth bass, and some caught citation-sized sunfish, too big to grasp. A few had sunburn, bug bites and needed shade and water. And often, a visit to the local fast food joint soothed the souls of young anglers as hot fries and cold milkshakes made up for any discomfort. Yes…it had been a good day…a great day!
I am looking forward to more of the same this year, as much of the fishing I did as a kid I find myself doing the same to this very day. Bluegills, bass, crappies, carp, catfish, put-and-take trout, watching your step through a cow field, slipping in the mud and getting dirty. I know it won’t raise too many eyebrows from seasoned outdoorsmen and women, but to me, These are the things that make life grand, and keep me grounded. Giggling children who are trying to unhook a sunfish are soothing as well.
One thing for sure…if you want to teach a child, or anyone for that matter, how to fish, you have to donate your ‘on-water’ time to them completely and totally. Your fishing day will come, but it is critical that you devote time and effort to them for this entire day, or evening, or night. Yes, kids can be long on fussy and short on attention…it takes an effort. And there are things like sun and bugs and poison ivy and hunger and thirst and yucky worms that just might not sit well with kids initially. And our job is not to force it on them, but to at least give them the chance to enjoy it and marvel at fish, fishing and anything else that comes into view as God’s creatures. Some will catch on, and some will not. Some young eyes and ears may find wading in the water, chasing crayfish, far more fun then staring at a bobber. Some will enjoy the post trip treats at the local McDonalds more than the fishing. And that’s OK, too. It’s not always about heroic battles and big fish. That, too, may come in time.
I guess I look at things a little differently now that I am a bona fide geezer with two grand daughters. My son Matt and I took 2 ½ year old Elena for her first fishing trips last year and she got into it, which was cool. Elena always wanted to touch each and every fish, and squealed with joy when the scaly, slimy texture touched her fingers. She wants to go again. Couldn’t quite cast, couldn’t quite reel in a fish, and she would rather play with worms than use them for bait. That’s kids for you!
Yes indeed…I am looking forward to more trips with the girls this year, and more trips with local children who may not have that person in their life to pass on such a tradition. Keep the bass boats, the tournaments and the trophies…I’m investing in kids this year.
