by Jack Spaulding
Outdoors Writer
I vividly remember my first forays into the world of fishing. At the mere age of four, I was ushered into piscatorial pursuits on the banks of the Big Flatrock River under the watchful eyes of old Mrs. Cole.
Mrs. Cole dressed more like a very old Scarlet O’Hara than Bill Dance. No slacks or blue jeans here! Her full length dress accessorized with fluffy white petticoats didn’t hamper her or her enthusiasm for an afternoon on the river bank. We didn’t catch anything, and the day ended up more like a picnic. But, the unwavering seed of optimism common to all anglers was deeply planted into my little noggin. I wanted to do a lot more of this thing called “fishing.” And I vowed, someday, I’m going to catch something.
The next summer, my grandfather took me to a special spot south of the Gooseneck on Big Flatrock. Even though the location was only a 100 yards south of Grandpa’s barn, it was a whole new world to me. I still remember we came within a hair’s breadth of actually catching a fish. I can still picture in my mind our silvery quarry slipping from the line at the last second.
Next up, tending to the overactive youngster was our family’s good friend and neighbor, Roy Hoban. With Roy’s planning, we hit pay dirt at a local pay pond, and he actually caught three big fish. Keep in mind, “big” is a subjective and highly variable term when you are less than 4-foot tall and trying to indicate to others the size of the catch. Each time I retold the story, my scrawny arms stretched a little farther. I had soon mastered another attribute of a dedicated angler. I quickly grasped the concept: Fish are among the few creatures known to continue to grow long after their death.
One of the most treasured gifts I received as a child came from my Uncle Wayne Briley. In a raffle, he won a beautiful, boxed, split-bamboo, fly fishing rod, reel and all accessories. Uncle Wayne wasn’t a fisherman. But he knew I loved to fish, and he gave me the fly rod. Over multiple summers, I used the fly rod until I literally wore it out.
Even if you are clueless about the outdoors, it’s not hard to introduce a child to fishing. Any of the big box stores have “Kids Combos” for sale at a very reasonable price and some even come with a small amount of tackle. When buying hooks, keep the size small and buy nothing larger than a Number 6. I use a lot of Number 8 and smaller hooks on bluegill, and they are very effective. Look for “long shank” hooks and fish them with a very small sinker under a small bobber. Use a sinker the size of a large BB and a bobber the size of a quarter or smaller. For bait, nothing beats wax worms or bee moth, or small pieces of night crawler. Use just enough bait to cover most of the hook.
Until the child is old enough and proficient with a fishing rod, the adult should do the casting. Have the child practice at home with a hook-less outfit. Starting out, long casts are really not needed. Concentrate on water 3 or 4 feet deep and position the bobber to hold the bait a few inches above the bottom. And, don’t forget to take along your life vests and wear them.
Finding the right place to fish is the most important part. Farm ponds are great, as well as dock areas on larger lakes. Keep a positive attitude and keep the first few outings short, especially if there is little action. Don’t fear not catching fish. Any trip into the outdoors is an adventure for a kid. Keep it upbeat and don’t forget to bring drinks and snacks.
Private lakes and farm ponds do not require adults to possess a fishing license. Fishing licenses are required for all individuals 18 and older on rivers, streams, reservoirs and other state-owned waters.
Family friends and relatives became my outdoor heroes. None of them were experts, but all of them shared a little of their time to teach me to fish.
A little help from the DNR
Family Learn to Fish workshops will be offered on the third Saturday of most months at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.
The workshops, which run from 9 a.m. to noon, offer families the chance to learn to fish, both in a classroom and while fishing on Delaware Lake, aided by expert instructors. The 7-acre lake offers good shoreline fishing access and ADA fishing facilities. The DNR’s Go FishIN program provides fishing gear and bait. All workshop fishing is catch-and-release.
The required advance registration or more information is available by e-mailing nrec@dnr.IN.gov, or calling 317-562-1338. For more information, contact Clint Kowalik, DNR Go FishIN coordinator, 317-562-1338 or gofishin@dnr.IN.gov.
till next time,
Jack Spaulding is a state outdoors writer and a consumer of RushShelby Energy from Milroy. Readers with questions or comments can write to him in care of Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224; or e-mail jackspaulding@hughes.net