Bricen's first fish

Do Today’s Kids Need to be Outside?

As an avid sportsman my fondest memories are of fishing and hunting with my dad. He introduced me to the wonders of nature, the beauty of a sunrise, the excitement of a tug on my line and the pure joy of seeing a dog locking up on point.

Do kids today need to be outside? In the past kids really didn’t have a choice, it was “Go outside and play, and be home in time for dinner.” Today it’s rare that kids are outside for an hour, let alone all day playing. Electronics and technology have replaced outside play and schools canceling recess, is this really good for our kids? Outside play whether it’s a team sport, riding a bike or going fishing, teaches our kids a lot. It teaches them about fair play and team work, self-reliance, patience and how to preform small intricate tasks.

I am a firm believer that today’s youth aren’t spending enough time learning about life, from the greatest teacher God ever created, nature.  

That’s where we as stewards of our favorite past time come in. It is our responsibility to introduce the younger generation to fishing and everything else that the natural world has to offer.

Keep in mind kids are kids. Some will take right to it others may try our patience. I remember taking two sisters fishing, six and eight years old, it was their first time. They didn’t know how to cast, were afraid of the shrimp and I thought “Oh boy what did I get myself into?” By the end of the day, they were handing me the shrimp to bait their hooks and the oldest even kissed her last fish before putting it back. Another time I took a boy who had sensory issues with me (his mom tagged along), I spent time teaching him how to cast, I broke it down into count off steps, step 1 finger on the line, step 2 flip the bail, step 3 look for people, step 4 cast. Once he understood how to cast that’s all he wanted to do, and that was fine. He still remembers how much fun we had and he has even learned how to keep his bait in the water to catch fish. There were times when I have taken kids out fishing who thought that they knew everything about fishing because they watched a show on TV and I have had kids that were happy to just have someone to spend time with them. In each and every case by the end of the day, it was an enjoyable experience for all involved.

Look at that smile!

After the fish is landed, I use this time as a teaching moment. How to carefully unhook the fish, identifying it by its body type and markings, the proper way to handle it and more importantly, how to pose for the trophy picture.

Safety for the fish and angler are also very important. If you mishandle the fish or keep it out of the water for too long this can harm or even kill the fish, so a quick gentle release is paramount. It’s also important to point out to your young fishing buddy, if the fish has sharp fins or teeth. The Florida saltwater catfish can give a painful injury if its dorsal or pectoral fins gets logged into your hand or leg. I have seen many people kill catfish just because they don’t want to risk being stuck, I have also unhooked sharks on fishing piers, because the “fishermen” were afraid of them. in my opinion these people should stick with Wii fishing.

When fishing with kids remember keep it simple. The equipment and fishing spot should be age appropriate. For the younger anglers in training, say three to six year olds, a spin casting (push button) is probably the best choice. If you are fishing a freshwater pond, spring or canal, try using a nightcrawler (available at most bait shops and some Wal-Mart stores) and a bobber. This is an easy way for the young angler to get started and it will catch any fish swimming in the area. 

If you are fishing salt water, try shrimp or the local equivalent on bottom. Bridges, piers and jetties all produce well for young anglers. You might want to save jetty fishing for our elementary age fishing buddies because it has many more challenges such as the rocks, barnacles, and other fishermen. A personal note here, when I take a kid fishing their phones are left in the tackle box or at home, it’s disconnect time. Their parent or guardian always has my phone number and I text pictures throughout the day. 

My love of the outdoors has been with me since I was a young child, and I strongly believe in introducing the children of today to the wonders of nature. If you are like me and your children are grown and your grandkids are 1000 miles away, where can you find these kids? You can start with your extended family, nieces and nephews etc. You can find them in your neighborhood and churches. There are also different organizations, C.A.S.T. for kids www.castforkids.org is a wonderful way to connect with underprivileged or special needs children. C.A.S.T. also offers programs for our warriors returning home, if you would like to thank a vet for your freedom, take one fishing.

An underprivileged or special needs child will enjoy the attention from a caring adult and the experience of a tight line just as much, if not more than someone that you may know. The time you spend with him or her could even be a life changing experience. It could give them a goal, make a choice to stay in school, continue on to college and follow a dream job that the outdoor industry has to offer. Jobs range from law enforcement and conservation to any of the numerous jobs that revolve around our natural world. If nothing else, you gave them an incredible memory they will treasure for the rest of their life. And what did it cost you? Some time and maybe a few dollars to enhance a child’s life and your own at the same time.

So, do yourself a favor, take some time and introduce a youngster to the incredible outdoor world. If fishing isn’t your cup of tea, take them bird watching (eagles and osprey are my favorite), teach them how to take great pictures of wildlife, walk a trail, let them watch a sporting dog, there is nothing like seeing a pointer or a retriever work. Bottom line, our youth need the love and attention of the adults in their lives, and what better way to spend time together and let them know that “The Outside Matters.”

A fast stop at the bait shop #thakkidsfishing