Teach a kid to fish

And save a computer

I recently came across the first fishing rod my father gave to me when I was 8 years old. It’s really nothing special, just a Sear's conventional fiberglass rod. It’s at least forty years old now and was in pretty sad shape when I discovered it in the rafters of my parent’s basement. I had it refinished and have been using it this summer in hot pursuit of an Atlantic Coast perennial, the elusive flounder. But more importantly, it got me reminiscing about days gone by and how the times have changed so dramatically. Forty years ago, I could dream of nothing better than a day out on the water or the edge of a pond chasing anything that might lurk beneath the surface. Not that we were fishing for sustenance, we rarely kept what we caught. Yes there were the times when we were invited out with our fathers for a day on the water and on these trips, the end result often ended up on the kitchen table. But mostly, it was a right of passage. We needed to prove to ourselves that we could in fact, survive in the wild should the need arise.

Back then, our quests were almost always dedicated for the males of the species. That’s not to say that there weren’t female anglers, but most held the designation of “tomboy” or did it as a prelude to the pursuit of their counterpart. It seems to me that girls learned early that the real way to a man’s heart was mapped through his core interests. Eventually, most of the female anglers that I came across moved on to other callings. For the most part, it wasn't a flashy way to spend a day and was very improvisional. Equipment was whatever we could get our hands on. Sparkplugs often substituted for store bought weights. Our spending money was dedicated more important things like baseball cards and summer vacation funds.

Today, we live in the age of advanced technology. We also live in a world where way too many children suffer from obesity and its associated ailments. Think there may be a correlation? Personally, I believe there is strong proof if you take the time to look around. We have placed way too much confidence in using this technology as a substitute for parenting. We use television and movies to teach, pacify and otherwise occupy our children’s time in their formative years. And as they mature, we encourage them to spend time in front of the computer, communicating and gaming as well as a learning tool. Is it any wonder that they have, to some degree, lost the ability to assimilate with society in a one to one venue? I have seen members of my immediate family near breakdown over the loss of a cell phone. Communication is a great thing but there is mor to life. Much more.

So take a kid fishing, it’s a great way to spend a few hours or even a day. And unlike organized sports, there is never a winner or a loser. Sure, there are many times when the ultimate goal is not achieved but that is they call it fishing instead of catching. Your child will learn more in an afternoon about life than a 100 days parked in front of the computer. And maybe, just maybe, you will teach them that there is more out there than a cyber-relationship and that the real world still exists.

Even if you are not a devoted angler, there are many ways to get your (or maybe even a neighbors) child a day with a fishing rod in their hands. Many local and national organizations sponsor fishing programs designed to get you started with local events. Check out some of these:

Take a Kid Fishing Foundation.

NJ Free fishing days ( Check out this site and similar programs in your state) No license fishing days with a host of programs to accompany it statewide.

If you live near coastal waters, most likely there party fishing boats who run programs suited for the novice. Find an operation like the Duke O’Fluke in Somers point NJ and you are guaranteed to have a fun day out on the salt water. It offers a relaxing day on the fishing with none of the hassle. Most provide tackle as well as bait; all you need to do is pack a snack. More importantly, it’s a day outside. Talk about opportunities to communicate, it rarely gets any better than this. And the big payoff, should you catch a fish is immediately recognizable. It comes in the form of a smile so big that if we ever find a way to harness its energy, it would make the OPEC members shiver in their tents. It’s that powerful. So give it a try. Take a kid out fishing. Consider it my version of a new national health plan.