This week was all about the kids! I had a great opportunity to hang out with a school bass club, spend time with my own kids, and talk jerkbaits with a junior angler who really rocks! And it's been a blast -- after all, I’m really just an overgrown kid!
Let's face it, until recently, the fishing industry has done a poor job of recruiting the next generation of anglers. Times have changed in the fishing world and we haven't done a very good job of keeping up.
While fishing has great history as a family activity, in many parts of the county the word "family" itself has changed over the past few decades. These days, single-parent families are common in America, creating a whole new set of challenges for raising kids in the outdoors. Given the time and logistics of raising kids as a single parent, it can be extremely hard to get children involved in outdoor activities. The day-to-day responsibilities of providing for the children takes over.
Fishing In The Schools
Noticing this shift in family dynamics, the fishing industry has made great strides to bring fishing to those who have never fished and those who have been side-lined from the sport at some time.
How? The industry has grasped the concept of fishing in school!
High schools and colleges now offer this wholesome activity as a sport to both boys and girls. While athletics as a whole are valuable in shaping a child's character and work ethic, fishing (as an individual sport that transcends school years) can do much to help kids through tough adolescent years and foster a lifelong passion.
I was invited recently to speak to the Marshall County High School Bass Club in Benton, KY. The club boasts 50 members, eight of them girls. Perhaps that's the reason for such high numbers in the club ... But seriously, there's a lot of genuine interest in fishing by both boys and girls.
At my most recent session with the club, we talked about knot tying, early-season patterns and how water temperature affects bass. And the kids ate it up. It was really cool to see their passion for fishing. It made me reflect back to my formative years.
What I would have given for this opportunity as a kid! Besides the obvious personal development that comes with fishing as a scholastic sport, these kids will have the chance to get college paid for through fishing scholarships!
So, I encourage parents, advisors, and local fishermen to jump on the bandwagon and invest energy and resources to get kids on the water. I made a pledge to myself to help with this movement every chance I get. We can make a difference through mentorship. Ultimately, we're producing not only knowledgable young anglers, but productive community members!
Bass-Boat "Skiing"
My own kids are ready for warmer weather and the fishing outings it'll bring. My seven-year-old daughter told me at the bus stop she was ready to go "skiing" again -- although the version we came up with last summer isn't technically water skiing.
Here's how we do it: My Skeeter boat is rigged with a pair of Power Poles (shallow-water anchors). They can hold a boat anchored in waters of approximately eight feet deep and allow an angler helpful boat positioning to make multiple presentations to a target. As the units are deployed, they fold out and down like giant cricket legs -- key in what I'm about to describe.
Basically, in our family's version of water skiing, I send the poles down just below the water’s surface and my kids (wearing personal flotation devices) hold on as the 101-pound thrust trolling motor drags them through the water. Now keep in mind that I'm not moving very fast, but it's still a lof of fun for them!
That's the complete tutorial for bass-boat skiing! And it's only one of the many things we do on the water. Face it, children often need a diversion from the fishing to keep the outing fun. I really try to do my best to be aware of their attention spans. A quick bit of fun keeps them in the fishing game!
This Junior Angler Rocks
I was recently caught up with a ton of fishing friends at the Louisville Boat Show -- friends I hadn't seen since my own bass club days. I was on the bass tank speaking to the crowd when I spotted a young man who I had met at a friend’s home in Florida. His name is Nick Denham and he's a hot junior angler who's recently been tearing up the junior events in central Kentucky.
So there was Nick in his tournament jersey absorbing every word I had to say about suspending jerkbaits. I climbed down off the tank and Nick waited patiently until I had answered every question from the seminar attendees. He didn't even say hello as he dove into his own questions about jerkbait techniques. As I’m listening, Nick kept mentioning Lake Guntersville. I soon learned that he and his dad, Jay, will be competing in a circuit on Lake Guntersville, a whopping five hours from their home!
Now, let's put this in context. Jay works two full-time job. He has his regular 9-to-5 job. His second job? Keeping his son on the water! I have to give the Denhams a tip of the hat for making family number one! I know Jay makes every effort to keep his son involved in many different activities, even if it means lots of time on the road.
I forgot to mention the “three wins” in a weekend for Nick. He won two different junior bass-fishing events (on two different lakes) in the same weekend! The third event was a music contest held on Friday and Saturday evening of the same weekend. Nick is an accomplished rock drummer. His group competed and won the contest! It seems young Nick may be able to make a living with some sort of sticks in his hands! Fishing sticks or drum sticks will be in Nick’s future for sure!
We all can make an impact on kids. Outdoor activities help kids learn to make better life decisions. Let’s all do our best to take a kid fishing at least once this fishing season.
I will pledge my energy and resources to take a child fishing from outside my family this season.
Will you?
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Mark Menendez is a 20-year veteran of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and at his website.