Earning the Sought After TitleApr 18 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line A joy in life that cannot be matched.
Teaching a kid how to fish is very fulfilling and fun. All the male children in my family love to fish. But, you as the teacher need the right plan for it to all come together. Here is a plan my family uses and has worked well for us. Please note that we only use the titles for the male children (you will have to use your own imagination for the girls). We start the little ones out as early as we can and give them titles. The first title is the Apprentice Baiter. We always perform a little ceremony bestowing them of the title. The reasoning of the title is because they really can’t bait a hook, so they will most likely be carrying the bait around for you. This stage is where you rig a small cane pole with a cork and very small hook. You can use crickets, small grasshoppers, or worms for bait while fishing for Perch and other pan fish close to the edge of the water. Pan fish are great to start with because they usually bite often and keep the attention of the small ones. We also bring along plenty of extra things for them to do. You can bring their puzzles and games along and allow the kids to play with them when they get disinterested in the fishing. Snacks and picnic lunches are always great for the entire family. I strongly suggest that you graduate to a short push button spinning rod and reel combination only when that child is ready. It’s very frustrating for a kid to have something like this and not be able to use it. You will need to consider that you will be spending a lot of your time straightening out tangles in the line. Please do not let your frustrations show. Keep it lighthearted and as interesting as you can for the child. As they grow and their abilities are becoming more refined you can judge when the child needs their second title of Journeyman Baiter. This title is usually bestowed when they are nine to ten years old and they have demonstrated that they are able to perform most of the simple task of fishing such as baiting the hook and making short casts. Again, have another ceremony celebrating the new title. At this age I suggest getting them a five-foot rod and a better push button reel because they will have probably demonstrated the ability to handle it by now. I also try to fish in an area that contains pan fish and Bass. It helps if they can catch that “big one” occasionally. With the longer rod and better reel they can start making longer casts and start using artificial lures. I always start them off using a side cast instead of an over the head one. Seems to lessen the chances of them hooking themselves. Top water lures are used until they demonstrate they are able to cast and retrieve quickly. When they are able to do this they are then given a singled hook spinner lure to use. This is a great time to start teaching them knots too. When their confidence builds they will start making over the head casts on their own. Again, this is another time when the kids can get frustrated if you are expecting too much from them. Please be patient as they are usually frustrated with themselves. I also think that around ten or eleven years old, it would be good if you introduced your child to an opened faced spinning reel and six to a six and a half-foot rod. Early on in this stage it will still be a good idea to keep some extra entertainment around. My youngest stepson came into my life at the age of nine and he quickly showed me that he had already achieved the Journeyman Baiter status, so he was quickly dubbed. As a few fishing trips went by he was depending on me less and less and when he was thirteen he proved he was on his way to the most valued title. Thirteen is usually the age that the third and most valued title is earned. The kids have proven that they are able to properly tie knots, bait hooks, remove hooks without damaging the fish and need little to no help from the adults. On the first day of our last trout fishing and camping trip my stepson absolutely proved that he was worthy of the most sought after title in our family. He was bestowed that night. We held the ceremony at the fireside and I think he grinned from ear to ear all night. The next day imagine my surprise when (at the dock) he announced to the lady, “You know what? Last night I became a Master Baiter!” You should have seen her face. Teaching your kids to fish is a great experience.  |
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