PDA

View Full Version : Sharing some thoughts


Keri Solis
08-12-2000, 08:40 PM
In the past week there have been several posts about taking kids fishing and the importance of educating those who do not fish.
Today we held another kids fishing workshop. This time it was at Petenwell, prior to the Team Walleye meeting. A big thank you goes out to Jessie VanGrinsven, Juls, Scott Hogland, Scott DuFrane and Terry Mayhall all who ended their fishing day early to donate their time to the workshop. Thirty-five kids attended, in addition to their parents. Many of you know that at these workshops kids learn how to fillet fish, cast, tie knots, jigs, etc...
I think we could all come up with a million reasons why it is important to introduce people to the sport we all love.
As a post mentioned earlier this week, one of them is the funding of programs. If the kids don't have an interest in the outdoors, 20 years from now where will the funding for the environmental programs come from?
Today a man came up to me and told me that he lived just down the road and had come down to buy some firewood at the park. He saw a flyer hanging for the workshop and decided to bring his kid's down. He told me he used to fish some when he was a kid and the last time he went out with his dad was when he was about 18. That was 20 years ago. He wanted to learn the basics again...and take his kids fishing. I've heard many stories like this before. So many people would like to fish, they just need someone to help show them how.
When I got home tonight and opened my mail, I had a letter from a ten year old boy from northern Wisconsin. He was telling me why he likes to fish. "I like fishing because the way they look, and to bring them in because they put up a good fight, and you don't know what your bringing in on your pole. Also I like just to be on the water." At ten years old, it's so encouraging to see someone so passionate about the sport. What more could anyone ask for?

Eyesore
08-12-2000, 10:25 PM
Very nice post Keri. If you can get a group of children in some sort of "tournament" surounding, I think its one step ahead of just fishing with the "old man". Of course this is not to say there is any thing wrong pops doing the guiding, its just that their competitive spirit comes alive while with others their own age. If we don't pass these things down to our kids, fishing and hunting that is, then... well... PETA and special interest of the like will have won. That would be bad. I personaly like the taste of MEAT.

cisco
08-13-2000, 02:28 PM
Check the Wis DNR Urban Fishing Program and their cooperating groups if you want to see something noteworthy. Every sports group should do at least one event per year for local kids -- the more the better.

Eye Dog
08-13-2000, 06:20 PM
Keri you hit one out of the park this time, great post. Eye Dog

Juls_WI
08-13-2000, 06:41 PM
Great post Keri..;-)

There will be a picture in my head for a long time of the little 4 year old boy, who tangled his practice plug in a girls shoe as she walked away. He looked just like a picture perfect magazine cover pro, reeling in the big one! The girl must have walked a good 15 yards before she knew it was there, and he faught the "fish" for as long as he could! When she noticed it, and got it out of her shoe, he looked like he had just lost the fish of a lifetime..his facial expressions were priceless! You and your dad are doing a great thing here..Keep up the good work!

Juls

Keri Solis
08-13-2000, 08:29 PM
Good story Juls...my sister has helped out a couple times this summer. Her favorite story was watching a young boy ask my dad a question, "Excuse me sir, can I take one of these home? I'd really like to have a pet leech." He had nothing to carry it in and was going to put it in his pocket.
Last week when I was working with a small group of kids at a library I got a good laugh when I asked the kids what animal they thought the tail I was holding came from (the tail was for hair for jigs) A cat? A dog? A monkey? (The correct answer is a calf)
...One more thank you goes out to Wayne Stensrud for giving me the opportunity to bring the workshop to a Team Walleye event and his help in making arrangements for the park shelter.

Backwater Eddy
08-13-2000, 09:57 PM
Great Keri !

Outstanding post!!

I see kids and adults who have varying stages of interest in fishing daily, and they generally feel that if they don't know what to do, they look the fool. I do my best to help without being patronizing or going too far, hard to do for a know it all like me! HA!

But kid's are great! They love to learn, anything! My favorite thing is to ask kid's questions about there theories on stuff! Man they can make your day!

There has been a gap of sorts in some areas of promotion of fishing as a healthy life interest but with caring guidance of people like you it will be a gap soon filled!

I applaud you sincere efforts and healthy heart!

We need many more with this spirit of love of the sport seen through the eye's of another.

"Backwater Eddy"