Family fishing programs teach adults how to help kids to catch fish
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No one is born with an innate ability to fish locked in their DNA. Like most outdoor activities, catching fish requires personal instruction from someone who knows how it's done.
But for a generation of Americans, outdoors mentors can be hard to find and, like other traditional forms of outdoors recreation, fishing participation is trending down nationwide.
Nevertheless, lots of parents, other family members and concerned care-givers who didn't grow up in an angling culture would be happy to take the children in their lives out fishing if they knew what to do. Lots of families would give fishing a try if they could avoid investing in gear that might get pushed to a corner if interest fades -- a likely prospect if the gear isn't correctly used and few fish are caught.
Fortunately, Pittsburghers who would like to learn enough about fishing to help the kids can turn to any of several support groups. Family fishing programs are offered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Venture Outdoors and other groups, and the this year the Post-Gazette offers a free series of family fishing activities.
That government agencies and nonprofit organizations are needed to teach people how to fish is a sign of modern times.
"Fishing is our heritage," said Dennis Tubbs, education specialist for the Fish and Boat Commission. "People have kind of lost touch with nature. But our second greatest interest in this is it's a way to get people out and aware of the water. Once they catch a fish and get interested in the recreational value of nature, they may grow more interested in legislative issues coming up or pollution issues. It's all tied together."
Reeling in that first fish may not be as easy as it seems, said Karen Gainey, a certified fishing instructor, host of "Karen's Fishing Corner" on PCTV-21 and coordinator of Venture Outdoors' Downtown TriAnglers, a Wednesday lunchtime fishing program on the North Shore (begins May 18, runs Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. through September).
"Kids don't care about big fish, they want a lot of fish because kids aren't good at waiting," said Gainey. "One of the best things [caretakers] can do is take them somewhere where they have a good chance of catching a lot of fish."
She recommends fishing at spots where a creek runs into a pond, lake or river; where structure sticks out of the water; and where fish are visibly disturbing the surface or birds are gathering.
"Places where there's a picnic table aren't necessarily where the fish are," she said. "Look for places where the water gets darker -- drop offs -- and at the edges of weed beds. Look for anything different. That's where fish are likely to be."
Gainey rigs kids with a bobber over live bait in water 4 feet or less, but uses a sinker and no bobber in deeper water.
Kids often don't know how to set the hook. Encourage them to pull sharply on the rod, Gainey said, and use circle hooks that allow the fish to hook itself.
First Published May 15, 2011 12:00 am
