It’s that time of year!!

The weather is warming up, the fish are starting to bite and the kids are all out playing.  Visit us often as we’ll be bringing you more great outdoor articles including camp side recipes. Looking forward to a great summer so if you need any fishing gear, boating gear, or hunting gear, come check us out.

Fishing a Timeless Family Activity

My father instilled in me the love of fishing when I was a child. We spent many wonderful hours at many locations, sometimes close to home, others farther away on vacations. Excluding winter, any opportunity that arose, we were gone to the nearest pond , lake or river for a great, relaxing day. I can still feel the anticipation that grew in me, even as a child, when we were driving to our favorite spot. There was a large pipe running under the road that connected both bodies of water. The current would change and I would see when the little fish were coming and going. It was so much fun. I still remember with great detail how my brother and I would try and catch crayfish. I was too scared to get near their claws. My brother was older and a bit braver. In the early season, my brother and I were always looking for minnows. I will never forget the first school of baby catfish I saw!

On those rare occasions when the fish swallowed the hook too far, even my father would feel bad, because no matter how carefully he tried to get the hook out without hurting the fish, it would sometimes perish. However, even in that situation, the fish would be on the surface, and when it was far enough away, a bird would come along and grab it. As a child, to see a sight like that, was an amazing thing, and it made me feel a bit better, that the fish didn’t go to waste.

My love for fishing and the outdoors has continued over the years. I’ve taken my own children fishing as well. Once, while teaching my daughter how to cast a line out while standing on a dock, she caught the ear of a friend of ours who was standing behind us. Luckily he wasn’t seriously hurt, and learning from past experience we had teh first aid kit on hand. It may seem odd, but even before the hook was removed, we were all chuckling, except for my daughter who was a bit mortified. Those are the memories that last and still make me laugh to this day.

Now that they are grown, I still go fishing myself when the oppurtunity arises. There is nothing better than grabbing my Paco Pad, frying pan with the collapsable handle and camping stove and heading out with my rod and bait (and a golf umbrella for very sunny days). When I get to the spot, I can usually leave the stove and pan in my vehicle, but even if I have to walk for a distance, they are light enough to carry and fit inside a backpack.

The serenity of sitting under a big tree or the umbrella listening to the sounds of the birds around me is, in my opinion is unmatched almost anywhere. I really don’t even care if I catch anything. I am comfortable on my pad, and have the means to cook my catch (if they feel like biting). I know that not everyone has experienced this, but for those that have, and have not gone fishing for some time, I highly recommend it!

Take your children. They will learn far more about nature being outside than they would from any textbook. Of course you’ll be taking a rod and reel, bait and the other obvious necessities for a fishing trip, but don’t forget some of the less obvious things. A first aid kit in a waterproof case. Some pliers and snips for extricating the barbed hooks from undersized fish, or your comrades ear should the need arise. A sturdy multi-function knife for scaling and filleting your catch.

If you’ll be fishing from a canoe or raft, be sure to include life jackets, especially for the children. You can even bring along the family dog thanks to the advent of canine life jackets. And of course, don’t forget your fishing license.

About the Author
Riverconnection Your source for inflatable boats, kayaks, whitewater rafting equipment, fishing supplies, and camping gear. Specializing in inflatable raft repair supplies. Please see our full line of inflatable repair related products at http://www.riverconnection.com