Building Up Good Karma

[OCdockskipper]

Even though I prefer to have a lake or area to myself when fishing, I do have a soft spot for kids who are learning the sport.  Their interest in fishing, no matter how short lived due to childish attention spans or other distractions, can be stoked with a little success and a realization that results are within their control based on their decisions.

 

So yesterday I am working my way down the eastern side of a cove when I notice a dad helping his 2 boys & daughter fish off their dock at the back of the cove.  It was like he was spinning plates, running from kid to kid as they cast over each others lines and tried to figure out how to reel.  Kind of humorous.  In the 20 minutes it took for me to get closer to their dock, I caught 3 bass, which as would be expected, caught the kids attention.  After the 3rd one, the dad asked what I was using for bait.  Even though I was tossing a Ned Rig TRD, I thought it might be better (easier) for the kids to use a wacky rigged senko & still get results.  I motored over to their dock and was going to give them a pack of the worms when the dad said "Oh, those are Yamasenko's, we have some of those".  So I spent about 2 minutes showing them how to wacky rig them and told them that the bass were not really chasing today, showing them how to fish it slowly.  I mentioned that the bass were getting ready to spawn, how they would be moving shallow and some different areas that they should cast to.  I looked over at the oldest boy (about 10) and told him that he wouldn't feel a strike from the fish, more likely he would just see his line moving, so keep an eye on that.

 

I motor away the opposite direction and no more than 5 minutes later, I hear the 10 year old yelling "Dad, Dad".  Sure enough, he had hooked his first bass.  His mom was videoing the the whole fight and they took a bunch of pictures after he landed it.  Dad was handy enough to get the hook out and release the fish fairly quickly.  I gave the boy a sitting ovation from about 50 yards away, to which he waved & yelled "Thanks for the help".  With the seed planted, it will be interesting to see over the next few months if he is bit by the fishing bug or if this was just a cool moment he got to share with his parents.

[iiTzChunky]

I ways try to help the kids out when I see them fishing. In the past year I've given out probably around 2 packs of senkos and hooks to the kids, teaching them how to tie the knot and Texas rig them and a quick 5 min showing them how I fish em. Usually don't get to see the results but I can only hope those few worms I've given out have produced for em and convinced them to buy a pack or 2. 

 

IT was a challenge to teach my 6 year old how to fish with a Senko but he's slowly getting it down and actually got his first bass last year. 

[lonnie g]

nice read guys! we all once were that kid. and if you kind gentlemen aren't  teaching this sport. what else would they be learning? 

[Tucson]

Thumbs up to you for taking the time.  It's possible you lit a fire for one or more of those kids that will stay with him all his life.  

 

Sometimes fishing is more than just catching fish.

[Darren.]

Another thumbs up from me! Did the same when I was

fishing local docks. Don't come across kids so much any

more being out on the water in the yak, except for my

own sons.

[jbw252]

Kudos to you for sharing your fishing knowledge with others. WTG.

[TOXIC]

You just explained one of the "feel good" moments of guiding.  That is why we do it along with so many other positives.  It helps make up for the bad days, bad clients, bad weather, and the other negatives.  

 

I've given on shore or tackle store seminars on Senkos impromptu.  I once in Wisconsin, docked my boat after 5 guys watched me catch 4 smallmouth right in front of their dock.  They said it took them 3 days to catch that many.   I tied off the boat and gave them a short Senko lesson.  Being sponsored by Yamamoto for as long as I have been, I understand what that little amount of time did for the brand.  You know where they were headed as soon as they ran out of the samples I gave them.  

[Crestliner2008]

Way to go! Very nice read. Thank you!

[WRB]

Give back whenever you can.

Tom

[Catt]

I've caught double digit bass, fished with & against some of the biggest names in this sport, & won tournaments against those same guys.

 

My biggest thrill & most satisfaction comes from teaching, coaching, & mentoring not just kids but all newcomers!