With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, school will soon be out and the kids will be on vacation for the summer. I have a feeling if you read this column you probably do take your kids fishing, and that’s a good thing. However, if you go fishing on a regular basis and are like me – your kids are long gone from the house – you should consider taking some other kids fishing.
Several years ago, I taught fishing to summer school kids at Delaware Tech in Georgetown. Most of the kids who showed up were from single-parent homes. Like raising kids isn’t hard enough, you add working full time and having no help at home.
The class was made up of boys and girls who were really interested in fishing. We went over the basics – knot tying, drag setting, casting, different types of tackle and so forth.
The last day of class was held at a small pond at Redden State Forest. The kids got to put what they learned to the test, and they all caught fish. I must admit I was surprised at the size of some of the bass that came out of that little pond.
Perhaps you know a single parent who has a kid who is interested in fishing. If so, ask if the parent would like you to take the kid on a fishing trip. If the answer is yes, plan to go fishing where the chances of catching something are fairly good.
If you have a boat, wait until the spot are at Site 10 or Site 8 so you won’t have to run far. If you surf fish, try Broadkill Beach for spot and croaker.
Kids do not have a great deal of patience. They will keep cranking up their lines to see if they caught anything. They may put their rod in a holder and play with minnows on the boat. On the beach, they may go looking for shells. Do not, I repeat do not, get upset with them. All of the above are exactly what my two sons did when they started fishing with me. I am proud to say both are now expert anglers.
Kids also ask a thousand questions. Answer as best you can. Do not make things up. If you don’t know, look it up on your phone or say you will find out and tell them later. If it concerns religion or politics, tell them to ask their parents.
Speaking of parents, some may have concerns about letting their child go fishing with a man they may not know that well. All you can do is assure them you are not a pedophile.
I have some experience with that situation. Back when we lived in Maryland, my two sons were in Boy Scouts and the scout board chairman asked me to be a member of the board. I agreed.
One weekend, the boys went on an overnight camping trip. On Sunday evening, I got a call from the chairman that an emergency meeting was being held. The scoutmaster had molested one of the scouts. We had the incident reported to the authorities, and the man was arrested.
Another way you may be able to take a kid fishing is to take one of your kids’ friends. Back in the day, both of my boys had friends who were interested in fishing. I would bring them along when we went fishing in the local ponds and creeks.
The whole idea of taking a kid fishing is to introduce those to fishing who otherwise may not get the chance to fish. It could be the neighborhood kid who comes up to you when you are washing the boat, the young person at church who always asks about how the fishing is, or your son’s best friend who pesters you with questions about fishing. Take the time to get these kids out on the water. They are the future of our sport. We have the responsibility to teach them about the proper way to fish, as well as ethical behavior while we are fishing.
Fishing report
Big bluefish are still around the surf, Indian River Inlet and the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park. Use mullet on a mullet rig except at the inlet, where metal lures and bucktails work best. Large striped bass are caught at night from the jetties on Storm lures and SP Minnows.
Boats running to ocean structure are returning with more flounder than sea bass. The Captain Bob out of Indian River Marina had a boat limit of flounder Sunday.
Big black drum are caught on clams and crab at the Coral Beds in Delaware Bay. Evening tides are best.
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Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. He has been the regional editor for several publications and was the founding editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman magazine. Eric is the author of three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing and Fishing Saltwater Baits. He and his wife Barbara live near Milton, Delaware. Eric can be reached at Eburnle@aol.com.
