r
1 a."tlX- " r-
3
or Everyoneil
4.
5-
fcW5 If
An ardent angler
tells how his
enjoyment of the
sport increased
J when he started
I tuning inc wiic ynu
2 children along.
Fishing, says author, is a recreation the whole family can enjoy to
gether. No matter where you live, some kind of fishing is available.
by Byron W. Dalrympl
he sun was warm, and an easy surf rolled
over the sand. A wonderful picnic
lunch was in the car, my fishing rod
beside it. I was starving and fish were biting.
But I was too busy to either fish or eat
"Come on, now," I pleaded in mock an
guish with my family, "let's eat."
The reply: clamor from wife Ellen to fetch
more bait quickly; urgent demand from five-year-old
Mike to untangle his line.
Fishing had long been a hobby of mine.
Now we'd become a fishing family!
I never knew how much fun fishing was
until I started taking my family along. It
is different from what I once called fishing.
The family keeps me hopping, but when
you've seen the expression of wild delight
as a youngster hauls in a "big one" seven
inches long that docs it. Having Mother in
on it completes the picture!
We have concluded that fishing is the best
recreation any family can have. And it's
available to everybody. No matter where
you live, some kind of fishing is possible.
The number of fish caught, how fine the
tackle, how expert the angler these mean
nothing. Far more important: fishing is
something a family can do together. It is
a clean, wholesome occupation.
A big argument favoring family fishing is
economy. Licenses cost a dollar or two per
year for parents: kids invariably fish free.
Any old car or, yes, even subway or bus
gets the family to water.
Happily, tackle can be tailored to your
purse. It is just as much fun to catch pan
fish with brush-cut pole, cork bobber, ten
cent line, penny hook, and bait picked up
on the spot as with a hundred-dollar outfit.
However, tackle to fit any need fills the stores.
An exciting feature of today's fishing is
that state conservation departments have been
tremendously successful in keeping lakes and
streams amply stocked, even on the very edge
of cities. Some waters, scientists have learned,
need more fishing to keep fish populations in
control. Parks and picnic grounds on lakes
and streams are abundant
We believe in starting youngsters in boats
and life preservers before they can talk, and
in teaching them to fish as soon as they can
hold a light pole. At first we let young Mike
play at it. Meanwhile he was learning many
things: obedience, safety in boats, respect
for water without fear, and that fishhooks
are not playthings. Such lessons taught him
self-reliance, sensible caution, and other
qualities of character that we hope will carry
over into his everyday life. More impor
tant, he had fun learning.
We revel in watching Mike acquire respect
for nature and an insatiable Interest in it
We study together the frogs, crabs, birds,
rocks, flowers, berries. We never catch just
a "fish." We learn what kind it is. -
Most important of all, our youngster is
learning sportsmanship. Not just the word,
which many of us use far too often without
really considering what it means, but the
true significance: how to be a good loser,
a modest winner; how to understand the
thrill of releasing the big one to battle again
someday; the difference between killing
something you will use, and wanton destruc
tion of life, even a grasshopper for bait.
But don't get the idea this family fishing
of ours is a sober-faced affair. Far from it.
We have one whale of a lot of fun. We com
pete for first fish, biggest fish, most fish. We
picnic, visit, swim. We learn new tricks.
Fortunately, basic fishing requires little
know-how. And tackle such as the new spin
ning rods and reels take all the exasperation
out of learning how to cast and fish with arti
ficial lures. Women and youngsters especially
find spinning a delight. They enjoy the cast
ing, and find they can do it easily.
One of the greatest joys of our family
hobby comes after the
season is over, with
the reminiscences. -It
is delightful to share
pleasant outdoor expe
riences, and then share
the memories later on.
This pleasure awaits
any family that's near
water with fish in it!
4
family Wttkly. June I, Mil