Avid anglers pass along their skills to youths

It's an easy sell: No pay, long hours and, aside from a bottle of water and a slice of pizza, no benefits.

So, you would think it's difficult to get volunteers to teach kids the art of fishing — but it's not.

Few things are more enjoyable to the avid angler than being able to pass on their skills.

The second the pole bends, the young fisherman's focus is on the water ... then the fish. Some want to touch, even hold the fish. Others would sooner watch the action from a safe distance.

Some are a little bewilders, others thoughtfully inquisitive, but all are, in their own way, excited. To them, that fish is the most important thing in the world at that time.

I've been involved in a number of kids' fishing programs, first at Fairmont Park, then Murray Park and Farmington Pond, and more recently at Willow Pond. At some of those events there were upward of a thousand kids all under the age of 14.

Lines start forming long before opening time. Some came with their moms and dads, others by granddads and even grandmothers. Some brought their own rods and reels, but most didn't. There were extras available.

Group leaders told me some of the kids had never been farther than the boundaries of their neighborhood and that fishing was a trip to a new world.

That's why the urban fishing program under the direction of Andrew Cushing and the Division of Wildlife Resources is so important. Many of those kids wanted to fish again but had neither the means nor the opportunity.

Communities are now coming together to offer both.

Under Cushing's direction, there are more than 250 volunteers able and willing to impart their knowledge about fishing ... and loving every minute.

The kids' fishing days usually started with an introduction to Fishing 101 ... proper knots, proper casts, proper baits and a quick rundown on the kinds of fish.

Next came fishing time and the inevitable "what now?" look. That's where the volunteers stepped forward to thread the line, tie a hook, mold bait to the treble hook and then show a proper cast ... and if all goes right, to unhook the fish.

Kids also learn the first rules of fishing: Never count your fish until they're on the stringer; hooks are naturally drawn to fingers; fish are seldom where you think they are; fishing line needs little or no help getting tangled; bait on another angler's line always seems to look tastier; and fish show no gender preference, meaning girls can catch just as many fish as boys.

As Cushing pointed out, the success of the program comes down to numbers. It's not uncommon to find 100 to 200 fishermen casting into Willow Pond in Murray on any given day.

Community leaders are also seeing benefits. The program sells itself, and now all Cushing has to do is give directions on how, where and when the planted fish will arrive.

So, kudos to Cushing and his volunteers. They care about kids, and their work proves it.

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E-mail: grass@desnews.com