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One of the joys of summer is to go fishing with the grand - children. I know that they often go with their father but I wanted to share in the excitement and pass on some tips that I learned as a boy. So I went to Walmart’s and bought some mini-fishing poles and other gear.
Since I have three grandchildren, I made up three fishing sets (pole, hooks, bobbers, small plastic accessory case) and put them in a gallon zip lock bag. I tied a rope on each bag so the children could carry it over their shoulder.
I made a date with them to go on a practice fishing trip and learn how to use all the fishing gear. Early one Saturday morning, we went to Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA and practiced casting the lines; first to a target on the grass and then into the water. I also showed them how to tie the hooks on the line and set the lead weight and bobber at the correct distance above the hook.
I then baited the hooks for each child with a piece of worm (night crawlers) and off they casted into the great lake, hoping to catch the big one. Every 5 minutes I baited another hook or helped untangle a fishing line caught on a nearby tree or across another person’s line. After about two hours, we were out of bait and went across the street for a well deserved hot chocolate and a donut. That was quite a workout for papa but fun for the kids.
The next Saturday was the Fishing Derby in Wilmington, MA at Silver Lake. It is held annually on the first Saturday in June to attract new anglers to this life-long sport. This is also a free fishing day for all age groups (no fishing license required). We arrived at 9:00 AM sharp and registered. Youngsters lined the banks of Silver Lake and also fished off the new L-shaped fishing pier.
I decided to just let the children fish and help them as needed. After getting everyone ready, they fished off the pier and casted their lines into the water trying to stay away from another angler only 5 feet away on each side. After a few casts the two older girls caught their first fish, a sunfish of course. The youngest boy-grandchild was only 6 years old at the time and more interested in playing down at the water’s edge rather than catch fish. His interest in fishing lasted about 2 minutes.
Since that time, a few years have past and we have fished in different lakes, ponds and rivers and the children’s interest in fishing has grown. On a trailer camping trip to New Hampshire, the children caught baby brook trout in a local stream. With their father, they caught sunfish at Edgewater Pond in Wakefield. Recently, we went to Harold Parker State Park in North Andover, MA and caught some sunfish and a juvenile- smallmouth bass at Field Pond. You can Google all these ponds to get exact locations.
Last Tuesday, I decided to go fishing at Silver Lake in Wilmington, MA by myself. That way I could take my time, relax and not have to untangle lines. I got there about 3:00PM and had the lake to myself. Not another fisherman in sight, at that time. I baited my hook and threw the first cast. A few nibbles on the bobber but no fish. I tried another spot further out from the pier and found a school of sunfish that went crazy for the bait worm (night crawlers). I caught a few Pumpkin Seed Sunfish. They are identified with the black spot on their gill cover with a red spot on the end and squiggly vertical dark lines across their body. See photos of fish at the link ……. http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/FishingAtSilverLake81908
Later, I made a cast closer to shore near the weeds and got a good bite. The fish took the line and swam around tugging. I reeled it up quickly to the pier and unhooked the fish while I took a quick photo. I then gently threw the fish back. If you “catch and release” the fish gently, it will recover quickly back to normal. The fish was a juvenile largemouth bass recognized by the dark line down the center, the mouth and the fins.
Now that I am a senior citizen, I can get my fishing license at a reduced rate ($16.25 for the year, January to December). A rate chart for hunting and fishing licenses can be found at the state web site …………… http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/licensing/license_fees.htm
You can also find depth maps for local ponds that help you decide where to fish, identification photos and links to other related sites at the link ……. http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/ponds/pond_maps_nd.htm
Other fish identification web sites are …….. http://www.identicards.com/allaboutfreshwaterfish/ and http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/default.cfm
Since I have three grandchildren, I made up three fishing sets (pole, hooks, bobbers, small plastic accessory case) and put them in a gallon zip lock bag. I tied a rope on each bag so the children could carry it over their shoulder.
I made a date with them to go on a practice fishing trip and learn how to use all the fishing gear. Early one Saturday morning, we went to Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA and practiced casting the lines; first to a target on the grass and then into the water. I also showed them how to tie the hooks on the line and set the lead weight and bobber at the correct distance above the hook.
I then baited the hooks for each child with a piece of worm (night crawlers) and off they casted into the great lake, hoping to catch the big one. Every 5 minutes I baited another hook or helped untangle a fishing line caught on a nearby tree or across another person’s line. After about two hours, we were out of bait and went across the street for a well deserved hot chocolate and a donut. That was quite a workout for papa but fun for the kids.
The next Saturday was the Fishing Derby in Wilmington, MA at Silver Lake. It is held annually on the first Saturday in June to attract new anglers to this life-long sport. This is also a free fishing day for all age groups (no fishing license required). We arrived at 9:00 AM sharp and registered. Youngsters lined the banks of Silver Lake and also fished off the new L-shaped fishing pier.
I decided to just let the children fish and help them as needed. After getting everyone ready, they fished off the pier and casted their lines into the water trying to stay away from another angler only 5 feet away on each side. After a few casts the two older girls caught their first fish, a sunfish of course. The youngest boy-grandchild was only 6 years old at the time and more interested in playing down at the water’s edge rather than catch fish. His interest in fishing lasted about 2 minutes.
Since that time, a few years have past and we have fished in different lakes, ponds and rivers and the children’s interest in fishing has grown. On a trailer camping trip to New Hampshire, the children caught baby brook trout in a local stream. With their father, they caught sunfish at Edgewater Pond in Wakefield. Recently, we went to Harold Parker State Park in North Andover, MA and caught some sunfish and a juvenile- smallmouth bass at Field Pond. You can Google all these ponds to get exact locations.
Last Tuesday, I decided to go fishing at Silver Lake in Wilmington, MA by myself. That way I could take my time, relax and not have to untangle lines. I got there about 3:00PM and had the lake to myself. Not another fisherman in sight, at that time. I baited my hook and threw the first cast. A few nibbles on the bobber but no fish. I tried another spot further out from the pier and found a school of sunfish that went crazy for the bait worm (night crawlers). I caught a few Pumpkin Seed Sunfish. They are identified with the black spot on their gill cover with a red spot on the end and squiggly vertical dark lines across their body. See photos of fish at the link ……. http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/FishingAtSilverLake81908
Later, I made a cast closer to shore near the weeds and got a good bite. The fish took the line and swam around tugging. I reeled it up quickly to the pier and unhooked the fish while I took a quick photo. I then gently threw the fish back. If you “catch and release” the fish gently, it will recover quickly back to normal. The fish was a juvenile largemouth bass recognized by the dark line down the center, the mouth and the fins.
Now that I am a senior citizen, I can get my fishing license at a reduced rate ($16.25 for the year, January to December). A rate chart for hunting and fishing licenses can be found at the state web site …………… http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/licensing/license_fees.htm
You can also find depth maps for local ponds that help you decide where to fish, identification photos and links to other related sites at the link ……. http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/ponds/pond_maps_nd.htm
Other fish identification web sites are …….. http://www.identicards.com/allaboutfreshwaterfish/ and http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/default.cfm
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