Lessons Kids Learn While Fishing

It occurred to me the other day while inviting a friend to go fishing with me that every time I talk about fishing, I also end up talking about one or more of my children. That is because I usually have one or more of my children with me when I go.

While I have my eldest son to thank for the initial and ongoing addiction to this hobby, I have subsequently taught all of them, sons and daughters, to fish. In doing so for the years which I have, I have come to believe that this simple act of sharing this wonderful pastime with all of them has been more than just fun for me and my children. I believe that it has taught each of them some valuable life lessons which they can use in other pursuits as well.

Hooks need to be checked to make sure they are sharp and if not replaced. Drag settings need to be adjusted, rod eyelets cleaned etc. The point being that while it can get tedious for the youngest of the brood, they all understand that preparation is one of the keys to ensuring a good experience. This lesson is applicable to so many other areas of their lives including school, sports, testing, job hunting, job promotions and on and on. Fishing and the preparation for a trip can teach them to prepare.

The next most important thing in my opinion that children learn from fishing is delayed gratification. It can take hours before their first bite yet they seem to understand that you can’t catch a fish without a line in the water and that simple fact has consistently kept my kids throwing it out there even when the bite is slow or non-existent.

The chance that the next cast might produce the first fish of the day is ever present and seems to be motivation enough to keep them chucking and winding. This again is one of those life lessons that I believe is essential for people to learn. Sometimes you have to put in a lot of work before it pays off.

Adaptability

Once again, since I have my children with me more often than not, they have learned to be adaptable to the conditions they are faced with. Not to be preachy but the fact of the matter is that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry and when they do those that adapt the quickest tend to have the most success.

It’s funny how my eight year old will now point out something that I hadn’t noticed and recommend a lure that she believes will be successful based on her observations. It is that kind of awareness that once learned can readily be applied in so many other areas and one that fishing teaches.

It may be that this wonderful, simple little hobby can teach us all some life lessons that for whatever reason, seem to be more easily learned when you are outside, next to some body of water pursuing that first bite of the day.