As the black Chevrolet backs to the edge of the boat launch, four beanie-covered heads bop up and down in the back window with excitement. The parking break is set, the rear doors of the pickup truck fly open at the hinges, and four little stay puffed marshmallow fishermen pile out of the back seat and slide out onto the ice covered surface of Millsite Reservoir.
My friend and I unload the gear and pull the sleds out onto the polar pond, to try our luck at some ice fishing. Additional friends join us, and before we know it; the tent is set up, hot chocolate is brewing, the holes are opened, and mealworms are dangling from hooks.
I enjoy fishing with “young-uns”, however, it can be a fulltime task, that is worthy of the best management practices. Let me describe to you the stages of the event, keep in mind that we will skip THE TRAVEL stage, complete with its “she’s touching me” and “how much farther’s.”
THE ARRIVAL: When you first get to the lake, something inside of a child bursts, and the excitement to get that first line in the water is in all ways overwhelming! Nothing else in their universe matters, other than getting a form of bait onto the line and into the depths.
Once they have a line in the water, next comes THE WAIT. The duration of this stage in the process is different for kids age 3yrs – 17yrs and can last anywhere from 1 to 7 minutes! It is typically interrupted intermittently by, questions of “why aren’t the fish biting?” & “Dad, why don’t you have a line in the water?” It is also noteworthy to mention, that this stage is ended (on most occasions) as soon as a father casts his own line into the water, and is generally signaled by the nature call of “Dad, I need to use the bathroom!”
The excitement has worn off, and the patience of the children has been depleted. This is when the largest stage of the process is ushered in. This is what I like to call THE DISTRACTION. To a first time parent fisherman, this stage is an emotional roller coaster, because the first timer still believes that there is a viable chance that he can actually get the kids to spend more time in THE WAIT category. To the seasoned parent fisherman, this stage is the opportunity to relax, keep one eye on the poles, and the other on the kiddos. You see, the seasoned parent has learned that despite the tossing of rocks, spilling of tackle boxes, smacking of pollywogs, and tangling of tennis shoes; there is a still hopeful chance to hook a fish now and again.
THE CYCLE: This is the game changer! No matter what stage you are in, when a fish is hooked and the pole begins to surge and point its nose to the water, the kids come running and the cycle is repeated! It is a wonderful cycle and I feed off of the energy of them kids. Enjoy the cycles of life folks. Take joy in the little things, and in your little ones! Fish on!