Kids Gone Fishin'

I know I've talked about this once already, but it needs to be talked about more and more. If it was, then maybe our kids wouldn't be getting into so much trouble, wouldn't be sitting in front of the computer or TV so much (you can tell it's hard to get me to), and wouldn't be trying out the wrong things at too early of an age.

Kids have almost forgotten what it's like to be a kid ... either that or it has changed drastically, for the worse. I have found that since we added a pontoon boat to our choice for guiding, that more and more parents are bringing their kids with them on the part of their vacation that they have set aside for fishing. And the kids are learning about something that they never knew they had an interest in ... until now.

On the side are just a few pictures of the kids that have been fishing with me. Just look at their faces. They're having fun and there's not a TV, computer, ipod, cellphone, or gamer anywhere in the picture. Just something that came from nature that they are proud to have encountered.

There are numerous sites out there, including ours, that either include kids fishing or are dedicated to kids fishing. Take the time to show your kids or grandkids what they're missing.

Kid's Fishing Tips; Gettings Kids Started Fishing; Information for Kids; Fishing Fun; Kids Fishing Clinics; Fishing For Kids; Kids Fishing Directory; Bass Fishing 4 Kids; Why Kids Need Fishing

These are just a few of the sites with information and/or pictures about kids and all types of fishing. Of course, we are partial to largemouth bass fishing, but that's only because it's the most popular of all the sport fishing ... and that's what we do best.

Just a tip ... if you're having any trouble with "generation gap" in regards to either your kids or grandkids, take them fishing and watch the gap shrink right before your eyes. In the eyes of the bass, you're all God's children!

Pike caught in Canada ... or was it?

Below is a copy of an email I received. But when I googled it, I came up with a site that has some debating the validity of the location. Let us know if anyone knows for sure where this monster pike was caught.

• This is the new record in Canada. He caught it on Rainy Lake. Check this thing out. The last picture is unbelievable! This guy (in the photos below), was fishing and caught a 36" Pike - as he was reeling it in, a 56" Pike tried to eat it!!!!! He brought them both in on the same net. Awesome catch on a Lake in Canada - 55 lbs- 56 inches.

For real fish stories and testimonials, go to my Fishy Stories page in my website; or for 10 years worth of guiding pictures go to my Bass Braggin' page.

Blog Problems

Sorry about not being able to load my blog for a few days. I was having trouble with it and couldn't figure out what was causing it, so I just deleted most of what I had on the side. Will start rebuilding it, but checking this time after each addition. If anyone else has had this trouble and knows exactly what caused it, please let me know. I got so frustrated deleting one thing at a time and then previewing it just to see it do the same thing that I went ahead and deleted almost everything. In case you didn't catch what it was doing, the entire sidebar kept trying to load over and over again. Eventually it would completely lock up the browser. All is okay for now.

Website Makeover

Well, I'm sure many of you that have been on our site before have thought that this is "about time." We have finally done almost a complete makeover of our website. It's been a long time coming, but my wife has been very busy on a lot of other things. She's still not done tweaking it yet but, for the most part, it is done.

It has grown from a measley 10 pages to now over 30! We have pictures spanning the last 10 years and have created separate picture pages for the corporate groups. The kids already had their own page, but it is larger now.

If anybody has any suggestions for the website, please let us know so Joyce can take your suggestions into consideration and make whatever changes she decides on. I pretty much let her handle all of that, seeing as I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to make changes to it anyway.

The fishing is picking up nicely, and the bass are cooperating. The really huge trophies are still holding out for a little later in the season, but seven to nines are becoming fairly common. Some of the bass have started bedding, although this last cold front moved them off for a few days. Of course, wild shiners are still the favorite meal, but domestics run a close second.

Don't forget to use CPR - Catch, Photograph, Release - to help preserve larger catches. It would be a shame to coax our kids into the sport of fishing and their to be nothing for them to catch. Of course, it doesn't hurt to eat a few from time to time. Just remember that the smaller ones make the better meal; and big fish breed big fish. So, if the filets won't fit into an 10-inch skillet you shouldn't be cooking it!

Travel Blogger

Additional Authors

If any of you would like to become an additional author for this blog, please send me an email with your request and tell me a little about yourself and why you would like to become an author.

The more the merrier ... because I know every fisherman has an opinion, and when you're not out fishing, or watching fishing on TV, or preparing your boat or tackle for fishing, you're talking about fishing to anyone that will listen. So feel free to jump in here because the web provides plenty of listeners (or readers, that is).

We can set up your own personal logo to attach to your blog articles to differentiate between the authors. So, let me know if your interested.

Apology

I want to apologize to all of you bloggers out there that have been faithfully checking in on my blog. It's really no excuse, but I have been working practically every waking hour, that I haven't been fishing, on my website. I have increased its size from 10 pages to 34 and have increased the rankings to showing up within the first two pages of Google, Yahoo, and MSN searches for my keywords/phrases. I'm still working on it (you're really never done), but I've backed off on how many hours I am putting toward it. I know I have no right to ask, but if you could see your way to it, I would really appreciate the hits ... and votes for the links down the right side of the home page or on the links page.

Enough about that. How's the fishing you ask? Well, it wasn't too bad until we had this blizzard of a cold front move through. Now it's even too cold to go out and work on the boats in the garage, much less get in one and go fishing!!! The bass were starting to go on the bed, but this 30 degree weather will push them right back off for awhile, unless we get a really strong warming trend.

As things do warm up, I am anticipating a fairly good season this year, since most of the lakes are still fairly full. Although, we could still use some rain to top them off a bit. Now that all of the holiday hoopla is over with we can get down to business ... that is the business of fishing.

By the way, have any of you tried Doug Hannon's new fishing reel yet? It looks like he's got another winner of an invention. You can find some info about it on my site, along with the links to his site. Doug has received a lot of awards for this one. I think he has outdone himself this time. Congrats, Doug!!! Also, check out his swimming snake, if you haven't done so already. It's a killer of a lure, especially for those of you who LOVE topwater action.

I just heard a joke that I don't get (I don't think), so if you get it, let me know: Two gold fish were in a tank, one says to the other one "Do you know how to drive this thing?" Sorry, but I just don't get it.

Well, like I said, I am back now and will be posting about once a week. If anyone has any suggestions or things they would like me to add to the blog, speak up now or forever hold your peace ... just kidding.