I love to fish. I love my grandkids. Using basic conditional logic, one might assume that taking my grandkids fishing would be a peaceful experience—endless fillets, attentive kids, and me walking away thinking, “Wow, they really listened.”
If only life worked that way.
A more accurate comparison would be trying to ride a bull on the back of a flatbed trailer barreling down the interstate at 80 miles an hour—right after the driver throws the steering wheel out the window. In short: chaos.
If you’re planning to take the next generation of anglers fishing and want to limit the carnage, here are a few hard‑earned tips.
Lower Expectations
Actually, remove all expectations. The thought, “If I get everyone lined out, I might have time to fish,” is pure fantasy. Your sole purpose is to untangle lines, unsnag hooks, and yell. If nobody ends up in the ER, call it a win.
Save Your Breath
The following phrases are completely useless:
“Don’t cast by that tree—you’ll get snagged.”
“Don’t let that fish fall in the dirt.”
“Don’t throw rocks; you’ll scare the fish.”
“Watch your cast—you almost hooked your brother.”
“Don’t slam that pole in the door.”
They don’t work. Reverse psychology is worse. Best case, you get the same outcome. Worst case, you’re rewarded with, “Grandpa, why did you tell me to cast into that tree?”
Focus on Quantity, Not Quality
We all love hooking a monster bass, but fancy gear and electronics won’t help you here. It doesn’t matter how many Master Angler awards you’ve earned—you’ve got about 15 minutes of their attention. After that, you’ll see the look that says, “Does he even know what he’s doing?”
Bluegills and stocked trout are your best friends. Grab a Zebco, some nightcrawlers, and get after it.
Catch It…Cook It
My grandson Dax can’t fathom catching a fish and not eating it. As a result, I’ve perfected my fillet skills on small bluegills. On one trip, he asked if he could help clean the fish. I swelled with pride—until I realized an eight‑year‑old had conned me into letting him wield a fillet knife and conduct a full‑scale science experiment at my cleaning station.
Cherish These Moments
All jokes aside, there’s nothing I’d trade for fishing with my grandkids. Watching them struggle to bait a hook. Trying to net a bluegill they can clearly see from the dock. The pure joy on their faces when they land a fish. The stories to Grandma, a Sprite for them, and a Busch Light for me—it doesn’t get any better.
Until next time, remember…you’re going to have to earn it.