Taking a child fishing can be fun and rewarding.  You can have a fishing partner for life and make some fond memories with a child.  When I was a child I was introduced to the outdoors and fishing by my father, Joe “Skip” Jones, Jr. and my grandfather, Joe Jones, Sr.  My father and I would go out in the back yard and dig for earth worms, catch crickets and or find a wasp nest and use the wasp larva for bait.  We would then go to a local farm pond where we would catch plenty of bluegill, a catfish or two and the occasional bass. 
     However, it didn’t matter what kind of fish we caught as long as we were catching fish.  On one fishing trip, my father and I went to a farm pond not far from home.  I was equipped with my push button Zebco, live bait, a hook and a bobber.  My father was using a new spinning rod and reel with a new product on the market at that time; a plastic worm.  I recall my father casting the black plastic worm towards the middle of the pond and as he began to retrieve it a large mouth bass inhaled it.  I was very excited and remember thinking that this was the biggest bass in the world; it must be a record.  The bass was only about fourteen inches but it was big enough to get me hooked on bass fishing for life.  I would even strap my rod and bait to my bicycle and head for the nearest fishing hole.  It has been over thirty years since that day and I am still on the quest of catching bass and have spent thousands of dollars pursuing these green fish. 
     In addition to fishing ponds as a child I also fished on the river.  This is where I experienced salt water fishing growing up in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.  My grandfather would take me to a close friend’s house that had a pier on the river.  We were equipped with our rods rigged with two hooks and blood worms and/or peeler crabs.  We caught plenty of white perch.  As a child I thought it was very exciting catching two fish at a time.  In fact, I still find it exciting.
     I would have never experienced fishing without the influence of my father and grandfather.  I try to take a child fishing whenever I have the opportunity.  I believe it’s important for a child to have a positive and enjoyable experience the first time they go fishing.  The child should be taken to a place where they can be guaranteed to catch lots of fish.  It’s not important what type of fish they catch as long as they catch plenty.  I started my son Jason fishing on a pond and catching bluegill.  On one occasion, he caught a catfish which weighed about five pounds.  He was unable to reel the fish in with his small rod and reel so he turned around, ran and dragged the fish to shore.  Jason is now fifteen and still enjoys fishing on a pond.  Although he stills likes to catch bluegill I have introduced him to crappie and bass fishing.  I believe that it will someday become his passion also. 
     In addition, Jason has helped me at several fishing shows over the past year.  He assisted me at the 2001 Bassmasters Classic where I represented Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits.  There he got to meet Gary Yamamoto, Roland Martin and a host of other fishermen.  These and other professional fishermen are great role models for a child. 
     In addition to my son, I have taken a young man, Daniel Buckler, fishing.  Daniel is the son of a very good childhood friend of mine.  He also loves to go to the pond and catch bluegill.  I have even taken him on my Ranger bass boat where he has caught a bass or two.  Daniel has become very interested in fishing and along with my son is quickly becoming a fishing partner.  I purchased Daniel a spinning rod and reel which we will put to good use this year
     There are a lot of good reasons to take a child fishing.  It doesn’t matter what type of fish you pursue with the child nor does it matter if it’s from a boat or from the bank. One fishing trip can change a child’s life.

"As published in the May 2002 edition of The Sportsman's Magazine"