Date: 06/16/10
Contact: Doug Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127 x 3500

FISHING BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER

With our lives growing increasingly busy family relationships can be a challenge these days, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Results of a Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation survey indicate that boaters and anglers are more likely to have close relationships with their children than people who don’t boat or fish.

“Research shows that people who boat and fish are more likely to be happily married, feel fulfilled with their day-to-day lives and enjoy time with their kids than those who don’t,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “And yet many families never experience the joy these activities can bring.”

A 2008 study from the National Academy of Science found that children and parents are communing with their high-tech televisions and the Internet a whole lot more than they are with nature. And, presumably, a whole lot more than they are with each other. The tremendous growth of video games, meanwhile, has coincided with a slew of national issues like childhood obesity and shortening attention spans among students.

In these days when quality time with family is hard to come by, thousands of people are discovering just how easy bonding can be away from land and on water. Teaching children how to fish, or learning with them, gives families an activity they can enjoy together for a lifetime. At the same time, boating and fishing instill a love of nature and an interest in conservation.

“Learning about fishing is really quite a simple process. One place to learn basic fishing skills are the free fishing workshops provided by our Angler Education Program,” said Ivy Santee, Nevada Department of Wildlife Angler Education Program coordinator. “Participants learn about such things as fish identification, bait and equipment selection and knot tying. We also teach casting techniques through hands-on activities.”

While adult anglers fish mostly for relaxation, children want action and they want it fast. “Kids need to catch fish to get hooked on the sport. The best way to ensure they enjoy fishing trips and want to go again is to find locations where they’re most likely to catch something,” Santee said.

Children are thrilled the first time they catch a fish, so make sure helping them is your first priority. Don’t expect to do much fishing yourself when taking your children for the first time. After the first few trips, they’ll probably want to handle most tasks themselves, giving you plenty of opportunity to fish, too. In the meantime, remember to bring a camera along to capture their excitement and first catch.

Remember to take frequent breaks, especially if children are under the age of 10. Most young children are unable to sit quietly in a boat or on the dock for hours at a time, but interruptions can be great opportunities for more learning experiences. Encouraging them to use pent-up energy to chase butterflies or catch tadpoles, for instance, will help children appreciate nature and grow up to become responsible lovers of the outdoors.

Here in Southern Nevada young anglers can get a good start at the following fishing holes: Floyd Lamp Park (Highway 95 and Durango), Lorenzi Park (Washington and Rancho), Sunset Park (Sunset and Eastern), Veterans Memorial Park (Boulder City), and Hafen Park pond in Mesquite. Those interesting in getting out of town may want to give Eagle Valley and Echo Canyon reservoirs in Lincoln County a try. The Kirch Wildlife Management Area, located about 70 miles north of Ash Springs, is another option.

The park waters are stocked with rainbow trout during the cold fall and winter months and with catfish when the temperature heats up. Eagle Valley, Echo Canyon and the reservoirs at Kirch are stocked with rainbows. Each of these waters provides anglers of all ages with a chance to reel in some feisty fish.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a Federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.