As an adult, I look back on my childhood and recall my parents taking our family fishing. Dad would come home from work and Mom would have the clothes and food packed, ready for loading. Once everything was loaded into the car, we jumped in and off we went. The first thing we did when we arrived at the lake was run to the edge of the water and wait as my father would put our rods and reels together.

Our tackle consisted of swivels, hooks, bobbers and weights, and our bait consisted of Velveta Cheese. We would grab the Velveta Cheese, roll it up into a ball and cast, minutes later we were reeling in fish one after another. My parents didn't even have time to get their lines wet. Those memories are still with me today and now that I have children I want them to have the same wonderful childhood memories I have.

In this day and age it's hard for parents to find the time and money to take their kids fishing, but it doesn't have to be expensive or faraway, there are plenty of local places for you to enjoy. Some places will charge a fee or if you would like to go somewhere inexpensive ask your local tackle shop for more information.

Before starting out make sure the kids understand safety and make sure you know the rules and regulations for the area you will be fishing. Start out by purchasing a rod and reel that a child could easily cast. It's hard for a five year old to cast a 7 foot rod, but a 4 ½ to 5 foot rod with a spincast or spinning reel would be great! When teaching a child to cast make sure they hold the rod correctly and teach them to always check behind them...we wouldn't want to hook anyone. They should let the line or button go at the same position they would release a baseball when throwing it. A good idea is to have your child practice casting at home before you head out on your fishing expedition. I had a great time teaching the kids in the front yard with a casting plug. We would place Hula-Hoops or ropes as targets on the grass and have each child take turns casting...soon we had all the neighborhood kids involved and they loved it! We would even have casting for candy contests. If you have a swimming pool, use it to practice casting in. The kids should have loads of fun.

Young or old, taking someone fishing for the first time can be pretty frustrating, but with good planning everyone will enjoy a great time outdoors and introducing someone to the sport of angling can be very rewarding. Just in case the fish don't want to cooperate, have a backup plan. Bring along toys to keep the kids occupied, buckets, dip nets, bubbles, and sand toys will keep them busy while you wait for the fish to bite. Keeping them entertained is the key to a successful fun trip. Don't forget to bring the sunscreen and a camera. If you don't have children, try taking a neighbor, niece, nephew, or grandchild.

Where should you go? First start out by finding a place that is near by and start out by taking them just for a few hours. Try locating local lakes that stock fish in your area. The Department of Fish and Game is a good place to begin for a listing of the local urban lakes they stock. During the fall and winter months the California Department of Fish and Game will stock some of the local lakes with trout, in the summer months when the water temperature warms up the lakes are stocked with catfish. For more information call your local Department of Fish and Game or visit their website. Additional places to fish include piers, jetties, and beaches. Look in your local paper for fish reports or you can drop by your local tackle store to find out some of their hot spots. Don't forget to ask what the best bait is!

For those of you who don't know how to fish and would like to learn, the California Department of Fish and Game has an 8 hour course called "Fishing in the City" as do many school systems throughout the country. For more information please check their websites or contact Wendy with your fishing questions . Now take the kids out for some Good Old Fashioned Fun!