A Child's Joy of Fishing

I don't specifically recall the first time I went fishing or the first fish I ever caught, but for as long as I can remember, I've always enjoyed it. This is likely the result of my first fishing experience being a positive one, thus making a strong and lasting impression on my developing mind as I grew older. Children are very impressionable, as their innocence and lack of experience causes them to see the world as a place of magic and wonder. The way they are introduced to fishing can determine how they view it later on in their lives. The video below is a pleasant example of a father sharing this experience with his young son:

Yeah, I know; the kid is cute, but what I like most about this video is how consistent it is with a philosophy shared by many adult anglers on teaching kids to fish. The main points are:

• Choose a day and time when the weather is pleasant.
• Select a safe and serene environment where the child will be most comfortable.
• Target species that are abundant, easy to catch, nice to look at, and safe to handle.
• Once caught, encourage the child to engage the fish, appreciate it, and see it for the unique animal that it is.
• Ask how he or she feels about the fish and the catch.
• Express the importance of proper care and safety of the fish.
• Encourage the child to release the fish back into the water.

The above video exhibits many, if not all of these points and is a great example of how to instill a positive feeling about fishing, in the mind of a child. Notice how joyful he sounds when he says "I got one." In wanting to name the fish, he views it as an individual being, deserving of an identity. As apprehensive as he is to touch the fish, once he finally does, he smiles saying "I touched him", and seems quite pleased with the connection. I particularly like the part where his dad tells him they're going to put the fish back in the water and he agrees. It was a fitting end to the fun short clip. 

Not to sound cheesy, but Michael Masser and Linda Creed were correct in claiming, "the children are our future / teach them well and let them lead the way." Fishing is an excellent activity for teaching children respect for wildlife and the environment, as well as pulling them away from their electronic devices and learning to appreciate the outdoors. Hopefully, they may continue the cycle with their own kids someday.

Trout Timeline

Trout are an amazing species of fish. They vary greatly in size, color, habitat, behavior, diet, etc., but what remains consistent within the trout family are their beauty and reputation as highly prized game fish. Closely related to salmon and char, trout have been the focus of human attention for thousands of years. They can be found virtually all over the world and are elusive, effective predators. Take a look at this historical account of the relationship between man and trout:

C. 50 MILLION BC 

The first known salmonid ancestor of trout, Eosalmo driftwoodensis, appears in the fossil record in Eocene lake sediments in British Columbia, Canada. 

C. 12 MILLION BC

The saber-tooth salmon (Oncorhynchus rastrosus), a giant fossilrelative of the rainbow trout, swims in prehistoric seas.
AD 54-68 
Emperor Nero orders the construction of the tallest dams known in the Roman world in the Apennine Mountains to create "pleasure lakes" where he can go trout fishing.

C. 200
Roman author Aelian writes about the fishing of trout in Macedonia using artificial flies made of wool and feather.

1420
A French monk named Dom Pinchon discovers how to propagate trout artificially. 

1496
A Treatyse of Fysshynge Wyth an Angle is published. Packed with trout fishing tips, it is the earliest text on angling in printed English.

1541
Spanish conquistadors searching for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold provide the earliest written account of American trout. 
1758
Carl Linnaeus pins the European brown trout with a scientific label, Salmo trutta. 

1805
The historic Lewis and Clark Expedition to the American West introduces white Americans to the cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii). 

1852
The trout breeding methods of two French peasants lead to the establishment of the world’s first industrial fish farm at Huningue in France.

1864
The clipper Norfolk launches the trout on the wider world with a three-month voyage from England to Australia.

1876
Soldiers serving under General Crook during the US Army’s western campaign against Native American forces catch and eat an estimated 15,000 trout in just three weeks. 

1883
The brown trout makes landfall in North America as a consignment of eggs shipped to New York from Germany. 

1896
Death of the last miracle performing trout at the Holy Well of St. Peris in Wales. 

1920's
Austrian inventor Viktor Schauberger’s quest to harness Earth’s natural energies for new technologies is inspired by his observations of trout while working as a forest warden. 

1950's
Aircraft dump millions of fingerling trout on US mountain lakes during a massive aerial stocking program. 

1959
Trout Unlimited, a conservation group dedicated to protecting and restoring trout and salmon and their cold water habitats, is founded in the US. 

1967
Richard Brautigan’s cult novel Trout Fishing in America is published. 

1980's
Salmon farming becomes established in coastal waters around northwest Scotland, leading to an explosion in numbers of parasitic sea lice that infect sea trout populations with devastating results. 

2000
The brown and rainbow trout make the top "100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species", a list compiled by the World Conservation Union.

2007
Scientists in Japan announce they have successfully bred trout using lab-altered salmon as parents. 

2010
A transgenic trout created using cattle-type DNA is unveiled which grows fifteen to twenty percent more meat than normal trout.

2010
A wild-born trout fry is detected in London’s River Wandle after an absence of more than 80 years.

Considering all the above, it's no surprise that trout are iconic in the eyes of many modern anglers. The environments they inhabit are usually scenic, the climates and atmospheric conditions they occupy are diverse (appealing to different fishing preferences), they're (legally) protected worldwide, and the word "trout" has more direct translations between languages than "internet". Knowing about their history promotes further appreciation for their presence, and concern for their future. 

Fishing Leads to Catching-Not Always Keeping

As a catch and release advocate, I’m always in favor of respecting fishing regulations specific to the region/area that applies. Unfortunately, I’ve personally experienced far too many situations where another fisherman, or more appropriately: a person fishing, purposely keeps young or obviously spawning fish, without regard for the law. Also, ignorance is by no means a viable excuse in this matter, as numerous signs are posted at known fishing spots, listing the appropriate standards. 

Surely, the U.S. is a massive cultural melting-pot. Diligent working-class peoples from other nations may have learned different (maritime/inland) environmental regulations than we know domestically. Still, if someone can acquire a job, attain a driver’s license, and maneuver throughout American society as a whole, he or she can recognize and ABIDE BY fishing regulations that are publicly posted. 

Everyone is different and there is no ONE standard perspective, but ultimately there must be an authoritative environmental presence that not only appears in times of need, but is idealized in the minds of all those fishing, as a force to be reckoned with, which causes us ALL to check ourselves. Regardless of which U.S. states I’ve fished in (which are many), I’ve seldom personally experienced groups of organized officials with proper funding and training who embody recognizable potential to lead a game-changing, innovative mission of fisheries preservation. 

We need to realize that we're all playing catch-up when it comes to fish population management worldwide. It is an important issue that can only succeed if people begin to take personal responsibility. Ask yourself this: regardless of species or region-do you think it's EVER the case that on a Tuesday, there are more fish in existence than there were on Monday? Of course not. Therefore, it is a harsh reality that must be addressed. Otherwise, your great grandchildren will have to go fishing at the local virtual reality arcade.