Summer is officially here. Heat indexes up to 107 degrees, humidity near 80%, and below average precipitation has signaled that the dog days have indeed arrived. The kids have been out of school for over a month, and they should be just about bouncing off the walls by now. If they are anything like my kids, they love spending time outside, but the heat and humidity makes it harder for them to have a good time. We’ve been spending a lot of time at the local pool, I’ve been chasing them through the sprinkler on weekends, and a cool air conditioned movie theater has filled in the gaps.

However, time on the water with them has suffered because of the heat. I have been getting out with friends and family, but mostly at night and during early morning hours when the temps are lower. Even then, those trips I have taken have been to Lake Michigan where we are motoring around atop water that is 50 to 60 degrees making it feel so much cooler. It wasn’t until the other day that I mustered the courage to pack up the gear, and tackle the heat with an antsy 5 year old in tow.



Why would I want to get eaten alive by mosquitoes, get sweaty and sunburned, or undo countless tangles in the weeds and overgrown shorelines when I can just wait for it to cool off in the Fall? I’ll tell you why, because the kids need you now. Yes, your kids, your neighbor’s kids, the kids at the YMCA, your brother or sister’s kids, these kids need someone who has a passion for the sport to share it with them right now. They need to be shown how to enjoy angling four seasons a year. Some of the most rewarding time on the water I have ever experienced was the time I spent helping kids enjoy fishing. They really are the future of this great country, and every opportunity should be taken to ensure they understand the value of our natural resources.



With some very simple and logical preparation, any summer day can be the perfect day to get the kids off the video games and out onto the water. First lets talk about comfort, both yours and theirs. First and foremost is protection from the sun, so sunblock is mandatory, Coppertone makes a great “kids” SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide that is about the best I have come across. Loose fitting clothing is a great idea, add to it a hat with a large brim, and your outfit is complete. Pest control not only increases comfort, but with the reality of West Nile virus and Lyme disease, keeping the little blood suckers off of you is a must. I pretreat my clothing and my son’s clothing with a Permethrin insecticide made by Sawyer. This actually kills the critters as they land on you, and the treatment lasts up to 6 washings. Applying a DEET based repellent to exposed skin is a great idea, and I’m hearing good things about the 3M Thermacell but I have not field tested one yet.



Now that you have you and your kids bodies ready for the trip, pack a small cooler with cold water and a few treats to help stay hydrated and cool out there (fresh cherries, berries, and cut-up oranges are perfect, but cookies get the most cheers). Now when it comes to equipment, keep it simple, and make sure you set them up for success. Minnows and worms under slip bobbers in local retention and subdivision ponds is about as “sure-thing” as it gets. Light to medium action spincasting rods/reels such as the ones offered by Shakespeare make great tools to learn the basics on.



On my most recent outing, my son Robert and I were joined by a Father/Daughter team that we have been meaning to fish with for some time now. Travis and his daughter Gracie met us at the local pond one evening after the Dads got off work to try our hand at “making smiles”. Of course we picked one of the hottest days of the year, but we did not let that deter us. We both prepared properly with sunscreen, bug spray, cold drinks, cookies, and gummy worms. The lively minnows didn’t last long in the tepid water, but as if by fate, they lasted just long enough for us to give the kids a great night out.



The excitement those two 5 year olds exhibited was contagious. Before long, Travis and I were just as excited as they were. It didn’t even matter that they had just as much fun fishing as they did playing in the minnow bucket, the mud, or exploring the prairie grasses and flowers. Even though they had just met, it seemed as though Robert and Gracie had been friends all along. They explored and skipped around together having so much fun that us Dad’s instantly knew we had hit home-runs.



This is really what it was all about.



A little bit of evening sun, some quality time with the Dads, and smiles all around.

The evening ended with all of us hoping to get out again soon. The kids had helped us “release” the little minnow bodies left in the bucket, the water bottles were empty, the cookies were gone, and the smiles were still tattooed to their little rosy faces.

The whole ride home was story time, “Dad! Did you see me and Gracie find….?”, and “Dad did you know…?”. I enjoyed every minute of our little fishing trip and the recap on the ride home. As I sat there and listened to him, I realized that same smile was also tattooed on my face. Then I wondered…..



Why the hell didn’t I do this sooner?!