How Not to Teach Your Children to Fish

I tried this, and have come back to warn you: Don't make the mistake I did. Don't take them all at once. You will spend your time unraveling snagged lines, extracting hooks from clothing, giving each one the same exact lecture on why they have to bait their own hooks. Nobody will catch anything, and everyone will have a miserable time, especially you. That was our experience along the shores of Jamaica Bay. Recently, however, I went down to Lake Howell with my middle son and he snagged his first catch two seconds after he put his line in the water. By this, I do mean first catch. Ever.

If you want to teach fishing, start out with just one child as your pupil. After he/she learns how to set up the whole contraption, bait the hook cast, reel in, how to play with a bite until the fish is firmly hooked, and how to land it, you will have one enthusiastic acolyte who will help you teach the others. So I learned--too late for all but the youngest, who is too young (see first post on this site).

Once they all know how to catch them and are firmly hooked, you can finally introduce them to the mysteries of gutting, boning and cooking. So far, none but the youngest cares at all about eating fish, which means there's more for me.