Learning to fish is easy, right? Take one fishing pole, one worm and just add water.
But there's a little more to it than that, especially when the angler-to-be is a youngster.
With school, sports teams and computer play competing for ever-shrinking free time -- and parents experiencing the same time crunch -- fewer children are experiencing what was once considered a rite of passage: catching a wiggling bluegill.
Still, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says that with an estimated 216,000 anglers between the ages of 6 and 15, there's plenty of life left in the sport.
A fishing trip doesn't have to be a major production worthy of Steven Spielberg. Just a tiny bit of planning can make for an enjoyable outing, one that will be remembered for years.
Youngsters under the age of 16 don't need a fishing license, and this year, the state has designated June 3 and 10 and July 4 as days when anyone can fish for free.
Don't scrimp with a SpongeBob or Scooby-Doo rod and reel. Spend about $30 for a combo set built around that old indestructible rod, the Ugly Stick made by Shakespeare. Be sure to buy a bag of small hooks (size 8 or 10) and some bobbers, and dig your own worms or, better yet, buy a dozen night crawlers.
Next, choose a location with a known track record. In Maryland, those places include Piney Run Park in Carroll County, Centennial Lake in Howard County and Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County.
Old-timers like to grump that"the sport is called fishing, not catching," as a way of warning that not every outing will result in a full creel of fish.
But those three fishing holes are as close to a guarantee as nature offers.
As Kevin McComas at the Loch Raven Fishing Center says, only half-joking, "They just about jump in the boat."
Pull out a map and let the child help plan the trip. Pack snacks, drinks, sunscreen and something to occupy the child if the fish aren't biting.
One way to swing the odds in your favor is chatting with someone like McComas, who knows where the fish are and what they are eating. Each of the three fishing holes mentioned above has either a staff person or longtime fishermen nearby willing to offer advice.
For your sanity and that of your young angler, keep lessons short and simple. Get the line in the water quickly and then talk about the process.
