School is out for the summer, so I decided to take my son fishing. It’s time he learned how to catch those wiggly Trout and Bass, which hang out at our local rivers, lakes and ponds. I figured it would keep him busy and out of trouble this summer.

I soon discovered that those days of cutting off a tree branch, adding a string, hook and a worm are over. To catch fish today we needed better equipment like Graphite rods with Titanium guides and multi-ball bearing reels. Or at least that is what the guy at the tackle shop said.

We needed to decide whether to use monofilament, braided or fluorocarbon fishing line. I didn’t know there were so many choices. And have you seen all of the different lures, weights, hooks and baits? I was starting to cry until this nice man at the store said there are classes to learn how to catch fish. I fell at his feet and wept.

I asked where to find the classes. He said he wasn’t sure. I jumped to my feet, grabbed him by the shirt and shouted, “I need classes!!!” I was sure he was like a drug dealer, getting you hooked, then making you suffer.

He said, “don’t worry. I am sure there are classes on the Internet or Craig’s List.” I felt the blood starting to flow through my brain again. “Maybe I won’t need to kill him after all”, I thought.

So upon returning home, I scoured the Internet and Craig’s List. I was in luck. I found this older fishing guide who taught classes on how to catch fish. My son and I signed up and learned together.

Thank God for the Internet and “Classes”.

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear LLC