Nicely put

 

Amen to that brother!

 

Lawman,
That's a great post. Glad to have members like you on our site.

 

One of the best posts that I have ever read on here. You stated what I think a lot of us on here feel. We should all step back and take a look around and just see how we can pass it on.. thank you for such a great post.

 

I have 4 boys.9 to 18 and what a thrill its been over the years to share my hunting and fishing adventures with them and from time to time a friend of theirs will tag along to. for me it can be trying at times due to the fact that i simply can`t afford to keep them all supplied with gear so i share my gear with them and lets face it teenagers just don`t always follow up like they should at the end of a day in the field with hunting and fishing gear like adults, but the trade off is well worth it. my oldest is now taking his younger brothers out. He will be heading off to collage this fall but I know we will still be able to share some deer hunting when he comes home.The memories are priceless!

 

The good days...
Original post by IRAQVET
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Just thought I would throw some pics up of me and my nehpew on some better fishing days..His home life is kinda jacked so I take him when I can..He is really liking fishing and shooting his .22...Some of the fish were takin at a private pond,and some were from fishin at the Ashtabula river.Everything was caught on just plain old worms lol...Hope its not to pic heavy..
Attached Images

 

Lawman60,

I lost my best friend 3 yrs. ago, he passed in his sleep at only 34. We used to hunt together all the time, he really was not into fishing. We used to talk about future hunting trips with our boys. His son was 8 when his dad died, and since then I have tried to teach him all about the outdoors. Deer season of 2009 he shot a doe with my muzzleloader, and that moment I will never forget. That night sitting in the snow trying not to freeze, the boy trying to sit still. We had not seen any deer, I had a little conversation with his dad, to just let he see a deer. And not 5 minutes later as the light was fading out steps this doe at 50 yds. and stands there as a 9 year old tries to move and get set up, it was like she knew what her fate was and let it happen for this boy. He is hooked on hunting and lately fishing also, I took him to Lorain twice this past week and he caught his first walleye (2 fish O's) had an awesome time, not gangbusters but good action all day. We also had 2 limit days perch fishing last year. Anyway to end the story he gave me a card and picture frame with some of our pics (hunting&fishing trips) for Fathers day, another moment I will never forget. In life there are so many things people think are important, but really it comes down to family & friends and making memories and if you take the time for that, you will pass it on.

 

Great thread!!!

We have been taking my 14 year old playstation addicted nephew with us from time to time fishing at Skeeter this year. He has become rather fond of the act of fishing and is rather good at it.

He has enjoyed it so much that my BIL is thinking of purchasing his own boat to take Conner fishing.

It pays to pass it on.....

 

Great post i have three boy's an three girl's.I try'd to plant the seed of fishing in them at a yung age.And have love'd every minet of it.I can only hope they love the sport as much as I do.

 

Good thoughts, nice thread..

 

Great post lawman..Who ever thought throwing some worms or lures into some water would be able to do so much for people??

 

I could not agree more Lawman60! This past week my father and I took our 3rd annual father/son camping trip to West Branch. My dad and myself took my younger brother (15), my nephew (8), my oldest son (3) and a friends son (14) for 4 days of fishing and camping. Four day's with no TV, video games or other distractions. For the 3rd straight year they all had a blast and left the camp site yearning for next year and a little closer to becoming men.

My dad has always taken the time over my 33 years of life to take me hunting, fishing and camping. Now I do the same for my 2 sons and several other younger people in my life. Pass it on indeed.

Just a couple of pics from last week.
My oldest son


My nephew


My youngest son

 

Definetly some kodak moments Joe..I hope the fishing was good for you guys..

 

This thread should be a sticky. Id love to look back at it in a year or two and see all the proud dads, moms, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and grandparents sharing their love of the outdoors with people they love.

More than any other activity, spending time with a younger person outdoors connects us with our past.

Your great great grandfather learned from your great great great grandfather. As technology presents new opportunities for entertainment, enjoying the outdoors is one thing that continues to add links to our original family chain.

This is a great thread and I hope it stays top of mind.

 

Great post Lawman,

We need more kids out there losing themselves to the woods and less time spent mindlessly glued to the tube.

My wife and I don't have any kids yet but, I look forward to the day we do and can share all the treasures of the outdoors together.

I'll take any opportunity to mentor a youngster in the ways of fishing. I couldn't image leaving behind a generation that only knows how to cast themselves into technology.

It's all to easy for today's children to be raised by virtual reality with technology as their only companion.

Lawman60 it is indeed a privilege to pass the torch but, also a responsibility we have to not let the this next generation lose themselves to iphone apps and online gaming.

Fishing is a sport by which we participate in our own experiences, not something a developer can package and deliver to the masses, fishing is a portal where we explore the world around us and even more so an activity that lets out the life with in us.

With those we share these experiences with it becomes a bond that holds us together and memories that won't be forgotten. How could we not Pass it On . . .

 

This post contains some of the best comments I've ever read on OGF - and many other forums as well.

I've been inspired to think about my young niece and nephew and a couple of kids in the neighborhood who I can take to a pond or lake and catch a few 'gills or other fish - or catch nothing at all. Just being with them and enjoying God's creation...

Thanks for starting this, Lawman!

Bob

 

I met the young man while I was washing my truck this past Friday. He was strutting by with his shirt off and his shorts hanging down so that his underwear was exposed. I lay down the hose and turned to face him at which time he gave me a nod and said "what's up?" My first impulse was to say, it's sure not your shorts...but I contained myself and just said "hey there." I then said that I was glad to see him and he stopped dead in his tracks. I went on to ask him if he could do me a big favor. He again said, "what's up?"
I told him that I couldn't reach the top of my trucks cab and asked him if he could take a quick second to give me a hand. He gave me a chin up nod and then kind of pimp walked up my drive. I extended my wet hand after wiping it off a little on my shirt, telling him my name and thanking him in advance. He shook it like he wanted to show me how strong he was and told me his name. I already knew his name. His name was very well known up and down my block as he was often the topic of conversation and always in a negative way. The local police also knew his name quite well. He was on the fast track to hard time and all before he was even 18 years old. As he washed off the top of my cab, he asked me if I was the cop he had often seen as I would come and go from my home. I laughed and told him that I had just retired and now I'm living the life of a fisherman. Old habits die hard, and I was scanning the tattoos on his back and arms. There were definite signs pointing to possible gang affiliations in his ink. Bringing up fishing opened the door I was hoping for because his next words were that he liked fishing too. (it never fails!)
I jumped the gun at that point and blurted out an invitation to go fishing with me. I could tell that he was taken aback and he kind of laughed and shook his head. I was mentally kicking my self for moving too fast in my attempt to break through this kids defenses. I thanked him for the help and asked how much I owed him. Again he laughed and said, "no charge." I shook his hand again and he turned to go. It was then that a new idea crossed my mind. I asked if he would mind doing me one more small favor, telling him that my back was not up to hauling my deep cycle battery to the barn for recharging. It worked like a charm and in a moment we were in my play house. Suspended just above our heads in my out building hangs 32 rods and reels. On my work bench is more boxes of fishing tackle than the isles of Wallmart. One wall is covered with peg board and holds my collection of muskie baits. There are lure making jigs and a lead pot, trolling motors and even a collection of antique lures and reels. In an instant I watched as the street wise tough kid changed into a wide eyed boy again. He used some expletives to demonstrate his awe at such a mass of fishing stuff.
I then pulled an old combo from it's hooks and handed it to him. I said it was the least I could do for his help.
(NO WAY!) and a huge smile was his response. (YES WAY!) I laughed back.
God, that felt great! The change in him was like a magic show!
On Sunday, "Fathers day" we went fishing. It was a short trip to a pond over in Mercer County Pa. As he jumped into my truck, all I could see was a young man, no sign of the terror of the neighborhood. We only fished for two hours as I was going to spend the day with my own father and children. As we drove back home, he asked about the tattoo I have on my forearm. I told him that it was in honor to my father. He told me that he had "a bunch of stupid tats." "I got um when I was a kid." I had to bite my lip. When we got to his house I got out and shook his hand at which time he gave me a modern hand shake and one arm man hug.
As I drove home then, I was overwhelmed with a feeling that I can't put into words. What a fathers day for me!
I wonder just who it is that got the most joy from this two hour fishing trip.
Passing it on is a TRIP!

 

Lawman,

Yur an insperation, no matter the difference you made small or large, it was a positive impresion you made on that young man.

 

Fishing/hunting with kids...especially those we are not related to...is an investment in the future with unknown returns.

Share the sport ya love with anyone willing to tag along.

Great thread.

 

Great story and great thread!!!!! If more people were like you lawman, maybe this world would be a better place. Anytown USA is a tough place for a kid to grow up fatherless. Im sure that young man needs all the positive attention he can get. He sounds like a tough project, and if no one else has said it. Thanks for taking a chance, every kid deserves one......

 

Great story and great thread!!!!! If more people were like you lawman, maybe this world would be a better place. Anytown USA is a tough place for a kid to grow up fatherless. Im sure that young man needs all the positive attention he can get. He sounds like a tough project, and if no one else has said it. Thanks for taking a chance, every kid deserves one......

Thank you for the kind words Diver.
I've seen what happens to mislead kids many times in my career and I find great joy in breaking through to the unspoiled youngster inside. Just taking the time to talk and listen to them and to treat them as an equal, makes a world of difference. It's not a burden by any stretch. It's so easy and rewarding. It gives me a feeling in my heart that's worth more than all the wall hanger bass in the world. Once you do it, it becomes an addiction and a challenge and you start to notice them everywhere. Today I had my boat out on Lake Erie at Conneaut. When I was leaving, I saw a kid maybe 14 or so years old, riding his bike with a rod and reel in one hand. I stopped to talk with him as I was tying down. He told me he fished from the public dock there but didn't catch too many keeper fish. I gave him what was left of my live bait and a half dozen nice perch. I could see that it made his day. It made my day too.

 

hey lawman!.... i've been bad.... i got caught with me hand in the cookie jar.... will you take me fishing?..... ummmmm channels and fat flattie's at mosquito?....

do it matter that i'm 47?... i still have allot of little kid left in me....

just kidding....

but this is a great thread...and great thing you are doing!!...keep us updated on the terror of the neighborhood.... please!

he maybe the next bass pro....

and you already got my vote to be in the fishermans hall of fame!!

 

great post. nice to see people looking past the evil stereotype
and getting to know the real person inside. sounds like you're
really making a difference.

 

Good stuff. It takes a community to raise a child properly. Let's hope he doesn't do something stupid. Passing on appropriate manhood to a kid that never sees it, or has had to grow up too fast, is a needed thing in today's society.

I hope you can get him to pull his pants up. J/K!!

 

I've just spent the last hour with my new fishing buddy. He knocked on my door and handed me a fresh baked batch of peanut butter cookies from his mother. He also introduced me to another young man who is a friend of his. (They both had their pants up too!) He said that he wanted his buddy to see my fishing gear in the barn, so we spent about half an hour rummaging thru my stuff. We spent the next half hour looking at one of my fishing photo albums and chit chatting about fishing. When he was leaving, he asked if I thought that his buddy could go fishing with us sometime. He went on to tell me that the two of them had been to Super Kmart picking out a rod and reel and a few tackle items in the hopes of another trip pond fishing.
I told him that I would be glad to take both of them, and we set a date.
It's beyond remarkable to see the change in this young man in only a few days. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I would swear that this was a different kid than the one I first noticed walking the street with his hat on side ways and his pants down around is a##.
Fellow OGF members, it's well worth the effort, plus, I've always had a thing for peanut butter cookies!