Fins, Family & First Catches

As a child, one of my first memories with a fishing rod in hand was at a cottage owned by a family friend. I recall going out in their tin boat, and casting repeatedly. The excitement over the potential to catch a fish was electric, but sadly fins were not to surface that day.

The following spring brought the thrill of learning that my family would take me to the Greenwing Fishing Derby, where I joined hundreds of other kids casting a line off the riverbank of the Otonabee River at the iconic Peterborough Lift Lock. The canal was lined with kids, all sparked into action at the sound of the opening duck call which permitted us to wet our lines in hopes of catching the elusive Walter, the grand prize fish. It wasn’t my day to reel in Walter, but I did manage to catch a small fish, and in the end, I gained something far bigger than the grand prize. My life-long passion for fishing was born that day.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve watched this same spark ignite in my young nephew. Each time we are at the family cottage – be it summer, or through the ice – he just wants to fish. So regardless of my drive in the moment to get out there, I always remember how I was inspired and introduced in a similar way, and thus we fish. From early mornings to late evenings, his desire to get out harkens memories that can’t be ignored. Introducing kids to fishing early does more than get them casting a line, it empowers the next generation of anglers and conservationists. For me, those early days fishing led to a career in conservation with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. You never know where a passion can take you.

You can start your kids’ journey in the same manner that I did on April 25th, as the tradition continues with the OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby at the Peterborough Lift Lock.

Register to participate today  www.ofah.org/underthelock/ or in person on the day of the event. Getting children involved in fishing is simple – all it takes is the basic gear and most importantly the willingness to get out. Don’t miss it.

To learn more and get involved with Fishing and Conservation go to www.ofah.org

Brad Ferren, OFAH Conservation Educator

Photo Credt Jay Callaghan