Passion...

A excellent read as always Bob!  I think your son has been hitting balls all the way down to the Suskie in Towanda!  I found about a half dozen in a spot under the veterans bridge in downtown "T-burg".  Once I found a 9 Iron all bent and thrown into Lanning Creek that borders our local Country Club.  I think I would have liked to seen how the 9-iron made it to the creek!

I pass along the zeal of fishing to my boys by trying to include them in all I do...  tying flies/jigs, outing, even putting my rod aside and just taking them to a "local" to catch minnows, crayfish, and cavorting around in the water. 

A few times a spark has tindered the flames...  When I'm perched at my vise amongst piles of fur and feathers I'll feel a tug at my sleeve.   My 3.5 year old Joel, "Daddy, can I help you tie a fly?"  How can I say no?  He's too cute to disappoint!  In fact, he can paint jigs heads as good as I do now and wants to learn more. 

My 11.5 year old Josh, can tie a mean wooly bugger and has been for years....  now it's hard to tear him from his Nintendo Wii.  I bet Nintendo could make a flyfishing game?  I think that would be the only way to inspire him now.  Ahhh... I lost Josh to technology and the virtual world.  However, once I cajole them a few times about fiesty trout or willing bluegills on a warm summer night, I have my two boys in tow, sans I-Pod of course.

My good friend Lance inspires Josh to fish more than I can... Josh has been begging me to buy a jet boat!!  "C'mon Dad, Lance is cool, he drives a jetboat!"  What can I say?  Josh likes to go fast....     I wouldn't mind buying a boat, since it would mean I'd have to get a truck to haul it with!! 

Somehow I don't think the "Colonel" would be happy to oblige that fantasy of mine though!

I don't have any children, but I can tell you from experience....make fly fishing and fly tying an adventure.  There are a ton of ways to make that happen, but make sure it includes enough action to keep a young mind occupied......keep the outings short and sweet so they want to come back.  On the other hand, when it comes to fly tying, be prepared to have some pretty interesting color combinations show up on your bench.  At the end of the day, it is about their experience, which may include pink, purple and blue woolly buggers, fly fishing for dink sunfish, skipping rocks, or catching bugs.........but, the torch is ours to pass on.....don't forget to pay it forward....

JM