KID STUFF? PLANNING KEY TO CHILDREN'S ENJOYMENT.

Byline: Michael A. Anastasi Sports Editor 

His first fishing trip with dad is seared in his memory and so, he imagined, would be the first trip with his own boys.

He had all the gear ready. At home, as excitement for their trip built, he taught them how to use it. He packed their rain clothes, snow clothes, sunny clothes. He had the sun block, the bug spray, the skin moisturizer and the first-aid kit. He pre-prepared the lures, the power bait, the nightcrawlers. He had hot chocolate, cold soda, a gallon of water, juice boxes and enough food for a week - plus snacks.

They awoke at 3 a.m. to stake their spot at Crowley Lake, to be there when the fireworks signaled the beginning of last year's Eastern Sierra trout season.

Ka-boom!

And then the trip exploded.

Fifteen minutes later, the 5-year-old twins were bored and wanted to go home. By 5 o'clock that afternoon, he was driving back to Los Angeles, bitter but perhaps wiser as he pondered a three-day weekend that wasn't.

Fishing with kids presents a unique challenge that, for the unprepared angler, can ruin any trip. Do it right, though, and you have opened the gateway to a lifetime of memories and fellowship.

``Kids,'' said Oxnard's Kirk Prouse, a professional angler and guide, ``don't give a hoot what they're catching as long as they're catching.''

Experienced anglers believe there's nothing more important. For the young child, who can start fishing between the ages of 4 and 6 depending on his or her temperament, fishing means action.

``You have got to take them somewhere where you have a high percentage of catching fish,'' said Craig Stockton, freshwater manager of J&T Tackle in Simi Valley.

That's what makes trout fishing in the Eastern Sierra so attractive. With literally millions of trout planted by the Department of Fish and Game, and the fish extraordinarily hungry after a winter of growing, Tom Sawyer could catch his limit with a hook, worm and bamboo pole.

However, when you fish with small children, you must first understand that the point of the trip is to fish with the small children. If you're after one to take to the taxidermist, leave the 4-year-old at home.

Engineer Joe Cox of Oxnard takes his kids fishing because he's looking for quality time in the outdoors. His son and daughter are small now, but he knows he can establish a lifelong activity that they can share.

``I've gone fishing for four hours and thrown my reel for 10 minutes,'' he said. ``All of your attention has got to be on the kids.''

Joe Pyles of the Camarillo Fishing Club, for whose family fishing the opener at Crowley Lake is an annual tradition, said adults also must be prepared to deal with a child's short attention span.

``When my boys were small and they started to get tired of fishing, I'd whip out some Army men for them to play with. That'd keep them occupied for a half-hour. After that, I'd pull out a coloring book,'' he said.

``The trick was to have alternate activities available and ready. I'd also throw out their line with some bait and usually it wouldn't take long for a fish to bite. They are thrilled to catch that fish and after they catch one they'll be all excited about fishing for another half-hour.''

Pyles made it a point to talk about the outdoors with his sons during their trips as well, pointing out deer, birds and other wildlife - a point echoed by Stockton. That, too, keeps the child engaged.

``I make it a point to discuss fishing ethics,'' Stockton said. ``I like to get kids into the catch-and-release ethic, to teach them to take only what they're willing to eat that day instead of taking trout out of that fishery, throwing them in some foil and in the freezer and then in the trash three months later.

``Teach kids that there are other people out there who want to catch fish as well.''

TIPS FOR KIDS

Some pointers for enjoying a successful fishing trip with small children:

--Keep it simple: Spincasting outfits are best because they are easier to operate, thus leading to fewer problems such as tangled line for mom or dad to fix. (Spincasting reels are those that are mounted on top of a rod's handle and releases line by pushing a button on the reel).

--Keep things ready: Your child can't wait to start fishing once you're at your spot, so don't keep him waiting by having to rig your gear. Do that at home. Review lures, knots and baiting hooks at home as well because he or she will want to help when you're on the water.

--Keep it safe: Pick a spot where there's lots of bank to maneuver. A kid just isn't going to have a good time if he or she is confined to a small space.

--Keep it live: Kids love live-bait fishing because, well, things like worms are squishy and gooey.

--Keep it slow: Kids will want to reel fast - way too fast to effectively catch fish. So teach them to reel slowly. One method: Cast, count to 3, let the lure sink, reel; cast, count to 4 and so on. That will keep them focused and, when a fish strikes, you and the child will know how deep.

--Keep spares: Assume you and your child are going to get wet. You can prevent a ruined trip with a change of clothing. --Keep your perspective:

If you litter, if you take more than your limit, if you encroach on others' fishing spots, that's exactly what you will teach the youngster to do.

- Michael A. Anastasi

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: This man enjoyed last year's Eastern Sierra trout opener with his children at Lower Twin Lake in Bridgeport.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

Box: Tips for kids (see text)