KIDS TAKE TO IT LIKE FISH TO WATER; KEEP FIRST ADVENTURE SIMPLE, MEMORABLE.Byline: Guy Clifton Special to the Daily News Fishing is fun and fun is for everyone - moms, dads and those little tax exemptions tax exemption, immunity from the requirement of paying taxes. Federal, state, and usually local law provide exemption from taxation for a wide variety of organizations, usually not-for-profit, such as churches, colleges, universities, health care providers, various that share their lives. Taking kids fishing is a lot like an Indiana Jones movie - a little unpredictable, sometimes a little rough, but always an adventure. That's the thing to remember as trout season opens in the Eastern Sierra on Saturday - the adventure of it all. ``It's not catching fish that's important,'' said Chris Healy of Reno, Nev., an avid Sierra angler who enjoys taking his 5-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter fishing. ``It's the whole experience that matters. You want to make it enjoyable. It doesn't have to come down to whether you catch fish or not.'' Kids might remember the best part of a fishing trip as throwing rocks in the water, catching bugs, cooking hot dogs over the campfire or a thousand other possibilities. But they do remember, often carrying their first fishing experience with them to greater days on the water. More than 80 percent of Americans fished at least once as a child, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a study by the American Sportfishing sport·fish·ing n. The sport of catching fish using a rod and reel. Noun 1. sportfishing - the act of someone who fishes as a diversion fishing field sport, outdoor sport - a sport that is played outdoors Association, and some 85 percent of today's freshwater anglers began fishing before they were 13 years old. Choosing the right place to fish also can make a fishing adventure with children more enjoyable. Here's a look at the top places to take young anglers in Eastern Sierra, and, while several will not be fishable on opening day because of ice, use the suggestions for later trips to the region (refer to Planted Waters on Page 6 for directions): Robinson Creek: If you want to introduce kids to stream fishing, Robinson Creek near Bridgeport is tough to beat. ``That's where my kids learned to fish,'' said Rick Rockel at Ken's Alpine Sporting Goods Noun 1. sporting goods - sports equipment sold as a commodity commodity, trade good, good - articles of commerce sports equipment - equipment needed to participate in a particular sport in Bridgeport. ``It's very easy and doable for kids.'' The stream just below Twin Lakes Twin Lakes may refer to: Communities
``The other thing with Robinson Creek is the flow is controlled,'' Rockel said. ``So, for the most part, you're not going to have to worry about high water. From a safety standpoint, it's a great place to take kids.'' Intake II, Bishop Creek Bishop Creek is also a dated variant of Baxter Creek in Richmond/El Cerrito, California Bishop Creek is a large stream in Inyo County, California. It is the largest tributary of the Owens River, with runoff at an average rate of 69,000 acre-feet per year (2.7 m³/s). : Stack the odds of catching stream fish in a child's favor by targeting this water just north of Bishop. It's hard to beat. ``One area of Bishop Canyon that is very popular is Intake II,'' said Ray Ginn at Culver's Sporting Goods in Bishop. ``The shoreline is relatively nice, relatively safe.'' Intake II is a dammed up section of Bishop Creek, west of Bishop. Topaz Lake Topaz Lake is an artificial reservoir located on the California-Nevada border, about 75 miles (120 km) south of Reno. The lake was formed by diverting waters from the West Walker River into a nearby basin that had previously contained a smaller, natural lake. : Last year at this time, Topaz Lake on the California-Nevada border looked like anything but a jewel - more like a big bowl of chocolate milk because the New Year's flood had filled it full of silt and fishing was terrible all season. What a difference a year makes. ``Topaz should be a real good bet this spring,'' said Dave Rice at the Nevada Division of Wildlife. ``It's a nice place to take kids.'' The lake was planted with 5,400 Eagle Lake-strain rainbow trout rainbow trout Species (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae) noted for spectacular leaps and hard fighting when hooked. It has been introduced from western North America to many other countries. earlier this month. Bridgeport Reservoir: Those who prefer shore-fishing should cast lines at Bridgeport Reservoir early in the season. As temperatures rise, the lake gets an algae algae (ăl`jē) [plural of Lat. alga=seaweed], a large and diverse group of primarily aquatic plantlike organisms. These organisms were previously classified as a primitive subkingdom of the plant kingdom, the thallophytes (plants that growth around the edges, making shore-fishing virtually impossible. Bridgeport is, however, a great place to teach kids to cast and retrieve from stationary boats. The fish here stick to the river channels once the water warms so anglers who still-fish these can do well. Boat rentals are available from Falling Rock Marina. Crowley Lake Crowley Lake is a reservoir on the upper Owens River in southern Mono County, California in the United States. It was created in 1941 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) as storage for the Los Angeles Aqueduct and for flood control. : This isn't exactly a haven for those seeking peace and quiet because more people (estimates as high as 10,000) head to Crowley Lake than any other opening-day destination. But it is a great place to teach kids about fishing, particularly from boats. Crowley is a huge reservoir that offers trophy fish to 5 pounds or heavier and put-and-grow trout in the half-pound range. It's planted with tens of thousands of subcatchable-size rainbows in the late summer that grow to a pound over the winter. It also features giant brown and rainbow trout that hold over from previous years. This lake has produced browns topping 20 pounds, a frightening prospect to even grizzled griz·zled adj. 1. Partly gray or streaked with gray: a grizzled beard. 2. Having fur or hair streaked or tipped with gray. adult anglers. They're rare, but they're there. June Lake June Lake is a subalpine lake in Mono County, California, located at at an elevation of 7,612 ft (2320 m). The lake is popular for fishing. Loop: Variety is the main draw for ``the loop,'' which consists of June, Gull gull, common name for an aquatic bird of the family Laridae, which also includes the tern and the jaeger. It is found near all oceans and many inland waters. Gulls are larger and bulkier than terns, and their tails are squared rather than forked. , Silver and Grant lakes and Reverse and Rush creeks. It ranges from the spectacular Alpine setting of June Lake to the high desert backdrop of Grant. To be sure, kids will have plenty to look at - and plenty of shoreline to play on - during a fishing trip here. Virginia Lakes Virginia Lakes refers to a cluster of lakes in the Eastern Sierra Nevada in Mono County, California. Virginia Lakes is located a few miles off U.S. Highway 395 roughly halfway between Bridgeport, California to the North and Lee Vining, California to the South. : ``If Virginia Lakes weren't frozen, they'd be number one on my list,'' said Rockel at Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport. Fortunately, all lakes thaw, even in the worst of El Nino years. Virginia Lakes, located west of Conway Summit Conway Summit (el. 8,143 feet (2,482 m)) is a mountain pass in Mono County, California, traversed by U.S. Highway 395. Bridgeport and the East Walker River lie on the north side of the pass, and Mono Lake lies to the south. above Mono Lake Mono Lake is an alkaline and hypersaline lake in California, United States that is a critical nesting habitat for several bird species[1] and is an unusually productive ecosystem. , consist of several lakes, all in picturesque settings and all loaded with trout. Both Big Virginia and Little Virginia have regularly planted rainbows - including trophy Alper's trout - and lots of small brook trout brook trout or speckled trout Popular freshwater game fish (Salvelinus fontinalis), a variety of char, that is valued for its flavour and its fighting qualities when hooked. The brook trout is a native of the northeastern U.S. that can be caught with small spinning lures or fly-and-bubble combinations. North Lake: This small body of water west of Bishop is a good spot for anglers to keep in the back of their minds for later in the season. ``North Lake has one of the better shorelines for bank fishing,'' Ginn said. Heavily planted, so it has plenty of trout to keep the kids' attention. No boats are allowed, so it's a haven for shore-fishing and float-tubing - a difficult fishing technique that may be best for parents to reserve until kids become teens. Mammoth Lakes: Like Virginia Lakes, Mammoth Lakes will be covered with ice for Saturday's opener, but the blue bodies in this basin are ideal for those trips scheduled from the middle of May on through the summer and into fall. The 9,000-foot elevation of Mammoth Lakes Basin's Mary, Mamie, Twin and George keep them cool. The trout are active here when other fish are starting to turn off at lower-elevation waters. The town of Mammoth Lakes will begin its fish stocking program May 22, with thousands of Alper's trophy rainbows being planted. This is probably the best area in the Sierra for youngsters to catch a trophy-sized rainbow trout. When combined with the spectacular scenery of Mammoth Lakes and the accommodations - from pastoral tent camping to four-star hotels - available, this is a great place for families. Convict Lake Convict Lake (elevation 7,850 feet (2393 m)), is a lake in the Sherwin Range of the Sierra Nevada in California, USA. It is known for its fishing and the dramatic mountains (including Mount Morrison) that surround the lake. : If one water embodies everything to make a kid's angling trip ideal - easy access, spectacular scenery and above-average fishing - Convict Lake, between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, is it. Remember, it will be closed Saturday due to an icy covering. ``This is a great place to take kids, and there's several really good reasons for that,'' lake general manager David DeSurra said. ``First is we're so near, just two miles off the highway (395). ``Secondly, the (lake's outlet) creek provides wonderful fishing for kids, and it's a great place to show them how to catch fish. They can actually see the fish in the shallow water See:
``And, finally, we're full of fish.'' FOR KIDS ONLY Tidbits TidBITS is an award-winning electronic newsletter and web site dealing primarily with Apple Computer and Macintosh-related topics. Internet publication TidBITS has been published weekly since April 16, 1990, which makes it one of the longest running Internet publications. to consider when introducing children to fishing: Have fun: Don't worry about technique or the size of fish; for some kids, a trophy-size trout might be scary. Keep it simple: Your child just wants to spend time with you, so don't make a big production. Children can take only so much information; the more complicated you make it, the more frustrated frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: they'll get. Make it an adventure: Planning is key to any trip. So, even if nothing's biting, have a good time buying fishing licenses, studying the map, reading fishing magazines, digging for worms, making a picnic lunch, stopping in for an ``angler's breakfast'' and checking out the tackle shop. Safety first: It's essential to teach your child to respect water. Use fishing trips to rehearse what to do in case of an emergency. Insist all boaters wear a life jacket. Limited attention: Kids have short attention spans, so plan ahead, check the weather forecast and look for a fishing hole that has a playground and rest rooms that are easily accessed. Handling fish: Don't force the child to touch the trout or remove the hook. Do it for them; imitation can often be the best teacher. Quick success: For some youngsters, good luck early on can hook Can´ hook` 1. A device consisting of a short rope with flat hooks at each end, for hoisting casks or barrels by the ends of the staves. them for a lifetime. Inquire with tackle shops about sure-fire spots. Keep or release, always praise: Let children decide whether to keep or release the fish. Give them the chance to show off the prize at home. Instruct how to carefully release a trout, if that is what they wish. Either way, heap on plenty of praise for learning a new skill. Capture the memories: Take plenty of snapshots and keep your child's first fishing license and lure. Encourage children to start a fishing photo album or to frame a picture of them and the catch for all to admire. --- Source: Heaton and Johnson Reels. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Natalie Sheckter, 6, holds up the string of fish she caught with her dad, Howard, during her first-ever fishing trip at Crowley Lake. John McCoy/Daily News BOX: FOR KIDS ONLY (see text) |
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