My boy Austin is 7yrs. old now, and Ive been taking him fishing off and on since he was about 5. Well this year is the year he learns to really catfish. He's gone on every trip, and is learning alot.

This is the foundation of respect and responsibility that I, as his Dad want him to embrace, and go on to learn healthy alternatives to other child behavior that kids get into these days. This is alot of what Ive learned that has made our time fishing a total blast!

Just like his papa aint he?

My boy Austin wanted in on the action as well, a catman in the making!

1. Young kids tire and bore very easilly, so taking your kids out flathead fishing is probably not going to be very enjoyable for them. Take them to a paylake, or a local pond where you know the channel cats bite hard and fast, and let'em go!

2. Let them help you catch bait, or let them do it themselves after you teach them. If you use alot of bluegill and yellowbelly like I do you know these fish are fast paced biters, and young kids love the fast excitement!

3. Teach them things about catfish while your fishing. For example my boy thinks that the fact that cats have the sharp "horns" or pectoral and dorsal spines is cool! I however explained to him what they are and what cats use them for and that no, "they wont shoot out at you"!..heh..heh..

4. Buy them their own rod and reel. Make them feel important enough to use the same kinds of things you do. Take the time to go out in the yard and show them how to cast properly. Then bait the hook and turn them loose in a pond.

5. Dont get aggravated with them if they fish for 20min. and want to leave. Thats ok. We as parents know that the more you force something on a child the more they will not want to do it. So when your take your children fishing, fish with them, not trophy hunt like you would if you were with your fishing buddies.

6. If you take the family on a trophy cat outing take other things with you that your kids will be interested in. For example when my wife and I go out and take Austin with us we take a 2 man tent we bought him with us for him to play in and he takes a handfull of toys with him.Of course being a little boy he finds tons of things along the bank that keep him interested as well.

7. Let them handle your fish. If you are out trophy fishing and nail a big cat let them be a part of it. Let them touch the fish before you release it or even show them how to hold the fish if its small enough. If you take a picture of it, let them join in. Its important to make them feel right in on the action.

8. Probably most important of all is that catfishing can be a good time to catch up on lost time with your children. Its a great time to talk to them about anything they are interested in talking about. If you have older children its a good time to get more involved in their lives. And remember, no matter how big the fish is they catch, make it out to be the biggest news of the century!!

With the world the way it is these days, and the temptations kids will come in contact with, fishing is a very healthy and non-destructive hobby for them. And it could very well be something that they grow each year to love more. I know you can relate when I say I love my boy more than life itself, and Ill do whatever I can to spend time with him and do things we love to do together. God Bless all the little catters out there!