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Updated: 07/26/04
Your Child’s First Rod and Reel Really is a
Big Deal
A child’s first rod and reel is an important milestone on life’s journey
say the people who run the Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby.
Here
are some tips to help parents get it right.
KETCHUM, Okla. Some gifts children receive are more than gifts; they
are
milestones, proud installments in life’s journey that say -- with
feeling “You’re a big person now.”
A child’s first pair of lace-up shoes or a bicycle without training
wheels
are those kinds of milestones. In many families, the milestone gift
that
remains a fond memory for the giver and the givee is a youngster’s
first
rod and reel.
So, don’t blow it.
To help parents make the right call on this all-important decision are
these gems of advice from the people who run the Wal-Mart Kids All-American
Fishing Derby, the world’s largest youth fishing program. Every
year
Hooked on Fishing International of Ketchum, Okla. produces close to
2,000
events for over 300,000 young anglers from ages 5 to 16.
Buy a short rod, about the same height as the young angler.
A short rod is not only easier for the young angler to cast, it’s easier
to
carry and, therefore, less likely to break. Dear parent, expect that
from
time to time the rod tip will be dragged through the gravel of a parking
lot. “Kids don’t comprehend that rods and reels can break. Rough treatment
is the rule, not the exception,” says M. Scott Smith, director of marketing
for Zebco, the fishing tackle company. His other job parent and
“proud
father of three case studies,” underscores this all-important tip.
Equip the rod with a push-button reel.
Line tangles may be frustrating for a parent but they can be tragic
for a
kid and could even end a life of fishing enjoyment before it starts.
Head
off that kind of trouble by equipping the rod with a closed-face spin-cast
reel, about as trouble-free as they come. ”The closed cover keeps the
line
in check and doesn't expose it to curious hands like a spinning reel
would,” said Smith.
The rod handle should be designed for two-handed casting.
Zebco studied the casting actions of kids as they learned to cast and
noted
that those from four to six were more likely to use both hands when
casting
the rod. This information led them to design beginner combo rods so
that
the young consumers could grip the handle with both hands. It’s
not a
coincidence that these two-handed beginner combos also sport the image
of
cartoon characters admired by four to six year old anglers, characters
like
Mickey Mouse, Sponge Bob and Tigger. Smith notes that if your
child
accidentally drops his Zebco Character combo into the water, the rod
does
not sink. Zebco’s Character combos have a patented system that allow
them
to float and to be retrieved.
Practice makes a difference.
Practice doesn't always make perfect at this stage in an angler’s life
but
practice with a patient parent can make the difference between a tearful
episode and big fun on the bayou. Casting is not easy for little persons
but a good cast is immensely satisfying to two people parent
and
child who work together from start to satisfaction.
Some young people may dream about sugarplums but young anglers with
a rod
and reel combo have visions of fish dancing on the end of the line.
Give
them that opportunity by taking them fishing and helping them achieve
another milestone -- their first fish. Many communities participate
in the
Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby, a structured half-day of
free
fishing with grown up supervision and fun contests. Parents can go
to the
official website, www.kids-fishing.com, and search the “Derby Locator”
sponsored by Fisher Boy for the location and date of the derby nearest
to you.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the title sponsor of Hooked on Fishing
International’s very successful program, which includes contests,
giveaways, prizes and even a hot dog roast. It is supported financially
and
otherwise by a growing list of corporate partners such as DMF Bait
Co.,
Edy’s Grand Ice Cream, PURELL® Instant Hand Sanitizer from GOJO
Industries,
Repel Insect Repellent from Spectrum Brands and Nestle Waters North
America, which markets the natural spring water brands of Arrowhead,
Deer
Park, Ice Mountain, Ozarka, Poland Spring, Zephyrhills, and Nestle
Pure
Life, BAND-AID® BRAND ADHESIVE BANDAGES, Bar-S Foods Co., Berkley
PowerBait, Berkley Trilene, Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum, Eagle Claw, EverStart
Batteries, Fisher Boy, FishingWorld.com, Fujifilm, Kraft Foods, Laker
Fishing Tackle, and Zebco.
# # #
A FISHING TIP FOR KIDS FROM SEBASTIAN T. BOBBER
To catch more fish, fish with a bobber. That way you’ll be able to
see when
a fish is nibbling at your bait. But be patient. Wait for the fish
to take
the bobber completely under the water before you start to reel it in.
I’ve
got more fishing tips for you on the Internet. Visit me at Sebastian’s
Corner at www.kids-fishing.com.
WHAT IS 9,000,000, ALEX?
Nine-million: that’s the number of young anglers, family members and
volunteers who have participated in the Wal-Mart Kids All-American
Fishing
Derby program since it began in 1986. These factoids are courtesy of
Hooked
on Fishing International, Ketchum, Okla., the company that started
and has
managed the successful program since the beginning.
Note to media:
For more information, contact: Gordon Holland, executive director,
(918)
782-4313, Email, info@kids-fishing.com
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