One of the best hobbies for young and old alike is fishing. It inspires a good work ethic, patience and responsibility; and spurs a sense of assurance and empowerment. The thrill of bringing in that first fish, the camaraderie, and lasting memories created are priceless.

To catch fish you have to be willing to get out there when the fish are most likely to be biting, if that's sunrise or sunset so be it. Granted you can go fishing anytime of the day but to consistently catch fish you have to be willing to put in the time and work required to learn the fish's habits.

As you are waiting for that big one to hit your lure or bait, you are constantly reminded that the sport is called fishing and not catching. The lure must be worked methodically over the area being fished, and the bait can not be pulled out of the water every couple seconds or the fish will not have an opportunity to grab it and any fish in the area will get spooked.

Once the line goes taut, it's game on. You against the fish. As you learn a new fishing skill and work to perfect it catching that next fish, your confidence grows and your feeling of accomplishment expands.

With the advent of technology and its rapid evolution, our children are becoming plugged in at an increasingly early age. My Grandson who is currently three years old is on the I-phone watching different educational programs or playing an alphabet or numbers game whenever possible. By taking him fishing, I am allowing him to set aside the technology and experience nature at its finest, concentrating on nature instead of the I-phone screen.

With the reality of the two earner household, parents typically can not find enough quality time to spend with their children. By making it a point to take your children fishing, quality time can be captured and lasting memories can be created. Growing up in Minnesota, my Grandfather and Dad were both avid fisherman. During a trip up North; Grandfather, Dad, my younger brother and I decide to try our luck fishing. There was a small, four seat rowboat at our disposal. At the time Grandfather had numerous medical issues resulting in both his legs being amputated. Since he could not sit on the boat seat, we rigged up a lawn chair over one of the seats and off we were. When we arrived at a promising spot, Grandfather was the first one with his line in the water. Using a drop line, he fished off the side of the boat. Arthritis prevented him from using a rod and reel. Grandfather was seated between my brother and I busily working his drop line when we noticed his lawn chair starting to tip. We both immediately lurched to grab the lawn chair. The momentum created, spun the boat upside down throwing us all in the lake. The life vest kept Grandfather afloat but due to the amputations he floated face down. We quickly got him face up and laying on the overturned boat. From that day on Grandfather never tired of telling how his grandsons tried to do him in.

Fishing is an activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Get out there and create your own memories enjoying the great sport of fishing.