When I am approached by a parent who wishes me to teach their child or children I always arrange to visit them at home so that they can decide if I am a fit and proper person to have custody of their children. This also gives the potential student a chance to get used to me in the presence of their parents so there is no shyness during the course. I have found this always works well and the benefits outweigh the time spent (I do not charge for these visits).
It was during one of these visits recently that the nine year old lad I had gone to see produced a fishing set he had been bought by a relative. The rod was a six foot fiberglass spinning rod with a fixed spool reel that seemed ready to fall apart on what was probably only its second time out of the box. It was loaded with that white monofilament line that exudes a white dust and had more curls in it than a Spanish water dog
I will never understand the mentality of the tackle shop staff who sell these kits to kids. Had this lad’s parents not sought proper coaching for their son, this poor boy would have gone with his mates to the local canal or lake and tried to copy what he saw other anglers doing. Poorly equipped, he would have struggled and probably gone home frustrated, thinking fishing was too difficult. Surely when a tackle dealer is asked to equip a young angler with his first rod it is in the dealer’s interest to foster the lad’s enthusiasm - this boy could turn into a regular customer for years to come. It would seem that a quick sale is more important, perhaps the wholesaler offers more profit on such items. Even if there is a mark up of ten pounds on these kits, consider what even a young angler will spend on tackle and bait in one year. For twelve pounds the lad could have had a four meter whip, a couple of ready made pole rigs and probably a cheap landing net and been well on his way to becoming tomorrow’s angler. Within the year he would have been back for a rod and reel and been buying hooks and bait in the meantime.
I always start my beginners off on a whip with the line tied directly to the tip ring - there is less chance of them getting tangled, they can feel that all-important fist fish and enjoy the fight without worrying about working a reel. The kids on my courses had landed some very good fish on just an unelasticated whip with a three pond hook length.
While I am on my soap box about tackle dealers, have you ever been into a tackle shop where you were not known, only to find the salesman drinking tea or smoking and talking with his mates? Were you ignored for some time and had to find what you wanted on your own? Familiar story isn’t it? Well just imagine if you were a beginner of even worse the mother of a potential angler. Not very welcoming is it? Is it any surprise that tackle shops are closing down all over the country? Your local shop owner will tell you that the mail order businesses are taking away his trade, this is true. Just remember the next time you get an item of tackle from a mail order outlet for five or six pounds cheaper, when your local dealer goes out of business will you be able to get a couple of pints of maggots,a packet of hooks or a tub of split shot, the day before you are going fishing, from your mail order retailer. I believe, however, that some tackle dealers are their own worst enemies, their shops seem to be run as a hobby rather than a business.
Rant over! I’ll wish you all a very merry Christmas, a happy new year and see you all in January.
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