Viv's Column

Kids fishing, how things have changed.

I know, I know, you’re going to say what’s this old codger on about now, it’s a long time since he was a kid, well here I go again.

When I was a kid most of my fishing rods were either a bush pole or a bamboo pole and when I was lucky enough to have a fishing rod with a reel (what luxury) it was second hand, in other words a hand me down. The line I used was like wire rope, but once you hooked a fish it was very luck to escape.

No fishing from a boat for me, only the rich and famous had boats. Most of my fishing was done within pushbike riding distance of my home, so therefore, seeing as we lived in the Bracknell Liffey area I mostly fished the Liffey River. Plus if we were extremely lucky once a year we had a trip to Arthur’s Lakes in the old 39 Chev, naturally fishing from the shore. I might add that a trip to Arthur’s lake wasn’t all that easy either because there was no Poatina highway and most of the trip was on gravel roads, oh that dust.

When we were kids there were no Lake Pedder, Lake Gordon, Lake Burbury, Lake Plimsoll, Lake Mackintosh, Lake Rosebery, Lake Pieman, Curries River Dam, Brushy Lagoon, Four Springs or Craigbourne Dam to name just a few. All those waters have been established since I was a kid.

Have you started crying yet, well don’t, because we had the time of our lives and I will never forget it, each trip was another exciting adventure.

Now today, how lucky are kids, I ask you, most have flash new fishing rods with reels with running line, a tackle box full of gear, their parents have four wheel drive vehicles, as well as expensive fibreglass or aluminium boats. Well they have waters all over the State stocked by the Inland Fisheries Service, some for juvenile fishing only and some I might add (during this season) stocked with rainbow trout up to six kilograms.

There are hundreds of books on fishing, there are hundreds of videos and DVDs plus fishing video games. Fishcare volunteer staff regularly organise (Take a kid fishing) days where kids are taught fishing methods as well as, one of the most important things, how to fish for the future.

Inland Fisheries Inspectors give kids lures (when available) while on their routine patrols duties. With air travel being so competitive these days some kids have even fished overseas. Even some of us mature chaps haven’t done that yet. Plus the tackle they have access to these days, like the soft plastics, you have to hide behind a tree to put them on, otherwise the trout will take them out of your hand. The line is that fine you have to put your glasses on to see it, a trout would never be able to see that.

The variety of tackle these days is unbelievable, although I must admit most is made to fool the angler.

Now there you go, what do you think about that all you kids out there, these are just a few of the changes I’ve witnessed over the last fifty odd years. What’s it going to be like in fifty years time when you or some of your friends could be living in outer space, travelling back to earth every so often bringing your kids back to visit friends and naturally to go fishing?

No doubt kids being kids they will find a way to have just as much fun as we had, when we were KIDS FISHING.

Viv Spencer

Senior Inspector

Inland Fisheries Service.