By: Lila Galipeau
For experienced fishermen and novices alike, the thought of bringing the whole family on a fishing trip can sound like a daunting task, however, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the trip is successful. The most important being flexibility. It may be necessary to shorten the amount of time you’ll spend fishing, as some kids may not have the same attention span as adults to wait for nibbles on their line. In fact, the part of the trip the kids may cherish most may not necessarily even end up being catching the fish.
GEAR
Gear can be simple; for the younger ones in your group, cane poles are ideal. Essentially a pole of fiberglass or bamboo between 10 and 15 feet long that a length of line is attached to, a cane pole is simple to use. A swing of the arm to get the bait into the water and some patience is all that’s required! The most important thing to avoid is providing a newbie with tackle that doesn’t work properly or is complicated to use. Make sure the gear you give your family is functional, or your excursion may be over sooner than anticipated.
SPECIES
Keep in mind what kind of fish is easiest for beginners to catch if you want your trip to result in any fish being caught. One of the best species of fish for newbie fishers to catch is Trout. They’re more eager to bite when compared to other popular species such as Muskie, Pike or Largemouth Bass. Make sure you have a livewell, bucket or stringer to hold your catch as the kids will want to witness the pay off for their hard work and patience.
PACKING
As with any family trip, food is one of the most important elements for a successful outing. Plenty of snacks and cold drinks should keep everyone satisfied until the big fish fry at dinner time. While packing the goodies, you should also bring along some fishing trip essentials such as sunscreen, bug spray, a bucket to hold the catch, a pair of needle-nosed pliers to help remove hooks (from fish and fishermen), a small towel (fishing isn’t the cleanest activity), and a camera to capture the family fun and fishing action!
LOCATION
Here in the Pontiac, there’s a wide selection of nearby lakes, ZEC’s and outfitters to choose from. One of the best places for a family fishing trip is Bryson Lake Lodge. Open May 1 to October 31, this lodge is situated between ZEC Dumoine and ZEC Pontiac on 140 square kilometres of natural territory. It’s easy to access and is about 90 km from Fort Coulonge.
Overall, the most important thing you can bring with you on your family fishing trip is a realistic expectation of what you’ll accomplish. Perhaps your family will enjoy packing for the trip, exploring the grounds, swimming or preparing the fresh caught fish for dinner even more than the fishing itself. You may not necessarily catch as much as when you’re with your hard-core fishing buddies, and that’s okay.The memories made and quality time spent with your loved ones while enjoying the great outdoors will surely make up for it.
Big Mouth Billy Bass
The $100 Million One Hit Wonder
The animatronic latex fish could be found floppin’ and singin’ on the shelves of every major retailer and toy store. It graced the walls of Queen Elizabeth’s Balmoral castle and made a guest appearance on an episode of the Sopranos. And in the process, it sold hundreds of thousands of units.
It started with a guy named Joe Pellettieri a marketing and product developer from Indiana. Joe had a few false starts with singing novetly toys and was looking for the next big thing.
As the story goes, it all happened during a pit stop at a Bass Pro Shop Outlet, Joe’s, wife Barbara turned to him with an unusual proposal. “How about a singing fish on a plaque?’”
Dubbed the “Big Mouth Billy Bass,” Pellettieri’s product came to life in the summer of 1999. Retailers who saw the prototype loved it. By early 2000, Billy became a prized trophy in a slew of speciality stores. Making over $100 million in sales. What a catch.
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