When season opens, take a kid fishing

Time to do those last-minute check-ups before the general fishing season opens next Saturday.

Make sure the reels are lubed and ready to go and new line is on the spool. Check the tackle box to make certain everything is in its proper place. Hit the local sporting goods store to replace last year’s lost lures, stock up on bait and check out the latest rumors on where the big ones will be biting early.

And here’s one more thing to plan: Take a kid with you.

Taking a kid fishing for the first time is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an indelible memory. Stop for a minute and remember the first time you went fishing if you want proof.

In a society where time whirrs by at ever-faster speeds, taking a kid fishing is a chance to spend time together without traffic, without television, without GameBoys, without stress.

We pay lip service to spending quality family time. Here’s a chance to actually spend some. It’s just you, the kid, a couple of hooks, a few worms and nature. What could be better?

Here are a few things to keep in mind so your first fishing trip will be successful and memorable:

First, remember your license. Adults need a fishing license. Children 14 or younger do not.

Second, keep in mind that, for the kid, the first fishing trip is an adventure. Make sure that you have adequate tackle for both of you and that it’s in good working order. Be patient – remember how many times your line has turned into a rat’s nest over the years. Be prepared to answer all kinds of questions – especially when it comes to fish species identification, tackle identification and why a bobber is called a bobber.

Third, take a tip from the Boy Scouts handbook and be prepared. Have an extra sweatshirt on hand in case it turns cold, and rain gear in case it rains, as well as insect repellant and sunscreen. Make certain that if you’re using a boat everyone has a personal flotation device.

Fourth, remember to have fun.

If you haven’t been fishing yourself lately, there are plenty of options for brushing up on your skills. On the Internet, check out www.takemefishing.org, a site that specializes in helping adults plan fishing trips with kids. It has printable pages that deal with tackle, fishing knots and how to collect and keep bait, among a long list of subjects related to fishing and boating with youngsters.

Locally, there are a few fishing options worth considering.

•The Spokane River: Probably not an option for taking a kid fishing for the first time – is open only to catch-and-release fishing from Upriver Dam to the Idaho border. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also has an advisory out that warns the public about eating fish caught in the river. In a word: Don’t.

•Newman Lake is open for fishing year-round, and the lake has plenty of variety, including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, perch, catfish plus three varieties of trout – rainbow, brown and Eastern brook. The lake also has been stocked with tiger muskies, which have a one-fish, 36-inch minimum size limit.

•Liberty Lake opens next Saturday. The lake features largemouth and smallmouth bass and will host a bass tournament June 18. But it’s not all bass. It’s dominated by bass, perch and other warm-water species, but it’s also planted with catchable-size and broodstock rainbow and brown trout – with fishing for the latter species particularly good at times. Walleyes also have been planted.