Buying Kids Fishing Equipment

MAKE CHRISTMAS MERRY FOR THE YOUNG ANGLER IN YOUR FAMILY
PRACTICAL GIFT ADVICE FOR PARENTS

KETCHUM, OK -- Young people often ask Santa to bring them fishing tackle -- rods, reels, bobbers, line, hooks and lures. Parents, particularly those who are not anglers themselves, might wonder. Is their child old enough to fish? Is the fishing tackle safe, or age-appropriate?

Hooked on Fishing International (HOFI), which annually sanctions more than 700 Kids All-American Fishing Derbies across the U.S., has prepared a few tips for parents and Santa.

* The ideal starter fishing set for kids is a "combo" package with a matching rod and spin-cast reel. The youngest little anglers love to learn on rod and reel sets endorsed by their favorite cartoon character.

* Will your child be able to cast the rod and reel? This depends on the child, of course, but HOFI recommends that you go ahead and authorize Santa to put it under the tree. Like a child grows into a pair of jeans, yours will learn to use the rod and reel and eventually cast like a pro. A shorter rod is easier to handle than a long rod and a good rule of thumb is that the rod should be no taller than the child.

* Another great gift idea is a personal tackle box for your young angler, especially one that's pre-loaded with sinkers, bobbers, plastic minnows, a stringer and such.

* And, for the older child with more advanced skills, a new lure can make great a stocking stuffer.

* To make sure Santa brings the exact item or items on your child's list, take the child to a well-stocked fishing department, like Wal-Mart's, so the young person in your family can point out the items he or she wants Santa to bring.

Gordon Holland, HOFI executive director, cited a recently released study from the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association. Between 1990 and 2000, according to "Teens & Sports in America", an average of 6.5 million children from 12 to 17 participated annually in freshwater fishing, making fishing the most popular outdoor activity with teens. "We still have a lot of work to do," said Holland. "The SGMA report notes that the next big bulge of consumers -- more than 70 million -- are under the age of 18, which means we will need to introduce the fishing experience to lots of new kids in the years to come."