Torn

[Mitch f]

I’m torn between trying to encourage kids to get into fishing, and encouraging kids to be a professional bass fisherman. I’m all for wanting children to get started enjoying the outdoors and getting away from their iPads to enjoy all aspects of nature and fishing, but think encouraging a kid to be a bass pro is not a good career choice. It’s one of those “follow your dream” bad ideas. The things your future family would need to put up with! 😟

[snagged in outlet 3]

I exposed my kids to all kinds of sports and let them choose. 

[Flysmallie]

I don't think I would encourage anyone to be a pro anything. But I do encourage kids to find something they like to do and push forward to do it. You may not be successful but there are good lessons to be learned down every path.

I have this struggle right now in my household. I have a 15 year old that wants to be a rock star and her mother that thinks that goal is unrealistic. Hell yeah it's unrealistic. That's what dreams are. And that's where greatness comes from. You just have to support those dreams and make sure that they know that there has to be a backup plan. Maybe they don't make it as a pro bass fisherman but along the way they develop relationships that give them an opportunity to do something in the field of fishing. 

My dad encouraged me to fish professionally. But as even as I started to see the possibility of it happening he made sure that I knew that a backup plan was important and taking care of my new family was far more important than that. When I was ready to quit the tournament thing he offered me a new truck and bassboat to keep going. I guess he thought I had what it took. But he was happy that I was willing to walk away and take care of the people around me. 

 

[fishinwrench]

I'd only encourage someone to get into professional fishing if I recognized that they were exceptionally good at it, and had the drive to soak it all up and never stop.  If they aren't searching and reading about it all the time on their own, and wanting to practice constantly.....then they don't have what it takes.  

The things that they just can't quit thinking about, and doing, are the things they should be encouraged to excel at. 

Hey Teacher, leave those kids alone !

"Thought control is a form of molestation".

[MrGiggles]

I can't help but wonder if those big time tournament guys actually enjoy fishing, or if it's just a job (albeit a good one). For me, the best way to ruin a hobby is to make a job out of it, the minute I have to do something, it becomes a chore.

The money right now is in specialized trades, STEM applications (aside from teaching), and medical. College has become outrageously expensive, and unless you have a free ride from parents or a scholarship, stagnant wages and high living costs have made it next to impossible to recover from that debt burden, and most kids do not have the forethought to see the long term impact of borrowing that much money. College ain't the sure-fire path to a good life like everyone told me it was, and I got off easily as far as student loans go.

The military is a good option as well. My younger brother has surpassed me in pretty much every way possible with the USAF, so there's that.

Us young guys have it tough, being the first generation to have it worse than our predecessors. Make sure they choose wisely, times are hard and the future is uncertain.

[tjm]

Don't be telling no kids to go fishing; the banks are standing room only as is and you lake guys complain all the time about too many boats. Leave the kids play.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I talked to my kids about probabilities in a career.  A high percentage of doctors make decent coin but ditch diggers make ditch digger coin no matter what.  I wonder what the percentage of just STL area kids that play "select soccer" ever get to the pros.  My daughter went to a Class 6 high school and there was a bunch of crying "select soccer" players that couldn't even make her team.  And I mean a bunch!  Pursuing pro sports as a career is low percentage game.

[OzarkFishman]

That may be right SIO3, but my kid is special and he/she has a shot ... Let's go pro kids ... together, because I will be with every second of the way ...

SAID ... the helicopter parents of today!!!

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Who are we to tell kids what they should be?  I have held many titles, and will be taking on a completely new one on Monday.  My parents never decided for me, and I'm glad they didn't.  I have introduced my 19 year old son to a few ideas for work, and told him he needs to have a job.   He is now working with the iron workers union, and seems to like it.  Will he retire? I don't know, that is his life.  He may decide 10 years from now to become a Pro Bass Fisherman. 

Dont sweat it Mitch.   Let the kids be kids, and they will figure out their path(s).  Give them the tools you can, and let them fail.  It's ok.  

[tjm]

A kid with any gumption is going to do/be  whatever he/she wants to, with or with out parental support and kids with no gumption won't succeed at any thing any way; so take the kid fishin and buy it an ice-creme and let it grow up.