As we age, we tend to forget the awe inspired by experiences we had as kids. Fishing is the type of high intensity sport that upon the first catch hooks most kids for life. Outdoor seminars are becoming the most effective way to get new sportsmen afield, but don’t leave it all up to big programs. Take the time to give whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Fishing can be quite complicated if you don’t have the proper information on how to do so. Most fishermen aren’t too worried how many fish are caught daily, while tournament fishermen are searching for the five biggest fish they can catch. The odds of catching a five-fish limit are greatly decreased by tournament fishermen having to fish unfamiliar waters. Having to figure out where the fish are on the lake or river, coupled with the lack of knowledge on what they are feeding on, will test the skills of the most seasoned angler.
By constantly trying new things, the tournament angler tends to learn quite a few more tricks that will help put fish in the boat. For this reason, what better fishing instructors could be found rather than the pros? The years of compiled fishing knowledge, along with the patience needed to help educate kids, are the tools put to use by the tournament angler. Like any other professional sport, the anglers involved in tournament fishing must dedicate their lives to the sport to be successful.
Jim Root, a professional fisherman heading up youth instructional program, stated the hardest obstacle to overcome was the time spent away from his family. Tournament fishermen must travel all over the country to qualify and compete on the tournament trail, much like other professional sports. Fortunately, Jim has a very supportive wife who is happy to see him pursue his dreams. He made the statement, “Becoming a pro was equally split between hard work and the help offered by others.”
Jim had been fishing tournaments for several yearswhen he came to the realization that he wasn't progressing at a rate he felt was acceptable. He was questioning whether spending so much time away from his family, while not guaranteed a paycheck, was the right thing to do. Most pros have several sponsors, which help fund the constant needs of the fisherman. With the cost of gas, lodging, vehicle repairs, and maintenance, Jim was having a hard time keeping up. As with many, Jim began to think about giving up his dream to better take care of his family. So often, at the brink of despair, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those that truly dedicate themselves.
To Jim’s good fortune, he was hired onto a new pro team this spring. Citizens Bank in Greene offered to sponsor the educational fishing program being featured. The program is being held June 23 from 2-6 p.m. at Cook’s Park, Route 206, Greene. The program will take place rain or shine. Everything is free for the kids thanks to generous donations from local businesses and large corporations alike. Rods, tackle, and bait will be provided by Citizens Bank, food will be donated by Roma's Pizza, dessert provided by Friendly’s, along with coupons for future treats. Dobyn’s Rods, Quantum Fishing and Bass Attacker Lures are the contributing large corporations. Jim praised the contributing groups and stated, “None of this would be possible without their help.” The pond has several species of fish in it including large mouth bass, pickerel, and the many varieties of pan fish. Parents can register their kids at www.jimrootfishing.com, but the deadline to sign up is June 16, so act fast!
Jim was raised in Oxford and graduated from Oxford Academy and still carries the humble attitude of those raised in such tight-knit communities. He, like myself, began fishing in small ponds and fondly remembers spending time at his grandpa's farm pond. After a few minutes of talking with him, it became apparent that we knew each other and had met several times while we were in high school. I asked where he fished locally, and was surprised to hear Chenango River and Lake, Long Pond, Round Pond, the Geneganslet, and Otselic for trout. It seemed odd that we had grown up fishing all the same ponds, lakes and rivers and had never crossed paths on the water. We have planned to catch up after his next tournament, and head out for some of our world class local Small Mouth Bass fishing. Sounds like a great time, can't wait to get out on the water with him and build a new friendship.
Jim never made it sound easy to become a professional fisherman. “It is very possible for those not scared off by hard work and thousands of miles of travel,” he said.
He said that he started by fishing small tournaments like the one held on Black Lake in Hammond. He came to the realization that tournament fishing was much like baseball in that you had to work your way up from minor to major tournaments. He has done well this year placing tenth in the attached picture at the FLW 1000 Islands, with an impressive bag of five small mouth bass, none weighing less than three pounds. We all look forward to watching his progression on the tournament trail, and hope to see him bring home the world championship some day.
As with any outdoor skill, it’s nice to get hints and help on how to be more effective. Jim stressed how helpful many have been to him on the trail. He stated, “Without the help of these people and sponsors, I would still be fishing for fun, not funds.”
His sponsors include Citizens Bank, Dobyns Rods, Quantum, Schuler-Hass Electric, Nina's, The Stadium, Roma's, Bass Attacker Lures, and to them he is truly thankful. “A special thank you to Larry Mazur, Danny Drake, Casey Martin, Kyle Mabrey, and Bridget Allen, for all the help through the years, I appreciate it more than words can describe,” Root said.
I had intended to add a story on how the average every-day Joe can change a child’s life by buying them a fishing pole, guess it will have to wait. From Jim and everyone participating, thank you to all sponsors, the program would not have taken place without your generous donations.
If you happen to see the sponsors out and about, make sure to thank them. On a final note, Jim and I hope to see parents becoming re- involved in fishing through this program. While being able to connect with your child and enjoying a little one- on-one time parents too can benefit from such experiences. Good wishes, and thank you to all involved.