By Wayne Beyer
May 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM – Wahpeton Daily News
Fishing is a terrific outdoor recreation activity. It was a thrill to fish with 5-year-old grandson Leo, for his first time.
Experienced grandfathers fishermen who enjoy passing on their passion and knowledge, a tradition my family has experienced for five-generations.
My first fish was a catfish from the Red River, caught while fishing with Grandpa Beyer near his farm in Brushvale, Minnesota. Daughter Brittany’s first fish was a carp caught on a kernel of corn in a Chahinkapa Park pond after the 1997 Red River flood inundated the park. Daughter Kayla’s first fish was a sunfish caught while ice fishing on Prairie Lake near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Ice fishing and peering through an 8-inch hole into the underwater world from a heated shelter is a great way to introduce young people to fishing.
I also watched two grandsons catch their first fish, including George hooking a largemouth bass in a pond in The Woodlands, Texas, and Jack reeling in a sunfish at Dobmeier Pond near Huntsville, Texas. First fish become treasured lifetime memories.
An inexpensive Zebco 202 spincast reel and fiberglass rod make good starter equipments. Leo has been practicing casting on the lawn with excited anticipation. We look forward to filling a tackle box with hooks, sinkers and lures.
Like in farm days, we dug for worms to use a bait. In the Twin Towns, Blazer Express was our go-to bait shop for nightcrawlers and minnows.
It is important to keep the experience fun and short to hold a child’s interest. Packing a lunch is also a good idea. Throwing rocks and branches into the water is expected. Searching for bugs along the shoreline adds to the adventure. Patience is key.
Live bait under a bobber works well. The thrill of seeing a bobber disappear beneath the surface never gets old.
We fished the Fox River that runs through Batavia, Illinois. It is reminiscent of the Red River of the North, with plentiful catfish and smallmouth bass. You never knew what you would pull out of the Red — walleyes, carp, northern pike, suckers, drum or even sturgeon.
Find an open shoreline fishing area or use a fishing pier. Mooreton Pond and the many lakes in nearby Otter Tail County provide plenty of opportunities.
Grandfather Rob located a fishing hot spot where a stream flowed into the Fox River. Leo caught a bluegill and smallmouth bass. We fished for nearly two hours, and he said he was “very happy.” We took many pictures to preserve the memories.
The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club sponsors the Vince Herding Youth Fishing Derby on the first Saturday in May and the Neil Heitkamp Ice Fishing Derby in mid-February. Circle the calendar for these opportunities. Children ages 8 to 16 are encouraged to join the Junior Wildlife Club, which offers fishing events.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources both offer First Fish certificates to celebrate an angler’s first fish.
The following day, Leo asked me, “Are you proud that I caught my first fish, Pops?” My smile answered the question, and I added, “Yes, I am. And it was a bluegill, the state fish of Illinois.”
A child’s first fish is special.
Wayne Beyer is the former Wahpeton Parks and Recreation director and Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club member.