When I started writing this article, there was still some snow on the ground and the lake was covered with ice. I had made my customary trip into the village to pick up the daily dose of junk mail and bills from the post office. Upon my return, I could hear strange noises coming from the direction of the lake. At first I thought it was my imagination or maybe my hearing, which is known to play tricks on me from time to time. I had to stop in my tracks; it was such an odd sound. Then I realized that the noise I was hearing was actually coming from the lake. It was windy and the noise was the ice moving, cracking and making a pinging sort of sound. This was a sure sign of spring and of the eventual break-up that everyone was looking forward to. If you can’t go ice fishing, why have ice?

Several weeks have now passed and the ice has disappeared for another year. I always enjoy winter but when it’s over, it’s over and time to move on. Frankly, I had already begun to think about spring. It started when I saw the first daylily poking its head through the soil on the sunny side of our neighbor’s house. Just seeing that little bit of green got me to thinking about morel hunting.

I won’t begin to claim that I have any expertise on the subject. Last year was my first attempt at hunting them on my own. Previously, my experience was at the side of my Dad back in Illinois when I was about 12 years of age. At that stage of my life, I don’t think I was all that interested. This past spring I eagerly watched and listened for reports of “shrooms” being found. There are even Michigan web sites that are totally devoted to morel hunting.

Once the rumors began to circulate, I headed for the woods. I can remember wondering if I was too early or too late. When I met with little success I figured that it must be because it was too dry. Then I picked up the paper and saw pictures of people and their bountiful harvest. I realized that maybe my lack of success was just me! Maybe I just can’t spot them! Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place! Oh, the pressure!

Well, spring is a time for new beginnings. Pretty soon I’ll be out there again, stooped over, looking for those tasty little devils. Maybe this year will be better now that I have a trained eye. Let’s hope so anyway.

If you want to have fun and create some memories that a child will carry with him through life, just take them fishing. Think about it. Don’t you remember someone taking you fishing when you were a kid?

The main thing to remember is to keep it simple. Don’t expect to get a lot of fishing in yourself. In fact if I am taking two of the grandkids fishing at the same time, I don’t even attempt to fish myself. I can do plenty of that when they are older. You will be plenty busy baiting up their hooks and taking the fish off. The older they are, the more they can do for themselves.

The thing to remember is that kids, unlike adults, care more about quantity than size of the fish caught. If they catch lots of fish, they are happy and the day is a big success. Pan fish are the answer to a successful day on the old pond. Be sure to take plenty of worms. Small artificial worms sometimes work but there is nothing like live bait.