Every New Year, folks make the same promises.

Spend less. Work less. Slow down. Be better. Spend more time with family. Most of us mean well, but by February a good many of those resolutions have already drifted off like smoke in a north wind. The problem is not always the intention. Sometimes the goals we set are too complicated, too ambitious, or too easy to let slide.

But every now and then, one simple resolution comes along that can actually make a difference.

Take a kid fishing.

It sounds almost too easy, but in a world where too many young people are growing up without any connection to the outdoors, a simple fishing trip can mean more than most adults realize. There are thousands of kids in this state, and across the country, who have never wet a line, never watched a cork disappear, never seen the morning light spill across a lake, and never felt the quiet pull that nature can have on a young mind.

Then we turn around and wonder why so many of them struggle to stay out of trouble.

The truth is, a lot of these youngsters have never been given a real chance to experience the outdoors. They have never had an honest encounter with Mother Nature, and they are missing something important. Young people are wired to be curious. They are hungry for new experiences and ready to latch onto something real. Fishing can be one of the best ways to reach that part of them.

Give a young person a rod and reel, a little patience, and a little time on the water, and you may be giving them much more than a day of entertainment. You may be giving them an interest that lasts a lifetime and a positive influence that stays with them long after the trip is over.

I came to understand that better when I started college in 1989 and began meeting people from all over the state and country. To my surprise, many of my classmates had never been fishing. I hardly knew what to make of it. Growing up, I just assumed everybody fished, especially men. That was when it hit me how fortunate I had been to have a dad who took me fishing on weekends.

But it does not take a father to pass that along.

A mother can do it. An uncle can do it. A grandmother can do it. A family friend, neighbor, coach, or church member can do it. Any adult willing to give a youngster a little time and attention can open that door. What matters is not who takes them. What matters is that somebody does.

And it does not have to be a big production.

You do not need an expensive bass boat, a box full of high-dollar tackle, or a trip to some famous destination. Some of the best memories are made in the simplest places. I can still remember leaving the boat at home and fishing off Mr. Aden’s pier on Johnson’s Bluff. As a kid, I probably had just as much fun there as I did in the big boat. Young people do not need to be dazzled. They just need to be included.

That is one of the best things about fishing. It teaches without preaching.

Fishing teaches patience. It teaches attention. It teaches kids how to deal with disappointment and how to appreciate success when it finally comes. It builds character, respect for the outdoors, and an understanding that good things often require time and effort. No, fishing is not the answer to every problem in society. But there is no question it can be a healthy, steadying influence in a young person’s life.

So when you start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, skip the grand speeches and complicated plans for a minute. Think instead about one youngster in your life. Maybe it is a son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor, or kid down the street. Make a plan to take them fishing.

It may seem like a small thing to you.

To that kid, it could mean the world.

Fishing is allowed in designated areas at all marinas around Lake Conroe and also from Lake Conroe Park on FM 105. For information, fishing consultation, or a guided fishing trip, contact me at (409) 594-7645.

Good luck fishing.