It's never too late to start a kid fishing. And it's never too early either.

In my extended family, we have more kids than worms in a Styrofoam cup. We have taught all of them how to fish from about the time they could walk without much of a wobble. We started them with Mickey Mouse rods cast from the dock, over the side of the boat, or into tiny streams.

When they turned seven, we gave the kids their own fly rod and reel and lessons on how to cast about eight feet of line. All along the learning curve, we never pressured any of the children about catching fish. The act of fishing and being in the outdoors, with all its corollary benefits, was the theme throughout.

Only Megan, of all the nephews and nieces, hasn't taken up the sport. She has flyfished only once in her 12 years. But she loves to go out fishing with the group because she loves to wade, to pick wildflowers, to eat the big picnic lunches we tote along, and to razz me about missing strikes. Like I say, fishing isn't always about the catching.

All the kids are pretty good anglers. They can each grab a rod and, within sight of one of the adults, tie on a fly, cast it, and eventually catch a fish. None of the children keep fish any more, preferring to tell us with each release the sobering news that they will catch that same fish next year when it's a lot bigger.

By now, the oldest children are in their teens, driving cars, blow-drying their hair, and being distracted by a million things other than fishing. But they still love to fish. They still ask for flyfishing equipment for Christmas. They still fish for several hours a day on vacation. Even though their off hours are now spent away from us boring parents, their love of fishing remains constant.

So keep it simple and keep it real. Telling a kid that he/she will be going out and catching a 10-pounder or 100 fish on the first trip out is a fairy tale along the lines of Santa Claus and lower taxes. Kids need to learn early that fishing isn't always about catching or they might get mistaken impressions about this sport.

Remember, kids are not ideal candidates to be top-notch anglers. They've got short legs, low endurance, get bored easily, don't know a Surgeon's Loop from a Arbor Knot, and can drink their weight in water (or Kool-Aid for that matter). But if you want to get the children out of the house for a day and make their day on the water (and yours) enjoyable, here are a few tips to consider next time you go a-fishin'.