Sunday, March 6, 2011

Capt Don - Hook the Future

Every year the Boat Show comes to Charleston. And, the Spivey gang is always present. Some years, with as many as 11 kids in tow. (Note: Not all of those kids were ours.) It is hard not to notice 11 kids, most under the age of 10, lined up like a family of ducks moving through the isles and past the booths. And, over the years, many of the vendors have taken an interest in our gang. PierSide Boatworks supplied us with sturdy carry bags. SeaRay gives the kids un-inflated beach balls. (The first year they handed out inflated beach balls and you can only imagine the time we had trying to keep up with 11 bouncy beach balls.) First Federal Bank hands out koozie cups and water proof cases. Dan-the-Knot-Man spends tons of time teaching the history of knots and making knots crafts with each child. West Marine gave the kids key chains to hang on their knot craft. Capt. Mike of SeaTow always has a special a gift. Yellow Fin Galleries has coloring crafts and The LowCountry Lady Anglers has a fun little gamefish identification test. And SCDNR, with their fish tattoos as well as  the most popular 'Fishing Simulator' that gathers big grins and giggles as tiny people get tossed about trying to reel in a video trophy wahoo. 

Capt. Don Dingman, host of the 'Hook the Future' TV show, holds a fishing clinic and raffle just for kids. Capt. Don does two shows a day and the Spivey gang are there every time the doors are open. Again, it would be hard for Capt. Don not to notice 'the herd' coming in and out every show, every year. One year we came home with 15 fishing poles. With all the kids we entertain, those poles have been used on our pond to help many a child learn the thrill of catching a fish. And that's a big part of what 'Hook the Future' is all about.

For the past couple of years Capt. Don and I have talked about 'Hook-the-Future' doing a show in conjuction with the Stone Crab Kids. That should be a lot of fun. And another opportunity for 'memory building'. Someday, many years from now, Kim and I will sit at the Thanksgiving table listening to our kids tell our grandkids about all the adventures they had when they were young and life was as simple as going fishing.

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