Ever watch a seven-year-old reel in a fish? It's a photo moment: big grin, eyes like saucers and babbling in half-sentences.

Sadly, each year fewer youngsters enjoy the thrill of catching a fish.

"We live in an era of instant gratification with the Internet and hand-held games, so it's difficult to interest children in a slower-moving sport," says Erin Taylor Young, a 39-year old mother of two from Ranger, Indiana. The youngest of three daughters, she grew up in a fishing family, pre-Game Boy.

Young is teaching her boys to fish, but in a patient, understanding way — and she's providing the experience in small doses. "I have to be aware of their attention span," she says. "When they're tired of fishing it's time to quit. I don't press them to fish longer, because they just become frustrated."

L.D. Wimbs is a fishing guide at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. He often guides youngsters from four to 14 years old, usually without parents in the boat. "The key to teaching children how to fish is to make sure the experience is fun. Adults have to forgo fishing, bring themselves to the youngster's attention level and attend to their needs."

When asked what he likes most about fishing, nine-year-old Jacob Young says, "Casting, watching the bobber, reeling a fish in, then seeing what kind of fish it is."

Jacob's eight-year-old brother, Jonathan Young, chimes in with his favorite reasons for fishing with his family: "riding fast in the boat, and trying to reel in a fish that pulls hard." Both dislike waiting a long time for a fish to bite.

Another key to a happy fishing experience is to keep the tackle simple and sized to fit the angler.

"I have spincast rods to fit youngsters of any age," says Wimbs. "Very small children use 'snoopies' (or Berkley Nibbler) while teens use a regular-size rig. For pre-teens with smaller hands I have shorter rods rigged with smaller reels."

Invented in 1947, reels for spincast rods have a thumb pushbutton on the back and a hole in the front where line comes out. They're the essence of simplicity and highly recommended for beginners