Some memories hook you for life. We dive into how a childhood spent on a riverbank grew into a mission to help families create those same anchor moments—first casts, first fish, and traditions that bring everyone back to the water year after year.

We share a weekend at the Spring Fishing and Boat Show that sparked it all, highlighted by a dynamic father–daughter seminar with Angler & Hunter TV’s Mike Miller and his 16-year-old daughter, August. Their message is simple and powerful: give kids real gear, real responsibility, and room to try. From weedless stick worms and barbless hooks to letting young anglers tap the sonar and GPS, small choices set them up to win. We pair those takeaways with our own stories of dock monsters, brochure-worthy walleye, and lodge-side tactics like tossing dead minnows where perch stack so kids can catch fish within minutes of arriving.

Running a lodge taught us that we are not selling fishing trips—we are selling experiences. You will hear how thoughtfully pairing families with kid-savvy guides, planning shore lunches that end with fresh-made donuts, and protecting easy-access dock fisheries turn quick wins into lifelong loyalty. Those bright, sensory-rich moments—cedar-scented valleys, the shock of a northern exploding from the weeds, the first time a child says “I’ve got a fish”—become traditions families defend on the calendar. We talk about setting a non-negotiable annual trip, unplugging from screens, and using the outdoors to teach patience, respect for wildlife, and calm in a noisy world.

If you are a parent, mentor, or lodge owner, this episode gives you a clear playbook: equip for success, celebrate small victories, and build repeatable rituals that make kids proud to be anglers. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge to plan that trip, and leave a review with your favourite first-catch memory—we might feature it on a future show.