There was a time when most of the school systems celebrated the spring holidays or spring break at the same time but not anymore. My wife Wanda and I have always looked forward to visits from our grandchildren when their schools are out for the spring break and now those visits are spread out over several weeks.

Managing several grandchildren at the dock at one time can be interesting with all the lines, corks and hooks flying around. But when the fish are biting it is great fun for the grandchildren and the grandparents no matter how many might be involved.

We had three grandchildren from Social Circle visit this week and they had one thing on their mind and that was fishing. The cold weather had not allowed the water to warm much and I was afraid that the fishing off the dock would not be good.

Things started a little slow for Olivia, Logan and Luke Cross but it did not take long for the fish to start biting. They caught a variety of fish including crappie, catfish, shellcracker, bream and yellow perch. They kept me busy putting minnows, worms and crickets on their fishing poles.

The big thrill of the day came when a big catfish bit a piece of cut bait. The dock erupted with yells and screams when the big catfish surged across the cove but we finally brought it to the dock where we could take some photos before releasing it back into the water. There were a lot of oohs and ahs as the grandchildren admired the big catfish.

I estimated the catfish weighed around 15 pounds and that one fish made a great day for the grandchildren and provided a story for them to tell their classmates when they return to school next week. Not a bad day for PaPa either as that one fish just highlighted a great day of fishing with the grandchildren.

Fishing is a great alternative for video games, television and other indoor activities and entertainment that children have these days. Now the three grandchildren that visited us today are active in sports so they are outside a lot but many children spend very little time in the outdoors.

Spring break or anytime for that matter is a good time to introduce children to fishing and the great outdoors. Fishing requires very little investment for the amount of pure enjoyment that can be had by just sitting and relaxing on a dock or maybe the bank at some local pond. The cost of a single video game could likely pay for all the fishing equipment and bait needed for a year of fishing.

The state of Georgia has some fishing facilities that provide an excellent way to introduce children to fishing. The Go Fish Education Center in Perry is an outstanding place to take your children or grandchildren for a day of fishing and other activities.

The Go Fish facility is open every weekend in April. The facility has a fish pond where fishing equipment and bait are provided for the children but it also has many interactive fishing and shooting exhibits.

It also has several fish aquariums containing many of the fish and reptiles that can be found in Georgia. For more information on the Go Fish Georgia Education Center call 478-988-6701 or go to www.gofisheducationcenter.com.

Another great facility just a short drive from this area is the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Facility up Highway 11 in Mansfield. The facility has twenty-two fish ponds and some of the ponds are for children only. This 6,400 acre facility is well worth spending a day fishing, hiking or visiting the shooting range. For more information about the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center call 770-784-3059 or visit www.georgiawildlife.com.

Please get your children and grandchildren involved in the great outdoors and take them fishing. I know that my childhood was enriched by the many opportunities that I had to go fishing. Those fishing memories will last a lifetime, so take your children and grandchildren fishing. You might find that you enjoy it as much as they do. Good fishing and see you next week.