If your family already fishes then you know the thrill of the first catch. If not, maybe you or your children have considered giving it a try but were put off by tackle shops full of obscure equipment or doubts that you could handle all that baiting, casting and hook removal. Well, we're here to show you otherwise.

The basic freshwater fishing described here doesn't require a tackle box the size of a minivan or a graduate degree in piscine psychology. A rod, reel, line, hook, bobber and some worms will do just fine. Of course what would fishing be without a few secret tips and techniques? For that, we've turned to a handful of experts, some of whom are big-time anglers, others taught us when we were kids. The first tip we got, nearly every time, was to find a pond where you're sure you can catch something--kids don't fish for the scenery or for relaxation.

Much more than just time spent together enjoying nature, fishing breeds comradery. All the way home, passersby will ask, "Catch anything?" You'll grin as the kids shrug nonchalantly, "Yeah. Couple of sunnies." The exchange is tradition. It connects all those who know the joys of leaving the busy world behind with a tackle box in one hand and a rod in the other.