Rebeca Granillo: Nature is a form of constant support. If you can show kids to utilize it in such a way they will learn to rely on it throughout their childhood, long into adulthood and possibly throughout their entire life. Many of us know how priceless the support of Nature is when navigating life’s curve balls. As for fishing, it simply gives them another avenue to love and protect the outdoors. After all, they are the stewards of tomorrow.

Jessica Whitmire: 1. Don’t Let It Become Overwhelming—Make It Fun! Fly fishing should be enjoyable, not stressful. It’s easy to get caught up in all the gear, techniques, and terminology, but take it one step at a time. Find a fly shop and guide that matches your energy and makes you feel good about the learning process. Surrounding yourself with the right people can make a huge difference in your journey.

2. Finding the Right Shop & Guide: One of the best investments you can make when starting out is hiring a guide. But not all guides are the same! It’s important to find one who matches your learning style and makes you feel comfortable. A great guide can boost your confidence and make the experience fun, while the wrong guide can leave you feeling discouraged. Before booking a trip, take time to visit local fly shops. Many shops offer free casting clinics, beginner classes, or events with guides. Attending these can help you get a feel for different teaching styles and personalities. Also, don’t hesitate to chat with shop staff and ask for recommendations—most are more than happy to help you find the right fit.

3. Start Basic & Don’t Over-Invest in Gear: It’s tempting to buy all the fancy gear right away, but fly fishing can get expensive quickly. Start with the essentials and get a feel for what you actually need before making big purchases. Once you’ve spent some time on the water, you’ll have a better idea of what suits your style and preferences.

4. Journaling Your Fishing Days: If you’re like me and have “mom brain,” keeping a fishing journal is a great way to capture your experiences. I love writing about my days on the water, especially family outings. It’s amazing how much you forget over time, and flipping back through those journal entries brings back so many great memories. It’s also a great way to track progress, remember what worked (or didn’t), and appreciate how far you’ve come.

5. Enjoy the Journey: Fly fishing is about more than just catching fish—it’s about being in nature, learning new skills, and creating unforgettable memories. Take your time, be patient with yourself, and most importantly, have fun!

Rebeca Granillo: First one that comes to mind is embracing failure. It is part of trying, learning and growing - making space for it also creates room for growth and setting realistic expectations. Second lesson that comes to mind is how often perfection is not necessary. Most Toddlers crave perfection and when it is not met they melt down. Successful messy flies, wild casts and bumpy drifts teach us that it’s more important to show up and grow than it is to never participate because perfection has yet to be achieved.

Stephanie Brown: My perfect day on the water would start with a few hours of fishing, where everyone gets their turns with the rods and I get my favorite part — snapping those beloved fish photos of everyone proudly holding their catches. Once the sun gets too hot, we’d take a boat ride to a quiet, secluded riverbank. There, we’d unpack lunch, spread out a blanket, and I’d settle in with a good book while my boys swim and have fun in the water.

Jessica Whitmire: A perfect Mother’s Day on the water starts slow and easy —coffee in hand, the early morning is still quiet. As I pack up the cooler, I make sure we have all the essentials: ice, homemade venison jerky, plenty of snacks, Prime Hydration drinks for Waylon, and of course, a few cold Shiner Bocks for mom and dad. With everything loaded up, we hook the boat to the truck and set off toward the lake, ready for a full day of fishing and fun. A quick stop by Jake’s for breakfast biscuits! Mid-spring to early summer is my favorite time to chase bass on the lakes in the Southeast. By 8 a.m., the air is already warm enough for light layers, and before long, I’m barefoot on the deck, the sun warming my shoulders. We snack on Flaming Hot Cheetos and jerky while scanning the water for the perfect spots—docks, submerged logs, and pockets of shoreline debris where bass love to ambush their prey. The real magic happens when a bass explodes on a popper or a streamer variation that Chris tied the night before. The way the water erupts, the line goes tight, and the fight begins—it never gets old watching Waylon's eyes light up when a fish hits. By midday, it’s time for a break, so we pull up to a small island and fire up the grill. Nothing beats the smell of sizzling hot dogs mixing with the fresh lake air. Waylon wastes no time jumping in the water, chasing minnows, and splashing around while we sit back, relax, and soak it all in. There’s something about shore lunch, toes in the sand, cold beer in hand, and the sounds of water lapping against the banks that just makes everything better. Life is good. After lunch, we head back out for more fishing, if an afternoon thunderstorm hasn’t built up yet. By mid afternoon, we pack up, sun-kissed and satisfied, heading home with tired smiles and another perfect day on the water in the books.

Stephanie Brown: We started taking our kids out on the water to "fish" when they were toddlers. Sometimes it was just a boat ride, and the most we’d do was stop to throw rocks in the water...but it was perfect. It got them used to being on the water and helped them fall in love with the outdoors. We knew not to expect too much - our goal was simply to have fun, maybe catch a fish or two, and enjoy the day together as a family. As they got older, we were able to stay out longer and focus more on actual fishing. We learned that to make it the best day possible for the kids, variety was key: a little fishing, a swim break, and, of course, lots of boat snacks. Now they’re teenagers, and they still get just as excited to stop at the gas station to pick out their boat snacks for the day as they are about catching a bunch of fish.

Jessica Whitmire: We took Waylon fishing when he was just weeks old, bundled up in the boat or tucked into a pack while we waded along the riverbank. From the very beginning, he was immersed in the sounds of moving water, the rhythm of casting, and the excitement of a fish on. But we never forced it—some days he fished, some days he played in the dirt, and some days he just watched. It was always about making it fun, waiting on him to seek advice or help. Letting the day on the water unfold on his time.

Fishing isn’t just our passion—it’s our livelihood. Because of that, we’ve always been mindful of creating a balance within our family, making sure Waylon never felt pressured into fishing but instead had the space to find his own journey with it.

Chris spends winters guiding in Patagonia, Chile, and it is not easy for our family to be apart for 3-4 months at a time. We did not want Waylon to resent fishing because of that. Waylon misses him, but we spend a lot of time as a family sharing—the adventure, the connection to wild places, and the thrill of sharing that experience with others. Waylon waits with excitement to see pictures of the fish caught and videos of the views. He is now eagerly awaiting the time it’s his turn to guide in incredible places.

We gave Waylon a small net when he was really young. He spends hours out by the river in front of our fly shop catching all kinds of minnows, darters and trout. He’s grown to love all fish species, always wanting to learn more about them. Whether it’s bass, trout, or minnows, he’s fascinated by their habits and habitats. Watching his curiosity grow, seeing him light up when he nets a fish or identifies a new species, reminds us why we were so intentional about letting him develop his own love for fishing. It’s not just about catching fish—it’s about the adventure, the learning, and the lifelong memories being made on the water.

Rebeca Granillo: Having a common interest with my daughter created a pathway to shared memories we both cherish while also fueling joyful anticipation on upcoming adventures together. She truly became my little fishing buddy.

Stephanie Brown: I think being out on the water, or doing any outdoor activity with your kids really strengthens your bond with them. I don’t fish much myself anymore, since I’ve become the resident photographer when we are on the boat, but just being out there together and watching them enjoy something they love is such a highlight for me. It’s great — no distractions, no phones, just us out on the water fully present. It gives us the whole day to enjoy each other’s company, and that’s what makes it so special.