No matter where you live, the lure of the fin and the glimmer of a fish scale fascinate. It's certainly true in Minnesota, where I live. When summer finally comes, fishing gear pops up everywhere, including garage sales. I saw a telescoping rod-and-reel set the other day that was so small it practically could fit in a handbag. My son was eager to buy it, but even with all its many attachments, we decided it cost a lot for a secondhand contraption.
Here's a fishing net that is cheaper than any garage sale find, and you can have fun making it with your young angler to use at the edge of a pond or stream. This recycled net-bag-on-a-stick will encircle for a few dizzying moments a school of minnows or a tadpole hatchery. Best of all, with a flick of the wrist, this gadget lets the little fellows go after you have studied them.Clip off the curved end of a wire coat hanger - including the part where the wire twists around itself - and discard. Shape the remaining wire into a circle. Weave it through a net bag from a recent purchase of oranges, grapefruit or onions. If there is an existing casing sewn in the bag, remove the drawstring and slip the wire through the space. Otherwise, simply weave the wire in and out of the netting an inch or so from the edge.
Attach the two ends of the hanger to the end of a 24-inch wooden dowel using strong, waterproof tape. Paint the dowel, if you wish, and for decoration glue a giant bead onto the opposite end.
Note: While on a dock or along a shoreline, children should wear life jackets and be supervised by an adult.