KINSEY YOUTH CORRECTION FACILITY
& REEL KIDS

I would estimate approximately ten or twelve years ago, I contacted the staff of the Kinsey Youth Center in Kokomo, Indiana. I mentioned to them that I was an avid bass angler and the Outdoor Columnist for the Kokomo Perspective newspaper and I was interested in visiting their facilities and conducting fishing seminars for the different groups of kids there.

I guess I considered the fact that I had lost my father at an early age, I was only sixteen and my father was forty one, so I had often felt somewhat "cheated" by not being able to spend the time most fathers and sons enjoy together. My parents owned a cabin on the Mississenewa River and we spent as much time there as possible but when my father passed away, I missed out on so much.

I began visiting the Kinsey Youth Center and with the "non-secure" groups that were allowed to come outside the complex. I would tow my bass boat and sit it up in the shade and the group of children would come outside and sit in the grass and I would stand in my boat just like I was fishing. I would explain to them the many different types of rod and reels and how they were used. I would them explain the different types of fishing lures and how they were used for catching bass. After I completed that, I started demonstrating different techniques of lure presentation and the kids really enjoyed that.

After finishing my discussions with that group, I normally parked my boat in the parking lot and I take my fishing tackle into the gymnasium for the "secure" groups. The people in this group are normally the older kids that are NOT allowed outside privileges. They can sometimes become harsh but I have NEVER felt threatened and I am often greeted with a friendly handshake and then, when the seminar is over, they would applauded me and thank me again for visiting them.

After conducting a number of my fishing seminars at the Kinsey Youth Center, I approached the staff about the possibility of conducting a Kid's Casting Contest for the kids and the staff agreed this would certainly be a welcomed event for the kids. They informed me not many people offer to share their personal time with these kids and the kids really appreciate ANYONE showing them attention.

I approached the members my "home club," the Kokomo Bass Anglers, and I asked if there would be any volunteers that would assist me in conducting such a program for these kids. Our club conducts a number of the casting events for our annual boat show at the Kokomo Mall so I knew there were members skilled in conducting such a program. I was happy to receive a good number of volunteers so I "got the wheels rolling" and I immediately contacted the Indiana BASS FEDERATION.

I had worked with many of the past officers including Larry Watson, Eldon Crabtree and also with President Doug Bradley. I explained my efforts in detail and I advised the officers that since these kids were incarcerated, they could NOT advance to the next level of competition but I had HOPED the FEDERATION would still support my efforts and furnish me with the casting kits for the event. To my profound pleasure, EVERY YEAR that I have returned to the Kinsey Youth Center, the FEDERATION has supplied me with the kits and the kids at the Kinsey Youth Center has had a BLAST learning how to cast.

One of the "HIGHLITES" of the event was shortly after I conducted a recent seminar. I received an envelope in the mail from the Kinsey Youth Center. Most of the kids made me THANK YOU cards and many had written notes to me. One individual mentioned I reminded them so much of their father because he also enjoyed fishing BUT he would NEVER take him/her fishing. The kid told me Father's Day was approaching and, due to a mistake in judgment, he/she would NOT be home to share Father's Day with their father. I was asked if I would send their father a Father's Day card and apologize for the child NOT being there.

Well, I purchase the card and mailed it to the address that was included. I mentioned that I had met their child at the Kinsey Youth Center as I had conducted a fishing seminar and a kid's casting event there recently. I also said their child had mentioned they would enjoy fishing with their father so I volunteered to take them BOTH fishing when the child was released.

A few weeks later, I had another speaking engagement there at the center and as the " secure" group was entering the gymnasium, a rather tall, slender Afro-American girl came up to me and said, "Mr. Fields..." I said, "My dad was Mr. Fields, my name is Bud..." She said, "I wanted to thank you for sending my father his Father's Day card." I told her it was no problem at all and I was indeed glad to do it for her. She said her father told her I had offered to take them fishing after she was released and I told her that was correct. I had offered to do that.

She asked me a rather odd question. She said, "Now that know that I am black, does that make a difference?" I told her, "The fish don't know what color we are. They don't care if we are black, white, yellow, red or blue. They don't know if we are short, tall, skinny or fat. Why should I care?" I am proud to say that after that young lady was released, she and her father was my guest for a day of fishing. I furnished the boat, the tackle, bait and even the lunch. I hope they enjoyed that day on the lake as much as I did.

I must confess, I have been asked by MANY people, "Why do you waste your time on those "problem kids?" I tell them, "IF my efforts manage to help JUST ONE KID turn their life around... IT IS WELL WORTH MY EFFORTS!!!"

I just hope God grants me the health and more time to continue my efforts working with the staff members of the Kinsey Youth Center. I cannot help to consider IF more parents spent MORE time with their kids and teaching them how to fish, possibly they would NEVER end up in a correction facility. I have helped my wife raise two children of our own and I am proud of my six grandchildren. I also work with many children that I don't even know but watching their faces "light up" as they catch their first fish something I will cherish the REST OF MY LIFE and I know the kids will also remember it for their lifetimes.

TAKE A KID FISHING!!!