Patience, Persistence, and Peace of Mind

Eleven-year-old Richard White focused on his bobber-less line as he watched for any sign of movement. He’s on a mission to catch the biggest fish of the day. Every fish he has caught during his morning mission was met with the exact same enthusiasm no matter the species or the size. It is clear this young man loves to fish.

White isn’t alone in his enthusiasm for the day’s activity. Hundreds of children just like him attend this fishing clinic at Combs Lake on Little River Conservation Area (CA) near Kennett each year and what they get from it may be more than you expect. 

Gateway to the Community

Cpl. Eric Heuring, conservation agent in Dunklin County, has worked the annual fishing event ever since he started in 2003. Since that time, he has seen this event evolve into what it is today and how it impacts people.

Many of the children that attend this fishing clinic go on to become lifelong anglers.

“As an agent, I check people fishing at Combs Lake,” Heuring said. “The conversations that ensue often lead to a familiar story, as they explain they now fish because of their attendance at past fishing clinics here at Combs Lake. It’s their way of saying thanks for getting them into fishing.”

This annual clinic seems to lead to a lifelong love of fishing for many, but there is more.

“This event has a lot going for it — it is a day full of firsts,” Heuring said. “Kids get their first opportunity to fish, shoot a bow, take a boat ride, and most catch their first fish here.”

Heuring, along with 20 MDC staff, help deliver this event, and Heuring points out, “we have a lot of community partners. The biggest is the Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium (MBRC), who helps organize the event.”

Other organizations, including local churches, the National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local sheriff’s offices, local ambulance services, Scouting America, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Water Patrol Division, offer much needed assistance to the event, Heuring said.

“I love that kids get to interact with law enforcement in a positive way,” he said. “It allows us to develop a relationship with people that establishes trust. And all of this happens because of fishing at Combs Lake.” 

Heuring considers this good community policing.

“These fishing events are big memories for these kids and their families. We have given them something beyond a new hobby.”

From Fish to Family

MBRC Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Dean says the goal of her organization is to improve the lives of the people in the southeastern part of Missouri, known as the Bootheel. Dean was part of the maiden voyage of the fishing clinic in 2000, and she explained that the clinic was meant to do more than expose children to fishing.

“This clinic was designed to improve the lives of families, infants, and dads,” Dean said. “Many of these dads we are reaching out to are not involved with their children or the child’s mother, so there isn’t much positive interaction. We started with the notion of working with fathers to change that, and it has evolved into a family event.

“The event has no budget,” she went on to explain. “It works because everything is strictly donated. Prizes and funds for the lunch are all donated. One business owner told me he never had anyone to take him fishing but he wished he had. So, he wanted to be a part of this and donated some money to support it.”

Heuring said they get the fathers involved with assisting the children with tasks like rebaiting hooks, untangling lines, and taking fish off the hook. Many of these dads had zero experience fishing, and this experience allowed them to be a part of the teaching effort in front of their children.

“Helping a child learn to fish places the dads in a position of doing something positive in a way that some of them have never experienced before,” said Dean. “This event brings families together. It shows them what the Conservation Department does, and some don’t even know that Combs Lake exists.”

The event allows moms and dads to connect to something positive, and many coparent in ways they have not done previously. Consequently, they create a new bond and learn a new activity as a family, Dean said.

“They never forget this event and I get asked many times each summer when the next one will be,” she said. “They look forward to it. Today we are seeing parents who were children when the event was just starting out.”

Heuring has had similar experiences.

“I see adults fishing around the lake who frequently say they have a picture at home of me and them with their first fish,” he said.

Bringing Families Together

Mario McGraw came from Kennett to fish with his preschool son, Messiah. 

“It means the world to me getting this quality time with him and making memories,” McGraw said. “I’m glad I can pass this along to the next generation.” 

McGraw mentions that he hopes his son learns from fishing what he has. 

“I learned patience, persistence, and peace of mind,” McGraw said. “By coming out here, you can get peace of mind and cope with yourself.”

Inga West, from Caruthersville, had her own thoughts on bringing her three teenage children to fish. 

“They are teenagers, so they are tempted to just sit around with technology and not spend much time together,” West said. 

West was all smiles as she watched her daughters learn to bait their own hook, catch fish, and take them off all by themselves. Inga’s son, Sincere West, was helping his sisters if their lines got caught on a log or wedged between rocks. When asked why he was doing that even though it cost him time with his own fishing, he said, “They’re my sisters, I got to help them. That’s what you do.”

His sister Franchon appreciated the assistance and was excited with every fish she caught.

“I want to catch a catfish that will win the prize,” Franchon said with a smile. “I want my family to catch fish, too, but not as big as mine.”

Ingland West, the youngest of the three, also had her sights set on what to catch.

“I want to catch a bass, and a big one.”

Within minutes and with some encouragement from her mother, Ingland was baiting the hook and catching her own fish. While that bass may have been elusive, she was all smiles as she continued catching fish.

While Inga wasn’t actively fishing, she was engaged and soaking it all in.

“They will remember this,” said West.

She was already hooked on this fishing clinic and was making plans to attend again. “This is our first year of many to come. We will be back for the next one for sure.”

Cleaning Up

Another aspect of the fishing clinic is litter patrol where the children are given a trash bag, and the largest collection of trash is awarded a prize. Dean recalled a little girl who was excited about the trash pickup.

“She jumped out of the van and wanted her trash bag straight away so she could get started picking up trash,” she said. “She wanted that prize.”

“We teach them about leaving a place cleaner than how they found it,” Heuring added. “Over the years it has helped keep Combs Lake cleaner, and I love that. The kids grow up to be adults who don’t like litter.”

Reeling It All In

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation gives some insight into the obvious and hidden benefits to fishing. On their website, they share research that shows fishing has multiple benefits including better sleep, better heart function, confidence, improved immune response, and increased emotional stability. They even indicate the benefits range from small children all the way up to senior adults.

The benefits the MBRC is trying to foster is a solid approach and is backed up by science. Nationwide research indicates children who learn to fish experience more patience and learn to wait for gratification. A younger child who fishes learns motor skills, balance, and using both sides of the body, which aids cognitive development. Then as they mature, they also become more confident thanks to those foundational experiences. What is amazing is that all this benefit comes from time spent with something as simple as a line and pole.

Fishing transcends economic divides. Most anyone can fish if they have access to water. For many in southeast Missouri, it all starts with a clinic at Combs Lake on Little River CA.

Fishing benefits people in ways that go past supplying them with a hobby or wild caught food. It strengthens who they are, helps them develop, and builds up their family. And with all that benefit, you can’t deny the anticipation and thrill of watching that bobber twitch in the water.

Richard White was one of many youths who said they wanted to catch the biggest fish, and he did it. He tied for that honor with his 17½-inch channel catfish. After his winning catch, he was asked about what he likes about fishing: “I love fishing. I get to spend time with my parents and family. It’s fun to do and I love to eat fish.” 

The 2025 fishing clinic will occur Aug. 9 and is open to families in southeast Missouri. Lunch is provided at no cost. Registration is not required. For more information, call MBRC at 573-471-9400.