AUBURN – A friend once told me fishing isn’t really about fishing when you and your child cast your lines into those magical and mysterious waters.

It’s all true, you know.

Look, I can’t catch fish with a grenade, and I’d probably have a hard time shooting these cunning, aquatic creatures in a barrel with a cannon. I am that bad and damn proud of it. I don’t care if I ever reel in the Big One – or even the small one – for that matter

Honest!

But any time I get to spend with my eight-year-old son, Anthony, sitting by a lake in the bright sunshine, well, those are precious moments that will stay with me forever.

That’s the good stuff in life.

An all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland would be nice, but there’s still nothing like kicking back on a sun-drenched boat or a bed of grass while both of you dangle your lines in the cool water. Fishing is the perfect opportunity to kick around things without a television set blaring in the living room, and, if you are wise, you will leave the cell phone at home.

I am not the only dad, mom, or grandparent who feels this way, either.

There were a couple of hundred of them lining the banks of Pettengill Pond on a chilly Saturday morning. They proudly looked on and offered intermittent pointers as their children tried to hook up with one of these slimy fellows.

For two lousy dollars, children between the ages of 3 and 8 tried their hand, and reel, at the Auburn Youth Fishing Derby. The pond was stocked with fish, but the odds were still on their side as nearly 180 novice, pint-size fishermen tried to snatch them up.

“The Auburn Exchange donates the money to buy the fish,” said Loretta Martin, a recreation specialist for the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department. “There’s plenty of fish in there.”

It was a hands-on experience and a huge dose of quality time for parents who patiently waited for their children to make the catch of day. There were no TVs or radios to distract these kids, who had their eyes glued to the murky water instead of a computer screen.

Just fresh air and the usual frustration of trying to bag a fish.

The derby allowed overworked parents a chance to unwind and remember what it was like when they were lucky enough to go fishing with their parents.

“I am begging men to help me bait the hook,” said a smiling Pauline Collette, who was standing in for her working husband. “Anything for my children.”

Collette tried to soothe her frustrated son, Abram, who couldn’t get a bite. “He’s been so good. He is such a gentleman,” added Collette of Lewiston.

“If he pulls, start reeling it in,” said Leo Beliveau as he kept a watchful eye on his two children, Victoria, 6, and Christian, 4. “I used to go when I was a kid. I had a fun time with my brother.”

Mark Charest traveled from Falmouth to take his daughter, Meghan, to the derby. Meghan had already caught “two big ones.”

“It’s a nice break in the routine,” said Charest. “This is our second year.”

Two hours had passed as fish ignored my son’s line and ended up on the hooks of other grateful fishermen.

We nearly gave up, but Adam Lozis, a bright seventh-grader from Auburn Middle School, decided to help this downtrodden duo. He offered some advice and suggested using salmon eggs for bait.

Sure enough, a startled Anthony felt a tug as a fish struggled to break free at the end of the line. My son battled for less than minute before reeling in the little guy. Adam pried the fish from the hook and handed it to Anthony.

My son grinned as the fish wiggled in his hands.

That’s the good stuff in life.

A visit with Mickey and Minnie Mouse will have to wait another year. We’re going fishing for the summer.

Tony Blasi is a staff editor who can be reached at [email protected]