"Take a kid fishing, feed them for the day. Teach a kid to fish, feed them for a lifetime!"

I love getting away for the weekend and this is one past-time the whole family enjoys.  Most every other weekend we find ourselves at the lake, where phone service is spotty, video games gather dust, and camp fires become the new hang out. This is how I grew up...going on fishing trips with my parents and my grand-parents. And now I'm giving my children some of the same wonderful memories. Don't get me wrong, my kids still fuss at each other but when you're on a boat you can't stomp off to your room and close the door for the rest of the day! Usually within just a few minutes they are occupied with something else and forget they're mad. Especially when they feel their pole tug or seeing the bobber bob!

This is a good start for a fish fry! We'll gather up the family and throw a few trimmings together. Nothing beats a good ole Delta style fish fry. Here is one of my favorite recipes for Fried Catfish.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups milk 
• 2 to 3 drops hot sauce
• 6 (4- to 6-ounce) catfish fillets
• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Whisk together milk and hot sauce. Place catfish fillets in a single layer in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish; cover with milk mixture. Cover and chill 8 hours, turning once.
2. Combine cornmeal and next 5 ingredients in a shallow dish, and set aside.
3. Let catfish fillets stand at room temperature in milk mixture in baking dish 10 minutes. Remove fillets from milk mixture, allowing excess to drip off.
4. Dredge catfish fillets in cornmeal mixture, shaking off excess.
5. Pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a large, deep cast-iron or heavy-duty skillet; heat to 360°. Fry fillets, in batches, 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack on a paper towel-lined jellyroll pan. Keep warm in a 225° oven until ready to serve.

We'll also have hush puppies, french fries, and coleslaw! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Now that the weather is warming up we'll be getting ready to go again! Happy Fishing!!!