I took it up after going along with my 14yr old son on the local canal to make sure he was safe now 18months later my wife and 7yr old twin girls all have there own whips and love to sit for hours at the canal while i watch and help the 3 of them in a row, unhooking fish ,baiting up etc( i dont fish when they do), The girls can now tell what type of fish they caught and i watched amazed has one caught a 1 1/2lb bream, Yes they will handle fish gently and carefully after ive unhooked them so they can let them go also maggots/caster are no probs (only trouble is when i go without them the moaning starts).
The looks we get from other folks are from amusment and friendly comments to looks of what the f*** is that idiot doing, but other anglers are great and will allways stop and chat.
Must mean something when they turn off the cartoon channel to watch John Wilson mind ya the wife prefers Matt Hayes