Cordell Hotspot crankbaits and quarter-ounce spinner baits are good in farm ponds. The Rebel Pop-R is also exceptional for ponds. “It’s an easy bait to use. It can be worked slow or fast,” he said. “For kids they’re good because they don’t have to pay attention a lot. It beats a plastic worm because they don’t always know they have a bite with those.”

While bass fishing has been made attractive because of the professional tournaments, Houston said it’s a hit-and-miss for that father-son trip.

“It might be a good day and it might be a bad day,” he said. “Kids lose interest fast.”

Growing up, Houston didn’t while fishing with his father, grandfather and two uncles.

“I can’t remember the first fish I caught because it was at such an early age,” he said. “But we had a lot of good times.”

Even now, he spends time with kids. He recently took a trip to his Ardmore ranch with a 5-year-old Michigan boy dying of cancer as part of Make-A-Wish and only this week had a fishing trip to Texas with a father-son pair who won the trip in a charity drawing.

One of his favorite stories involves a father-son trip where the boy was doing all the catching. Finally, his dad caught one and the little boy said ‘Dad, you caught one.’ The kid was as excited about that one as he was any of his. Which just goes to show you dads — it’s not about you. It’s about them.

So take these tips and have a Happy Father’s Day.