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The school year is nearly over. Now's a good time to learn a new outdoor hobby so you can enjoy St. Louis' pleasant spring weather.

One way to kick-off the fishing season is by coming to the Missouri Conservation Department's Kids' Fishing Fair.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19th. It will be held at the Busch Conservation Area in rural St. Charles County.

What's neat about the fair is beginners can get free fishing lessons. Also, you and your family can learn about dozens of good fishing lakes and streams right in the metro area.

Young Saint Louis.com asked conservation agent Dennis Cooke to give you an advance lesson on fishing. He's an outdoor skills education specialist and has worked with the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program for 10 years.

At the May fishing fair, he will teach the basics of casting a baited hook out into the lake.

The first thing you need is the proper equipment for fishing. He said you can get started with equipment that is good and still inexpensive. He said a rod and reel combination can be had for about $20. (At the fair, there will be some fishing tackle you can borrow.)

Cooke said, "I recommend a closed-face rod-and-reel combination for beginners. The closed-face reel is a lot more forgiving when your casting for the first time."

The closed-face reel is one that has a cover so you can't see the roll of fishing line. It doesn't get snarled as easily if you don't cast just right.

He recommends all kids use an adult-sized fishing rod. That's one about 6- or 7-feet in length, from handle to tip. "Unless they are very small, kids can handle adult rods. You don't need power to be a good caster," he said.

Then you outfit the fishing line with lead shot (for weight), a bobber and a "bait-holder" fish hook, he said. That hook has extra barbs to hold the bait more firmly. He said some fish can "suck the bait right off a (single-barbed) hook."

Once the rod-and-reel are fully equipped, it's time to cast the bait out into the water. For the beginner, the idea of casting is to get the bait far enough from the shore to reach where the fish are, Cooke said.

To do that, he uses a simple overhand cast. He used the image of a clock face to explain how to cast. When you're standing, your head is at 12 o'clock and your feet at 6 o'clock.

"When you cast, you start the tip of the rod at 11 o'clock, just behind your head. Then, you release the reel trigger and flick your wrist until it's at 2 o'clock. Then, stop the cast," he said. (You can see what that looks like in the two photos here.)

Cooke said young girls are often better casters than young boys. "Boys often feel they have to put all their energy behind the cast. But, it's all in a flick of the wrist," he said.

"You don't need to be big and strong. As long as your technique is right, anyone can cast," he added.

He said he favors the overhand casting technique for safety reasons. "If you go sidearm, it's too easy to hit someone nearby you," he said.

Then there's the question of what bait to use.

"I like to use big, juicy night crawler worms. But, if you don't like to handle worms, you can usually find something in the fridge to serve as bait," Cooke said. That something can be pieces of cheese or hot-dogs. Or you might use whole kernel corn from the can.

"I've had some kids tell me they fish with pieces of White Castle," he said.

He said you'll need other things besides your rod-and-reel. You should include a towel to wipe your hands, a pocket first-aid kit, a hat and sunscreen. You also need some extra hooks, lead shot and bobbers. Those are in case your line breaks, he said.

But, what do you do when you get a bite on your line?

Cooke said, "Think of the bobber as a telephone. When the phone rings, you answer the phone. When the bobber bobs, you lift your rod-and-reel."

For more help, why not learn more about fishing at the May 19th Kids' Fishing Fair. You can call (636) 441-4554 for directions and more information. Cooke and others will be on hand to teach now to cast, catch fish and reel them in.