Fishing with kids can be a rewarding long term pursuit, for you and the kids. The best part is that the kids do not have to be your own children. They can be children that don't have someone in their lives who will take them fishing. It is one of the best things that a grandpa can do to provide life long memories for the children. If you do not have grandchildren then it can be a great opportunity to be a big brother to some disadvantaged children.
Here are some tips for fishing with kids:
- Begin with the end in mind. Remember, the long term goal here is to develop a relationship with a child, so you can invest qualtiy time in the child's life. The goal, ironically, is not just to catch fish; this is just a means to an end. Also, don't expect to do much fishing yourself at first. You will be helping the child.
- Keep it manageable. You should have no more than one child per overseeing adult, and even then I recommend not having the children in sight of each other during actual fishing. You can periodically compare notes and eat lunch together, but keep them away from each other while fishing. Otherwise, they will fight and want each other's bait, lure, or fishing spot. Yes, the fishing spot; if one child catches a fish, the other child will NEED to fish that very same spot.
- Be safe. Watch over your child the entire time. Do not let him/her out of your sight, or into the water. On a hot day, the major temptation is wade into the water, so be sure to keep them in your sight. Also, another goal is to prevent anyone from getting hooked, and this will take some cunning and some skill.
- Start simple. Start with live bait, preferably earth worms, and a bobber, or a cane pole and a fly. Earth worms are the most convenient as they can be purchased anywhere, even at Wal Mart. You will definitely need the bobber so you do not miss any hits. Also, the children love to see the action of the bobber moving around or bobbing up and down. The action of the bobber provides some additional excitement. Be sure to take plenty of snacks, drinks and sun screen. If you are going trout fiahing, you should check out this listing of items to take.
- Don't go deep in the woods. Stay in close proximity to a bathroom, if possible.
- Get distracted. A child is not necessarily fixed on fishing (or anything else for that matter) for any length of time. Find a place away from other fishermen to skip rocks, throw sticks in the water, chase butterflies, pick flowers for mom, etc, if the the child wants to.
- Help out when needed. You may need to "seed" the child's pole. This means hooking a fish while your child is distracted and handing him the rod/reel. You will also want at least two fishing poles. You will want a backup pole if the child tangles the line on one of the poles.
- Make it fun for the child. Keep in mind that a young child may actually be scared of a fish once caught. That slimy, wriggling, ferocious little thing looked cool in the water, but is not so interesting once it's brought into close contact with the child. Also, stop for ice cream or another of your child's favorite treats on the way home.
- Teach good stewardship. Take a trash bag, and pick up trash by the water or on the trail. Teach them how to properly handle the fish. Teach the kids to take care of their equipment, making sure it's ready to use before you go.
- Talk with the kids. Find out what's really going through their minds. Keep the lines of communication open. You will have no better time to talk with kids than when you're with them having fun.
- Take advantage of the special fishing days some states offer. Some states promote a kids fishing day, often in June, allowing you to legally fish without a license, etc.