Take a Kid Fishing - A few Tips

Take a Kid Fishing - A few Tips Bill Cooper I’ve been fishing for a very long time, over 60 years in fact. Fishing is truly an interactive pursuit that appeals to most human beings, simply because it is fun. I’ve witnessed thousands of people fishing over the decades and have conducted research into why people fish. Reasons range from a basic desire to get meat to eat, to connecting with God. A great source of discussion in outdoor circles these days is the topic of taking children fishing. In my day, kids went fishing, because dad did. However, we quickly developed a sense of pride, because we were helping put meat on the family table. Fishing was also great fun and an escape from the hard labor on the family farm. Children today face an unimaginable amount of pressure and influence from a wired, plugged-in society. Fishing may be entirely foreign to them. However, the state of our society does not reduce the values of fishing. In fact, it increases the value of a resource based, nature connecting, esteem building outdoor activity. Following are a few tips that will help you take a child fishing. Pick a location with which the child is familiar, if possible. A small pond or stream that is known to hold lots of fish is best. Quick success at catching that first fish is paramount to maintaining their interest. Having an area to play, or explore is important, too, in case the fishing is slow. Build anticipation. Talk about fishing with your child. Tell a few fishing tales, or find someone who can. Grandpas are great for this. It builds excitement. Read children’s stories about fishing. Christine Hautmann has published a series of books on about children’s fishing adventures. Cover the rules surrounding fishing. Children are accustomed to rules. Understanding the concepts of fishing regulations, such as numbers and types of fish whcih may be kept will et boundaries fro them. Discuss safety issues as well, such as wearing life jacket and being careful with sharp hooks. Get organized. Make a list of what you need to take on the trip. Snacks are a top priority. Kids love to eat. But, don’t forget bug spray, lots of water to stay hydrated, antibacterial wipes, chairs, blankets and of course, fishing gear. Let your child help with the choice of bait you will use. Bait is good for beginning fishermen. They will not have to cast as much. A container of earthworms is a remarkable choice. Not only are they great for simple fishing, they provide an endless source of entertainment for children. Study up bout worms, too. There will be lots of questions. Should your child, be really squeamish, select another bait, such as dough balls. Select the right tackle. Keep it simple. An old cane pole is fun, but few use them anymore. Simple push button reels with a short rod are ideal fro children. They will learn to cast quickly and earn a sense of accomplishment as their skills progress. Bring bobbers, too. Bobbers are fascinating to fishermen, old and new. Watching a bobber disappear as a fish pulls it under sets imaginations on fire. Every angler wonders about what is on that line. Too, kids can play at a reasonable distance and still watch their bobber fro telltale signs of a bite. Too, chasing a rod down the bank as a big fish runs off with it creates fond memories and incredible fish stories. Involve the child in the job of fishing. Don’t do it all for them. They can hand you bait and eventually participate in getting that wriggly worm on the hook. Allow children to touch any fish that is caught and encourage them to release fish or place them in a bucket to take home. Make it fun. Fishing is really great fun, when the fish are biting. However, if the bite slows, so will interest in fishing. Be prepared to help your child have a good time regardless. Take a break. Explore. Catch frogs or crayfish. Look at wildflowers. Pick berries. Have a picnic. Sing songs or make up silly poems. You both will enjoy the activities as well as your time together. Remember to keep the trip short. A child’s attention span is short. If they loose interest quickly, don’t despair. They will gain more interest in fishing with each trip you make. A good wrap up to a trip makes it memorable as well. And don’t be hurt , if your child talks more about the ice cream cone you stopped for on the way home, rather than the fishing trip. Talk with your child about being responsible while fishing. Most places you go, you will find trash. Explain to your child why it is not a good idea to throw thrash on the ground. Encourage them to learn to love the natural beauty around them and explain that they are an important person to help keep the area clean, so that others can enjoy the area, too. Also explain that trash is dangerous to fish and wild animals and that we owe it to the to keep their place clean, too. I recently mad a short fishing trip with my 5-year-old grandson, Ronnie. Our first order of business was to clean up a bunch of trash someone had left. Nest, we threw rocks into the stream, right where we were going to fish. It was OK. We didn’t catch a fish. However, Ronnie brought his boogie board along. He floated downstream about 75 yards at least 50 times. On the walk back upstream he chased minnows and crayfish. After sitting in the stream and eating watermelon, we stopped at a pond on the way home for 15 minutes. Ronnie caught a 14-inch bass, which he would not hold, and two monster bluegills. He’s hooked.