One of the best things you can do for your kids is to introduce them to the wonderful world of fishing. Fishing is an excellent hobby for kids that will teach them lessons in patience, perseverance and appreciating the outdoors. However, most kids are not born fishermen who will instantly fall in love with the sport. You may have to relearn the skill of being patient yourself while you are teaching your kids how to fish. The rewards are well worth it when they develop a lifelong love affair with this excellent hobby. To help you in your task, here is a guide to teaching your kids how to fish.
Plan for First Trip for Good Weather
If there is one way to instantly turn your kids off to fishing, it is to take them out on a wet, cold day for their first fishing experience. There is nothing like nasty weather for ruining your good intentions. Therefore, the first step in getting your kids hooked on fishing is to take them out on a gorgeous, sunny day. You should stick to good weather for their first several fishing trips until you know they are hooked on the sport before you risk taking them out in foul weather.
Get a Good Spinner Rod
Unless your kids are under the age of four, there is no need to start them with one of those Tenkara rods. Instead, you should get them a simple spinner rod made by a quality manufacturer. A good spinning rod with a closed reel can be purchased for your child for less than $50, and it will last them through several years of fishing enjoyment. Do not get them an open spinning rod unless you like untangling their lines.
Get Them a Good Pair of Sunglasses
It is easy for parents to overlook the fact that kids need sunglasses just as much if not more than adults do. Their young, sensitive eyes will have a hard time following what you are teaching them if they are not wearing a good pair of polarized sunglasses.
Bring a Ton of Snacks
If you have not learned this cardinal lesson of parenthood yet, it will serve you well in all areas of childcare beyond fishing. When you are taking kids on an activity, bring plenty of drinks and snacks along. Anytime your child appears to be getting bored while you are fishing, give them a snack and a drink to lift their spirits. After they have a little snack, they will most likely be eager to start fishing again. An added bonus is that you can actually do some fishing yourself while your child is enjoying the snack.
It’s About Your Child, Not You
This leads us to our next point. While you are teaching your children how to fish, you will get little or no fishing done yourself. You need to dedicate yourself during these early days of your kids’ fishing education to teaching them. This means standing by their side and assisting them with baiting the hook, casting and reeling in their lines. If you are patient and teach them well, it shouldn’t take too many trips before you are able to start letting them do some of these things themselves. Once they start to get the hang of fishing, you will then be able to enjoy trips where you and your kids are actually enjoying casting your lines out together.
Consider a Chartered Fishing Excursion
Especially if it is the first time you are taking your child fishing, you should think about taking a charter. If you are handling the boat yourself, it will make it more difficult to focus on teaching your kid. When you use a chartered boat, you can give 100 percent of your focus to teaching your child the right way to fish.
Be a Good Role Model
You owe it to your child and the larger world to teach them how to fish safely and legally. Check your local regulations to see if your child needs a fishing license. Most states do not require a fishing license for children under the age of 14. You should only take home fish that are in season. Follow all the state fishing regulations. Wear life jackets and sunblock. Use proper boating safety and never drink while you are boating. If you are a good role model for your kids while they are learning to fish, they will grow up to be responsible fisherman who are good stewards of the environment.
The Reasons It Is Important to Teach Kids to Fish
In this fast-paced world where everyone has to be connected at every moment, fishing is more necessary than ever before. Kids who fish will learn the value of patience, which is unfortunately in very short supply in our modern world. They will also develop a love for the outdoors that will help keep them from joining the legions of overweight kids plopped on their couches playing video games all day. They will also learn the values of hard work and determination, which will benefit them in every area of their lives.