So you want to take the kids fishing

By Robert Thornton

I may be a tad biased, but I believe that fishing has a lot of health benefits, and chief amongst those is that it gets us outdoors, interacting with and appreciating nature. So, in a world rife with unhealthy ‘indoor’ distractions and temptations, what could be more noble than sharing this wonderful pursuit with the next generation?

Sharing your passion with youngsters can be very rewarding, however it should be understood that taking kids fishing is a skill unto itself, much different to taking unexperienced adults out.

In this blog, we’ll look at how to start fishing with kids. Specifically, we’ll explore how to utilise the knowledge you have to create memorable experiences for budding young anglers, and hopefully show you the benefits of fishing with kids.

THE WONDER YEARS 

For those of us who were lucky enough to be introduced to fishing as kids, it can be helpful to recall those experiences. You should ask yourself what made them good memories, or if not, why not? Chances are if you’re still fishing today, they probably were good memories!

My earliest fishing memories were chasing bass in a small punt with my dad at age 4. I can remember quietly trolling along while my dad pointed out birds, reptiles and interesting landmarks, occasionally drawing my limited attention to the ‘90s-spec Garmin unit showing arches of fish. These lessons were regularly interrupted by a bass hitting one of the lures, and pats on the back from a proud father as I wound in my next victim.

Fishing is often described as ‘boring’, but I can only recall action-packed days with endless stimuli, even if the fishing itself was slow, and there was always the promise of a sausage roll or ice cream on the way home.

WHAT DO I NEED TO GO FISHING WITH KIDS?

The exact type of fishing experience you can offer a child depends on your own skill level and the type of fishing gear you have. With that said, the nice thing about fishing with kids is that it can be simple – real simple! There’s no need to go chasing trophies or venturing to remote locations with kids; drowning some bait down at the local foreshore or trolling lures in a lake or estuary is ideal for youngsters.

Bait fishing is the logical choice for kids starting out, as it doesn’t require expensive gear or a high degree of dexterity. Most of the skill involved with bait fishing comes with planning and rigging, and as the adult, that’s your job!

For tackle, a light fibreglass spin combo is all you need, with a Team Daiwa PMC (Pre-Mounted Combo) spooled up with some light monofilament ideal. Running sinker rigs, basic float rigs and Paternoster rigs are all fine for kids depending on your location, with Paternosters more suited to the boat and the former two better for shore sessions.

It’s definitely possible to start kids out with lures, and this is how my dad got me started. As with everything else, though, it needs to be simple, and trolling is an excellent luring technique that’s both easy for kids and highly effective. Another reason trolling is great for kids is that, like bait fishing, there’s plenty of opportunity for chatting, eating, drinking and other activities that help to pass the time.

Once again, tackle should be simple. Spin or baitcast tackle is fine when trolling with kids, but I actually recommend a cheap baitcast combo. My reasoning is that a baitcaster is more comfortable for a child to hold while trolling, and easier while fighting a fish in a boat, as a spin reel hangs below the rod and is more likely to bang against the gunnel. There’s no need to cast either – simply let out as much line as needed while on the move. It should also be noted that letting line out like this is easier to do with a baitcaster than it is with a spin outfit, especially for a kid.

When trolling, rod holders are a good investment, and in the likely event that holding the rod becomes too arduous you can just stick the rod in the holder until it goes off.

With any type of fishing with kids, you should have somewhere comfortable for them to sit. On the bank this might be some deck chairs, and on the boat this could be extra cushions on the bench seats. Some kids get tired quickly and may even fall asleep out on the water, so definitely don’t leave home without somewhere for them to rest.

Snacks are also a must, as they help keep young brains alert and can also be a great bargaining chip or reward incentive. Every parent knows it’s possible to give kids a snack that’s fun and exciting that’s also good for their growing bodies. Dried fruit, nuts and poppers are great fishing snacks, as they keep well in a bag and are full of energy.

KEEP THE ACTION COMING

One of the keys to keeping kids interested is to make sure whatever fishing you’re doing features lots of things to do, look at and talk about. While we will always try to pick a type of fishing where fish are almost guaranteed, it’s important that there are other things going on throughout the session to avoid them losing interest, especially if the fish decide not to play the game.

There are always things to do and ways you can involve them, such as rigging, baiting up and casting out. My dad used to sometimes let me ‘drive’ while we were trolling, which basically meant I was allowed to hold the tiller of the Minn Kota while we blazed along at 3km/h – I found it exhilarating as a 4-year-old!

Having them ‘help’ you with little tasks like these not only occupies them, it’s also an opportunity to teach them these skills. The completion of little tasks should always be followed up with encouragement and positive feedback, and mistakes corrected with reassurance.

Being outside, there’s seldom a shortage of things to look at, such as wildlife, other watercraft and people partaking in water sports. To this day I still enjoy the sights and sounds of fishing almost as much as the fishing itself, and I put it down to my experiences as a child.

Another way to keep children engaged (and this goes beyond fishing) is to ‘involve’ them in the decision-making. Questions like “where should we cast this one?” or “what bait should we use next?” or even “would you like to move somewhere else?” will keep them engaged, as they now have a stake in the activities.

OFF THE WATER

Fishing is as much about what happens off the water, and this should apply to kids as well, especially before the first trip. Regardless of what sort of fishing you’re planning to do, there will always be a few jobs to do in preparation, and including kids in these jobs is a great way to build their interest.

For example, bait gathering is an activity virtually made for kids, and whether it’s pumping yabbies, digging worms, trapping shrimps or even mixing dough, most kids will barely be able to hold back once these jobs are put to them. It’s sure is great having helpers who actually like getting the hands dirty!

Rigging and knot-tying is another pre-job where kids may want to get involved. Going further, if they’re really interested in learning different knots, they can practise them independently – I used to spend hours practising with a spool of monofilament.

After the trip, there are even more ways you can keep their interest levels high. Trips to the tackle shop to replenish supplies can be exciting for some kids, and once they’re sufficiently invested in the sport, helping them choose some tackle for themselves is very rewarding.

Going through photos and videos from the trip is another wholesome way to strengthen their bond to the sport and gives them something tangible to show for their efforts out of the water.

Filleting fish and preparing them for the table is exciting for some kids, less so for others – this is one of those jobs you’ll need to play by ear depending on the kid!

Cleaning up might not be exciting for all kids either, but at the very least it’s an opportunity to show them the value of TLC and how to take care of fishing and boating equipment.

START THEM YOUNG

Teaching kids to fish is not only good for mental and physical health, but incredibly rewarding for parents and guardians looking to pass on their knowledge. It reinforces that age old lesson that fishing is a complete experience, and is about more than just catching fish – something many adults often lose sight of.

Quite often it comes full circle. My dad used to get me out of bed in the wee hours and had to basically carry me to the car, but by the time I was a teenager I was the one getting him out of bed. These days, I really enjoy taking him fishing and giving back to the man who got me into the sport that has become such an important part of my life.

In an age where social media and mobile phones are finding their way into younger and younger hands, fishing might not be the antidote, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to get them out of the house and into nature for a few hours.