Tips for Taking Children Fishing

Fishing with children is fun: How to prepare for a fishing trip with children

"We are going fishing!"

Picture the excitement on your children's faces, when you tell them. Children love to fish. Taking children fishing is fun and most children, girls and boys, love the idea of going fishing. To them, it is a wonderful adventure. 

There are a number of important things for you to consider when taking children fishing, especially if they are still young or this is going to be their first fishing trip. Remember that these children are your responsibility.

Here are some tips on how to prepare for a fishing trip with children.

Plan to wear suitable attire:

Plan the fishing trip for a day when the weather is expected to be good for fishing, if possible. If it is too hot or too cold, both you and your children may be uncomfortable. Make certain that you are all wearing clothing that is appropriate for the weather and for fishing. Blue jeans and t-shirts are suitable attire. Wear comfortable running shoes and socks, in case you have to walk any distance. The terrain may also be rocky or rough, so avoid wearing sandals. Wearing flip flops is not good idea.

Pack and carry individual backpacks:

If you are planning to spend the entire day fishing, it is a good idea to have each child pack and carry his or her individual back pack. Remember that you may or may not be fishing at exactly the same spot, all of the time, depending upon the ages of the children. Include a light jacket for each child, in case the weather changes. You may want to pack hats, rubber boots and a raincoat. A change of clothing may be appropriate. Pack a small blanket for each child, so that he or she can lie down for a nap, if necessary. You may want to include bathing suits or towels, if there is swimming allowed in the area. A hand towel, washcloth and a box of Kleenex is a good idea too. Put the child's name on the backpack.

Packing children's lunches:

Prepare a lunch for each child, like you would pack lunches for your children when going on a picnic. Include drinking water, as well as fruit juices that your children enjoy. Pack sandwiches and raw vegetables, like carrot and celery sticks, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, raisins or other things to munch on, but not a lot of perishable foods or sweets. Too many sweets may make your children hyperactive and difficult to contend with, throughout the day.

If you are planning a family lunch together, you may want to keep the food and utensils separate, rather than including them in the children's backpacks. In that case, just pack a small drink and snack in each of their backpacks. Plan to use disposable cups, dishes, utensils and napkins, as much as possible. You might take a bag of ice, as it will keep your food cool. You can use it for first aid, if necessary, or pack your fish in it, later. 

Explain the fishing trip to your children:

While children love the idea of going fishing, they may or may not understand what going fishing is or what it means and entails. They also may not comprehend what your expectations of them are going to be. Let your children help you to plan their fishing trip, if possible. Explain to them where you want to go, why you are going there, what you are planning to do together, once you get there and the basic expectations that you have of them.

Safety precautions to take:

Safety is a major concern when taking children fishing. Plan your fishing trip where there is shallow water, if possible and make certain that you will be fishing where you can keep a close eye on them, at all times. A buddy system works well with children, who are a bit older.

If you are going to use a boat, make certain that you have appropriate size life jackets for each child. Plan your fishing trip in such a way that you do not overload the boat or have to leave your children unattended when they are in the boat or near the water.

Talk to them about safety with respect to boats, lifejackets and water. Make certain that each one understands what to do in case of an emergency. School age children can be taught cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver.

Teach your children about different kinds of fishing tackle, as well as how to bait a hook properly and safely. Remember that putting a fish worm on a fishhook can be traumatic to children. They may be traumatized by watching you clean a fish, so discuss that with them ahead of time, too.

Make certain that they understand the dangers of using fishing hooks incorrectly. Show them how to cast a fishing rod, safely. Help them to become aware that having a fish hook caught in someone's finger or an eye, can ruin their fishing trip, so alert them to the possible dangers beforehand.

Purchase appropriate fishing gear:

Purchasing appropriate fishing gear for children is easy. Try to keep it relatively simple. Children do not need large, expensive fishing rods and reels, with all of the latest hooks and lures. Most of what you need for your children is in your tackle box.

You might want to purchase child size fishing rods, ahead of time and teach them how to use them. A small child's collapsible fishing rod is appropriate, but you may prefer to teach a child how to fish with a willow pole, first. You could teach them how to make flies for fishing.

Keep in mind the reality that children do tend to lose things. If you have extra tackle, keep it in your tackle box.

Set up individual tackle boxes for the children:

It is a good idea to take time with your children, before you go fishing and set up a small tackle box for each child. There are many kinds of small plastic boxes that are appropriate for use as tackle boxes. You do a container with a lid that a child can open.

Depending on the age of the child, you may or may not wish to include any hooks at this time, but you can include line, weights or bobbers. If the child is old enough to have a small, pocket knife, that can be included. Also include a picture of the kinds of fish that you expect him or her to be able to catch, where you are going.

What each child does need is a fishing rod or pole, some fishing line, a bobber, a weight and a hook. Including a few extras is a good idea, as sometimes fish can disappear with what is on the fishing line and hook. Alert your child to this reality, because if that happens it can be devastating to a child.

Obtain a fishing license:

There are places and special occasions when you can fish without a fishing license, but you will need to obtain one, otherwise. Make certain that you have the appropriate license for fishing, at your proposed location. Find out how many fish and what size of fish, you and your children are allowed to catch and take home. Make certain that your children know that they may have to put some fish back in the water, if they are not the right size.

Pack insect repellent:

Most areas where one might choose to go fishing will have mosquitoes or black flies, so packing insect repellent is important.

Take a first aid kit:

Taking a first aid kit along on a fishing trip is a basic necessity.

Remember to include a small pair of pliers for holding and cutting small objects, like hooks. Children's fishing hooks tend to get caught in many strange places, like jackets and hats, for some odd reason. Also include children's aspirin, antihistamines, extra bandages, band aids and iodine.  Make certain you take any medications or medical supplies required for the children. Taking extras is a good idea. Sunscreen is important, particularly if the weather is quite warm.

Purchase fishing bait just before you go:

Minnows are inexpensive as bait and can be purchased at many service stations. You might spend time with your children digging for fish worms, the day before you go.

Remember that because children can be afraid to bait a hook, you should teach them how to do that ahead of time. Let them practice, but make certain that you are there with them, just in case. Or, purchase artificial worms for them.

If you do all of this and remember to include everything that you may need for yourself, you will have a wonderful fishing trip with your children. It will be something that you and they will remember, for the rest of your lives.

Catching that first fish is something else for children. It is even more fun to be the person who is with them when that happens.