10 Tips for Taking Kids Fishing: A Guide for Parents and Beginners
Fishing with kids can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for both parents and children. However, it requires some preparation and know-how to make the trip successful and fun. In this guide, we’ll provide 10 essential tips for taking kids fishing, offering valuable advice for parents and beginners. Whether you’re a seasoned angler looking to introduce your little ones to the joys of fishing or a beginner seeking some parenting tips for a successful fishing outing, this article has got you covered. Taking your kids should be a great experience. Kids are going to do what kids do but go on that trip. It’s worth it. Please note that I’ve personally learned most of these tips the hard way haha! From choosing the right equipment to teaching basic fishing skills, these tips and tricks will help ensure a memorable and fulfilling fishing adventure for the whole family.
Bring Extra Food/Snacks – Tip #1
When going on a trip or outing, it’s always a good idea to bring extra snacks, especially if you have toddlers with you. Toddlers can get hungry quickly, and having a variety of snacks on hand can help keep them satisfied and content during the journey. It’s also a great way to avoid any potential meltdowns due to hunger. Pack a mix of healthy and fun snacks to keep everyone happy.
Check out our list of Top 10 Snacks for a fishing trip
Be Open To A Change Of Plans – Tip #2
When it comes to family fishing trips, it’s important to be open to a change of plans. The weather can be unpredictable and may force you to switch up your fishing spot. Being flexible and adaptable will ensure that everyone can still enjoy a day out on the water, regardless of the circumstances. Fishing requires what can be a new skill to some, patience. Oof. That can run our especially with younger kids. Don’t get hung up on staying out or sticking to one spot. Take a walk down the pond or lake shoreline. Go on a boat ride and look for some critters. Don’t be afraid to change things up after an hour or two.
Keep The Gear Simple – Tip #3
When it comes to fishing with kids, make it about them and having fun. Keeping the fishing gear simple to operate and navigate can make a good day on the water great. A basic bobber set up with artificial and live bait options make for a great first experience. Live bait can be too much. Keep life simple with artificial bait like Gulp, hot dogs or salami. A basic set up is simple for mom and dad to help with, for kiddo to make their first casts and they can catch different types of fish. Tangles will happen so keeping a few extra rods onboard and ready isn’t a bad idea.
Target “Easy” Species first – Tip #4
It makes an even better first impression on the kid if your family’s first fishing trip includes some fish catches. To further put those odds in our favor, chose a location with an abundant, easy to target species. Local fishing ponds typically offer a variety of fish like bluegill, bass and catfish. There are not guarantees you will catch them but it’s more likely. Panfish are great species to target and teach young anglers about fishing etiquette and fish care.
Read more about pond fish tips here.
Focus is on the little angler and Fun. – Tip #5
It’s important to teach some basic safety upfront before or preparing for a trip. Look at some hooks with your kids before taking your first fishing trip. When in the right mood, let them handle the hooks or lures and see how sharp they are. Try on your life jackets together before your trip as well. Make it fun! Putting on sunscreen can be a chore or we can learn about wind direction when applying it. The whole trip can be fun.
Kids and you should Always Wear Life Jackets – Tip #6
Whether you go fish on a pond or a boat, please do not leave any opportunity for a terrible accident to happen. Make sure any time children are near water that they are wearing a USG Certified life jacket. It’s the law and the right thing to do. When fishing from a boat, we recommend having one adult to each kid onboard as an extra precaution.
Pro Parenting Tip: Have a first aid kit in tackle box or boat. Better to have it and not need it…you know the rest
Be prepared for catching and taking care of fish – Tip #7
If fishing is new to you and your kid, you may be surprised how quickly you may find success. You’re learning to fish and hook one! Do you know what to do now? Mom and dad have the responsibility to teach their kid proper care fo the environment. You should have a plan that ends with nobody and nothing being hurt (unless you’re keeping some fish to eat). Proper fish handling includes having a few basic tools with you like needle nose pliers to help remove hooks and a fishing net to land your first catch.
Here is a great resource to learn about catch and release.
Keep your first few trips short – Tip #8
I love to fish and used to have a tendency to stay out fishing too long when fishing with family and focus on the just the fishing. There is fun in the preparation, the nature around you, the fishing, the moving spots and silly banter. Time flies by! Keep the first few trips to the water positive, full of new experiences and short. I’ll share exactly what a day on our boat looks like with the kiddos at the bottom of this article.
Stay engaged and curious – Tip #9
Kids will match the energy you’re bringing to a situation. If you’re bored, they’ll be extra bored. It’s a good idea to set reasonable expectations for you and your little one’s fishing day. Let them know you’re both learning, you’re not going to catch a marlin in the pond today, but you’re going to go explore the outdoors, try to catch a cool fish and have some fun. Maybe get some yummy snacks.
End the fishing day with a treat – Tip #10
So if we make the whole days about catching a fish and we don’t catch one, it can be a bummer fishing for the first time. There’s a lesson in that I guess. But fishing is about the whole experience and being together in nature, not just the catching. Talk about that and also, have something to look forward to at the end of a good fishing experience. Ice cream sandwiches seem to be a hit after our trips.
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