| SAFETY FIRST. Whether
it is big river or a small neighborhood pond, water needs to be respected.
Show your child how to act safely around water, in a boat or on a dock.
Use your fishing outings to teach and rehearse what they should do if they
get in trouble with water. |
HANDLING THE FISH. If
a child catches a fish, don't force him or her to take it off the hook,
or to touch the fish. Do it for them. After all, imitation can often be
the best teacher. |
HAVE FUN! Don't worry
about technique and don't be concerned about catching lots of big, trophy-size
fish. To a young angler, a small bluegill or crappie caught with a simple
hook and bobber is a major achievement. For some children, a big fish might
be scary. |
| KEEP IT SIMPLE. Don't
make your fishing outing a big production. Kids can only take in so much
information at any given time. The more complicated you make it, the more
frustrated they'll get. You don't need fancy equipment. You don't need
a boat; fishing from a pier, dock or shore will do just fine. Keep it simple.
After all, your child just wants to spend time with you. |
ATTENTION SPAN. It's
a fact of life. Kids have short attention spans. First off, plan ahead.
Check the forecast for bad weather.Look for a spot that has easily accessible
rest rooms and a nearby playground. Bring snacks, and maybe some toys.
Second, don't make the mistake of forcing your child to fish for hours
on end. Sometimes a child will be happy fishing for 15 minutes and then
playing for an hour along the beach. |
QUICK SUCCESS. With youngsters,
a little success, early on, will hook them for a lifetime. So, as you plan
your fishing outing, Make a point to find some spots that will quickly
reward you and your little one with fish. Kids don't care about size, but
they do like to catch fish, even if they're little ones. So, stop by or
make a quick call to a nearby bait and tackle store to learn where they're
bitin'. |
| MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE.
Like any great adventure, planning it is three-quarters the fun. Fishing
is the same way. Even if the fish aren't biting, you can have fun buying
a family fishing license; studying a map of where you're going; exploring
the lake, stream or beach, digging for worms, making a picnic lunch, or
pretending you are in search of Moby Crappie or Catfish. |
CATCH, RELEASE, PRAISE.
Don't worry about catch and release. Better yet, let your child make the
decision. Give him or her the opportunity to take their catch home
to show friends and relatives. But do teach your child how to carefully
and respectfully handle a fish for the day when they do release them. Whatever
the decision, don't forget to heap on plenty of praise for learning a new
skill. |
LOVE THE OUTDOORS. It's
never too early to show your child how to love and appreciate the outdoors.
While you're fishing, Take this time to observe other creatures such as
birds, ducks or squirrels, Talk about simple ways to keep the outdoors
beautiful, such as properly disposing fishing line or picking up candy
wrappers and
soda cans. |
| USE RELIABLE EQUIPMENT.
Quality fishing equipment is important to ensure that everyone has a positive,
frustration-free experience. |
CAPTURE THE MEMORIES.
Whether your child sticks with fishing or not, Only time will tell. But
for now, what matters is capturing the memories so they have something
to share with their friends, family members, and ultimately, with their
kids. So take plenty of photos. |
SHOW THEM YOUR BEST.
Finally, fishing is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids how to
be kind, caring adults. Children imitate adults they love and respect.
So, show them your best and make a good impression. Taking the time to
be with your children and sharing in the excitement of the outdoors will
pay big dividends in years to come |
|
BE PREPARED TO KEEP THE
CATCH. Don't take a prize catch home and have the young angler see it spoiled
and thrown out! Take a small cooler, zip lock bags and ice to keep the
trophies fresh and tasty! |
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