Winter has its place: there’s skiing, sledding, and snowball fights. All fun stuff. But spring and summer mean hiking, fishing, boating and camping for our family and as the snow melts and the weather warms up, we find we can’t wait to get going. Robins in the yard means it’s time to start putting away the winter gear and breaking out the warm-weather goodies.
Family Fishing Fun
Spring is the start of fishing season. My husband is an avid fisherman and his enthusiasm for the sport has rubbed off on both of our kids. Though still young, six and eight, they already have lifetime licenses (courtesy of the State’s Fish and Game youth programs) and their own set of child-sized fishing poles.
Fishing isn’t quite the passion for me as it is for Dave and the kids, but I am passionate about getting to be with them. I help with baiting, reeling in the catch (if needed), netting the bounty, helping to remove hooks, and taking photos of the proud anglers. Best of all, I always enjoy a ride in ourrigid inflatable boat!
Fishing is not only fun for the kids (and for us), it is a sport that doesn’t have to be expensive. With today’s tough economic times, family fun that can be done on a budget is a win-win for everyone. Gear for kids and beginners can be found in almost any discount retail store and finding a place to fish is as easy as opening a map or checking the web. Almost everyone lives by a lake, pond, pier, beach or river that has fish. Licenses are usually inexpensive (and generally not required if you’re fishing in salt water) and while we do have a boat, it can be just as much fun to fish from the shoreline.
Simple Steps
We started taking our kids fishing when they were very young. Fishing experts cite the need to “hook” kids when they are young, and I agree. Children are our planet’s future custodians; if you show them that nature can be fun and wonderful, they’ll have a real reason to want to preserve it. Kids who only know nature through their video games won’t have the same respect for our wild spaces as those who reap its benefits first hand.
Here are some tips we followed to introduce our kids to fishing:
- It’s best to start out at a time and place where fish are likely to be biting quickly. Check with Fish and Game to see when and where fish have been recently stocked and don’t worry about catching “the big one”. Action will be more important to children than a really big fish.
- Keep equipment easy: rod and reel, a hook, a bobber, a sinker and a night crawler. Bobbers let kids have something to watch instead of just the water and will show them where the bait is.
- Don’t expect too much right off the bat. Kids might get distracted and want to play instead of fish. The key is for them to remember the trip in a positive way, so keep it light and fun. Above all, be encouraging!
By starting off with low expectations and a high sense of adventure and fun, the kids gained confidence in their skills and were happy to learn, instead of getting frustrated and discouraged. Now the kids can’t wait to go fishing and we have a great way to spend a weekend trip or a day here and there, all without going very far away or spending a small fortune. Don’t forget the camera for that first catch!
About the Author
Melissa Cameron is a married homemaker and avid “fishing mom”. When she’s not having adventures with her family, she likes to share her adventures with others. She’s written for several blogs and is fan of several others. Her husband, Dave, thinks she should be writinginflatable pontoon boat reviewswith all the time she spends in one!
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