5 Tips To Teaching Your Kids To Fish
Going on a fishing expedition with kids offers an amazing experience. However, in most cases, it’s the parents who do all the work while their kids are playing around. In fact, most parents and guardians want to see their children fish but they just don’t know how to go about it. The good thing about training kids to fish when they are still little is that they will never forget the skill, even after they grow up. As a matter of fact, most people that have mastered the skill of catching fish owe it all to their parents. The other advantage is that your kids will not wait for you to fish for them the next time you are in a camp. They will also be able to appreciate the effort and sacrifice that you make while you go out fishing. Here is a list of tips that can help you when teaching your kids how to fish.
1. Get the Right Fishing Equipment
The worst mistake you can make as a parent or guardian is to teach your kids how to catch fish without the right equipment. Without the right fishing tools, your kid will obviously enjoy it at all. It’s actually advisable you first invest in the perfect equipment before you start giving your little one some fishing lessons. Some of the things to invest in include a rod and line. Since kids may not be able to make a distant cast like adults, it’s also advisable you get a spinning reel that’s similar to the type that’s available at besttroutfishinglures.com because they help in pushing the bait a little deeper into the water. It also spares your kid from the trouble of having to summon all his energy when the fish gets caught.
2. Select Safe Waters
You should never compromise on the safety of your kid when giving them fishing lessons. This is because sometimes they might have to fish without being supervised. It’s therefore important you do your homework on the location that you want to select. By the rule of thumb, you should opt for waters that are calm and are not frequented by unfamiliar fish species that may pose a threat to the life of your child. You should also confirm that the spot you will use is well decked to avoid instances of your kid tripping and falling into the water.
3. Start Small
Just because you want your little one to be good in fishing doesn’t mean that you should can wake up one day and start offering the lessons right away. Remember, kids are not like adults. They need some orientation before they can start doing something new. This means that you should start by ensuring that your kid accompanies you more often when you are going fishing. That way, he will start learning by simply observing what you do. In fact, just explaining the basic stuff when throwing in the line, is enough to get his attention.
4. Fish in Generous Waters
While it’s obvious that adults understand that fishing is a game of probability, kids on the other hand don’t see it that way. They expect their bait to catch a fish as soon as it’s in the water. In fact, they give up easily if there is nothing to show for their little efforts. To avoid discouraging your kid, it’s recommended that you only fish on waters that are well stoked. The moment your kid catches something in his first attempt, he will feel motivated to carry on with the activity. In fact, he will be the one reminding you to go fishing. If you are not aware of some lakes or rivers that have plenty of fish, you can ask your local fishermen to give you some leads.
5. Be Patient
Don’t expect your kid to be perfect in fishing after just a couple of days. He will first need to learn how to cast his line and pull. You should actually avoid making any negative comments whenever he casts the line the wrong way. Always complement their efforts by guiding them in casting and trailing. In fact, you should give your kid some reward for every milestone achieved even if he didn’t catch any fish. For best results, you should teach your little one to make a side cast because it’s less tedious than one cast from above. It actually protects them from hitting themselves with the fishing rod in case it slips out of their tiny hands.