A bicycle coupled with a hand-me-down fishing vest and a rod and reel provided the access to some great fishing adventures.
Yes, there were weekend trips taken with Dad to fish some of his favorite streams, but there were times when I wanted to fish during the week when Dad was at work. My next best option was to take my bicycle and pedal my way to nearby trout waters.
Memories were made along the stream and those were fun times. Yes, today you’ll see kids making that same trip to waters close to where they reside with their rod and tackle box in hand. I envy those kids. Yet I feel sorry that others of their age group have yet to, or worse yet will never, go fishing.
Anglers 18 years of age and younger make up more than a quarter of today’s freshwater fishing population. Of that number, 85% of those young anglers began fishing prior to reaching their 13th birthday.
Consider this, today more than 80% of freshwater anglers took up fishing as youngsters. All of which supports the fact that if a boy or girl isn’t introduced to fishing by the time he or she is thirteen, the chances are good that they’ll never take up the sport. There are exceptions of course, but in general the fact remains, kids need to be introduced to fishing at an early age.
Let’s face it, this year’s first day of trout season was pushed forward due to COVID-19, and it really wasn’t a bad thing. A ton of fish were stocked prior to the season, and while the trout have dispersed, plenty remain.
With warmer weather upon us, spending time streamside with a youngster presents the opportunity to engage him or her and provide some streamside adventures — quality time for sure.
Fishing is fun, and when working with any youngster that is eager to learn, the student and mentor are both going to have some fun.
When it comes to taking a kid fishing, don’t worry about technique or being concerned about catching fish. It’s more about the time spent together.
Keeping it simple is the name of the game. Besides, kids can only take in so much information at any given time. The more complicated the experience becomes, the more frustrated they will get.
Forget about fancy equipment. After all, a child just wants to spend time with their mom or dad or that special adult who is willing to take them fishing.
Even if the fish aren’t biting, you can still have fun. It can begin by digging worms, and when you’re turning over soil in search of worms, talk about where you’ll be going to fish.
Plan ahead and be sure to use reliable equipment. Sometimes adults can become more frustrated with their kid’s equipment than the kids themselves. Spin cast rod and reel combinations provide a good choice here. These downsized rod and reel combos are great for kids and adults as well.
Do some extra planning before leaving for your destination.
Check the weather forecast, and be prepared for what the weather has to offer. Some days it may require taking a raincoat or it could mean packing extra sunscreen and drinking water.
Also, find a fishing spot that has readily accessible restrooms or where you can improvise, and by all means don’t make the mistake of forcing the child to fish for hours on end. Sometimes it may mean only fishing for half-hour or so. Remember, it’s not how much time you spend, it’s the experience.
So what needs to be done when a fish is caught? Allow the youngster to land the fish by his or herself. Help if needed, otherwise, hands off. Also don’t force him or her to take it off the hook or to touch the fish. Do it for them. After all, there are times when it is best to show by example. Besides, a flopping fish can take a young angler by surprise. By all means explain what you are doing and why.
With kids a little success early on will hook them for a lifetime. So, when planning your fishing outing, make it a point to find waters where you can readily catch fish. Kids don’t care about size, but they do like to catch fish.
Also, fish safely. Regardless of where you fish, water needs to be respected. At streamside, reinforce the importance of how to conduct themselves safely around water, in a boat, on the dock, or along the streambank. Use your fishing outings to teach and rehearse what the young angler needs to know if they do get into trouble with water.
Take the time to share your knowledge and appreciation of the outdoors.
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 family and friends. Take photos of their first catch and have it framed, even if their catch was a tree limb. The keepsake will be cherished for a lifetime.
Finally, fishing is an excellent opportunity to teach kids how to be kind, caring adults. Children imitate the adults, especially the ones they love and respect. Show them your best and make a good impression. By sharing what the outdoors has to offer. You’ll know you’ve done things right when you hear someone say, “Let’s go fishin’.”
(Charlie Burchfield, an Era outdoors columnist, can be reached by email at GWOutdoors@comcast.net.)
