Advice for Dads When Taking Kids Fishing

June 24, 2011, By 1 comment

Advice for Dads When Taking Kids Fishing

There is no better way to introduce your child to the outdoors than by taking them fishing. A day at the water between father and child can be a powerful bonding experience. Fishing is an activity that involves shared goals, rewards for persistence, interaction with nature, and the chance to learn about environmental responsibility and conservation.

It's also a chance to have a lot of fun and to hook a child on a neat hobby for life. Here are some tips that can help you make that first fishing experience memorable.

Go fishing in the morning

School-age children are used to early morning activities so head off early; you want your child to be alert and excited for the experience. Fishing late in the day or after school might be too much for your child to handle.

Interact with nature

Fishing is a fun activity that has a lot more to offer than just holding a fishing pole. Let your child experience all the sights and sounds of nature, and use the trip as a learning experience to teach them about the outdoors.

Choose a reliable fishing spot and focus on catching something

You don't want to introduce a child to fishing by trying advanced fly fishing or chartering an offshore trip. Instead, choose a place close to home and focus on easy-to-catch species. Pond fishing is a great way to start a child off, and so is fishing on an ocean pier. You want to make sure that you at least catch a few fish so that your child gets to experience the thrill of seeing something on the end of their line. Don't worry about trying for trophy fish, as it is far better to leave a fishing trip with a child wanting more than it is to leave with one bored by inactivity.

NEXT: Make it a 'hands-on' experience

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Comments (1):

Ann M. This is all very good advice. While I was out of town many years ago, my husband took our young son out fishing on a boat with a friend. Before I left, and again on the phone the night before, I'd asked him to promise me that he wouldn't take him out if they couldn't be done and off the lake before 10 am, because I didn't want our son to sunburn. They barely got on the lake by that time, they left the awning behind, and our son's hands were so badly sunburned that they blistered and peeled. Not only do I still worry about the cancer risk this caused him, but I've never been able to completely forgive my husband for not caring about either his promise to me or about our son. (He said he didn't remember me talking to him about it.) Actions have consequences. - 09/11/2011

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