fishing with kidsSchool is out for summer and with that comes the opportunity to spend more time with your kids – quality time.  What could be a better activity than fishing?  This is, no doubt, worlds better than watching them with their eyes fixed and glazed on a computer or television screen. Summer is a great time to plan fishing outings or other water activities with your children.

It is always a good strategy to get your kids involved and, at the same time, teaches them responsibility.  Involve them from the very beginning. Kids love being included. Depending on their age, give them small things for which they are responsible, such as ensuring that everyone has a personal floatation device, or teaching them to coil a line. Keep them actively involved. Plan an outing on the boat that includes water activities such as snorkeling, tubing, looking for wildlife or learning how to fish. Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids about their environment.  If you are a family that spends a good bit of time on the water, it is also a good time to teach them about water safety.  Try to incorporate these teachings into fun activities and gradually introduce your kids to new things as they are ready. You might want to create a game that teaches nautical terminology such as port, starboard, stern, and bow. Once your kids master this terminology, help them learn how to safely drive the boat or cast a fishing line. Boating and fishing provide unlimited learning—learning that lasts a lifetime.

There are some kid tips you can utilize that will make your fishing outings with your children more memorable and enjoyable. Use an ultra-light spinning or spin casting rod and reel combo.  These are easier for children to use. Avoid hooks larger than size 10. Fish won’t readily take large hooks unless they are feeding voraciously. Tiny hooks also allow small fish to “inhale” the bait, rather than nibble at the hook. If a fish swallows the hook and you want to return it to the water, simply cut the line as close to the hook as possible and release the fish. Light line will do the job, preferably 6-pound test line or less.  “Slip” bobbers work well for kids. Slip bobber rigs cut down on the amount of line needed at the end of the rod and are easier to cast. Small ice fishing bobbers can provide a light touch any time of year. There is no need to use whole whopping-big, writhing night crawlers on your hook. Keep the bait approximately the size of your hook. Live bait such as worms, moths or crickets work best.

Summer is notoriously a great time for making family memories.  It is a break from the routines that are established during the school year. Fishing with your children will create memories that will last a lifetime.

Source: ” Taking Kids Fishing.” Taking Kids Fishing. Web. 24 June 20

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