3 tips to teach children to fish

If you want to teach your kids to fish and you can spend time out on the water together, check out some helpful tips below.

Before you take your kids out on the water and try to actually fish, teach them the basic equipment for fishing, like tackle and bait. You should also show them the fishing pole, let them hold it, and explain how it works. Learning the basics of fishing can help them pick up the vocabulary they will need when they're out on the water.

Once you do go outside, choose a place that has a lot of fish that are easy to catch so that your child feels encouraged. Simply celebrate them when they catch a fish, no matter what kind it is. Fishing should never be a challenge for kids at first, or they might be discouraged to continue learning about it.

While fishing is fun and relaxing, it's actually a hard skill to learn, especially for little kids who have small hands and short attention spans. Don't be impatient when kids are first learning. Most likely, you'll have to rebait hooks over and over again, and you might have some mishaps with fishing poles and hooks. If you get frustrated with your kids quickly, they'll become discouraged and associate fishing with negative feelings. Be patient and positive with kids no matter what the outcome.

When you're teaching kids to fish, you need to make sure you pick the right equipment to learn with. Don't go for a children's fishing line, which is often too light and flimsy and might break when reeling in a fish. Instead, use an adult rod with a light line that will hold about six pounds or less.

Also, try using slip bobbers, which are easier to cast and require less line at the end of the rod. One good choice of bobbers are the ones used for ice fishing. Also, while kids might enjoy playing with worms, there's no need to use tons on your hook; simply use a small amount of bait.