Many parents like to enjoy outdoor activities with their children, but it doesn’t take long to exhaust the parks and playgrounds in most areas. However, the vast majority of people in the US live within an hour or fishable waters, so consider grabbing a rod and reel and teaching your kids how to fish.

Fishing is not only a great way to get your kids away from digital screens and surround them with fresh air and sunshine, it provides a fantastic opportunity to bond with your youngsters too.

5 Easy Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Fish

To make sure your kids’ first fishing trip is a good one, you’ll want to embrace a few important tips and tricks:

1. Provide your kids with a rod and reel that suits their size.

Don’t hand your kids adult-sized rods and reels; they’ll only grow frustrated while trying to wield inappropriate equipment. Instead, set them up with rod and reel combos that are appropriate for kids. Typically, a 5- to 6-foot-long spinning or spin casting combo will suit most kids perfectly.

2. Target kid-friendly species.

Ignore the largemouth bass and walleye that draw the attention of advanced anglers – your kids are unlikely to catch these shy and wary species. Instead, go after the abundant and bold species in your local waters. Depending on your location, this will likely mean fishing for bluegill, catfish or perch. Teaching your kids to fish is a lot more fun when they actually catch something!

3. Use real baits rather than artificial lures.

Serious anglers often use artificial lures rather than live baits, but your kids should stick to worms, crickets and corn kernels. Not only will these types of baits trigger more bites for your youngsters, they’ll generate fewer snagged lines than artificial lures will.

4. Fish alongside your youngsters.

Above all else, you want your kids to have the opportunity to reel in a fish during their first fishing trip – that’s the most exciting aspect of the activity! And because you’re more likely to get nibbles and hook fish than they are, you should keep your own line in the water. When you hook a fish, hand your rod to one of the kids and let him or her reel in the catch (be sure to alternate between the kids to ensure everyone gets a chance to battle a big fish).

5. Don’t forget to obtain a fishing license before heading to your local pond or lake.

Most states allow children under 15 or 16 to fish without a license but be sure to consult the relevant local authorities to ensure you stay on the right side of the law.

If you’d like to learn a few more tips and tricks about teaching your kids to fish, check out the comprehensive review of the topic over at Outdoor Empire. There, you’ll learn a few more ways to ensure you provide your kids with the best equipment and that you select a good fishing location, among other things.

Author Bio: Jon Sutton loves to spend time in the woods and on the water. His life has revolved around outdoors since his early childhood days when he caught his first bluegill in his local pond. Since then he has grown into a full-fledged angler targeting salmon and bass during his free time. He also enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling. He is currently a content manager for Outdoor Empire.

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