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Take your kids fishing and they will learn to love the outdoors. There really is no limit to what age you can take your children or relative's children fishing. Don't hesitate to take them fishing. There are a few things to remember before taking children fishing. The first priority is safety. Adult supervision is necessary, no matter what age the children are. Small children are active and easily distracted so watch them closer. On the other hand, teenagers like to experiment and often forget safety, look out for them also.
Teach Children to Wear Protective Gear
When taking small children (seven and under) you will have to set the rules by example. You need to wear protective gear if you want the kids to wear it. Children like to imitate adults so use this to your advantage. Always wear a life preserver and get them a life preserver to fit them.
You can find many types of life preservers that properly fit you and your kids comfortably. Check them out online or in a sporting goods store, then purchase the ones that best suit your needs.
Teach Kids to Wear Safety Glasses
Always wear protective lenses when fishing. Sunglasses that wrap around will protect you from the ultra violet rays as well as protect your eyes from accidentally being hooked during casting. When it is dark, use clear safety glasses. They are easily found online or in a sporting goods store.
Set the example, if you wear them and tell your children why protective lenses are necessary, your children will learn safety.
Teach Them to Wear a Hat
Always wear a hat and get a hat for everyone fishing with you. Hats serve two purposes, one to protect you from the sun, and the other is to protect you from a cast gone astray. I would rather hook a hat than my head or a child's head.
Once again, tell your child why a hat is so important, so they can learn to fish safely.
Test the Child's Ability to Wait for Fish
When taking small children fishing, you might consider testing their ability to concentrate on fishing. This can be done by placing a float on a line with a small weight and no hook. Let cast them cast it in the water and tell them to watch the float as if the line was baited.
If the child cannot resist jerking the line for at least thirty seconds, you need to watch them extremely close. If they can resist jerking the line, you might consider letting them fish with a piece of cloth as bait without a hook. Occasionally perch will gulp it down and hang themselves allowing the child to catch a fish. I have seen this done several times and it worked. Soaking the cloth with cooking oil, oil from a can of tuna fish, or sardines will attract the small fish and they will jerk the line causing the float to move around a go under.
When the child settles down, you might tie on a long shanked hook no larger than a size 8. Make sure the barb is flattened, or get a barbless hook. This will be safer for the child and cause less injury in case of an accidental hooking of a person.
Keep safety in mind and in the mind of children of all ages and fishing will be a sport that the family can enjoy together.
About this Author
Robert enjoys many business ventures and sharing his passion with others. As a businessman, he always has new projects going. Visit his latest business venture at http://Hamptonbayoutdoorfurniture.org where he shares the latest news on discusses Hampton Bay Furniture.
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