My second son has tough shoes to fill and has placed second to his brother each year.  They have both caught fish species and had angling accomplishments that most adults dream about daily.  They are not even 10 years old. What I find exciting about their enthusiasm for fishing is the ability to use fishing as a way to spend a great amount of time together as a family. Away from the distractions of today’s world like Gamecube, cartoons and computers; time spent together on the boat is an opportunity to teach, be taught and to learn about each of their own individual personalities. I fondly remember the days that my Father and I spent together fishing. So many of these days are remembered as defining moments in my life. Lessons were learned, skills were acquired but more than anything, the most important relationship in my life was built upon continually.

So how can you get your kids interested in this activity?

Here is how I did it:

1. Keep it easy.   Choose tackle, techniques and species that lend themselves to catching a lot of fish in a very short amount of time. The goal should be to keep their rod bent at all times with whatever fish you can find. In freshwater, the Bluegill is a perfect species to pursue. Usually they are found in large numbers and can be effectively fished with a bobber and a worm. In saltwater, the choices are unlimited. Don’t worry about catching a fish that YOU will be proud of, catch a fish of any sort. My sons and I have had great fun catching pinfish, ballyhoo, snappers, sharks, and grunts. Kids don’t know the difference and, in fact, the more interesting, colorful and unique the fish, the more excited they will be.

2. Keep it short.   Marathon days are not what you want to do. I think my youngest son, Hayden, had an attention span of about 3 hours when he was young.  I always planned on being back at the house in 2 to 3 hours. Find spots VERY close that you can hit and get back home without long car or boat rides.

3. Keep them covered.   You don’t like sunburn and  neither do they. Use plenty of sunscreen and protective material. Don’t make anything about the experience painful or unpleasant. Besides, Mom will not let them go with you again if you bring them back sunburned…trust me on this one

4. Keep them biting. Make it easy for the kids to catch fish. Double up on the chum and get the fish going very well before you even wet a line.

5. Keep them happy.   Take loads of snacks. I try to make a day on the boat very special for the kids. I take a lot of snacks and drinks for the kids. Also, get a treat for them that they generally are not allowed at home. I let them eat cookies, candy and sometimes a little soft drink on the boat. Loosen up and make it a special day for them. Snacks also break up any moments of frustration and keep them interested.

6. Keep your cool. Don’t get frustrated. Expect to take out tangles and knots all day. This is their day, not yours. The quickest way to turn a kid off of fishing is to get frustrated with them. If they loose interest, let them do whatever they want to. My kids love to play in the live well and cooler. Kids are fascinated with live bait and find it equally as exciting to pick up a crab as to catch a fish. Try to give them an experience that goes way beyond catching fish.   From experience I can tell you that every second they spend messing with the bait gets them more hooked on the activity as a whole.

7. Keep teaching. Teach them what you know. Tell them about a bird, stingray, or fish. Kids remember these things and find it interesting. My son, Turner, keeps McClain’s Guide to Saltwater Fishes with him at all times and even sleeps with it in his bed. Kids love to learn. This book is excellent because it has lots of pictures and  the kids can pick out the fish they have caught or want to catch. Read to them about the fish. Believe me, they will love it.

8. Keep a few fish for dinner. The best way to teach our next generation of anglers about the benefits of catch and release is to show them what it is all about. Keep fish within the limits and never keep more than you can eat that night. After you get what you need, release everything. NEVER keep fish and waste them. If they see you do that, they will do the same. My kids already know what fish we keep and how big they need to be. When they ask why we have to release some of them, I explain that if we kept them all, there would be none left next time. Kids are smart and they understand these things. These lessons will bring responsible and conscientious anglers into the sport and insure the future of our fisheries.

9. Keep it FUN! Sometimes, we do not even catch a fish. We might get sidetracked and pick up a bunch of Horseshoe Crabs, Starfish or just go swimming instead. Let the day materialize and key off the kids. If they are not interested in fishing DO NOT PUSH THEM! They will get the idea sooner than later. If they see that you enjoy yourself they will love it like you do. I usually get up and eat some breakfast with my family on my day off. I will ask the kids if they want to go on the boat and if they say yes, we will go to the bait store. They love to help pick out the bait and pet the bait store dog.

After I put the boat in, we will run less than 5 minutes to a shallow water wreck and immediately begin chumming. The first thing I will do is get out some snacks and relax a little. By the time we are finished with our snack, the snappers are responding to the chum and are usually right behind the boat. Then the fishing begins. The first 30 minutes are the most exciting for children and when they are the most interested.

As soon as I notice that either of the boys are loosing interest, I pick up and move to another spot, have a snack or just go home. I sincerely hope that these tips help you to teach your children or grandchildren to fish and enjoy fishing. If you get any good fish stories or pictures of your kids enjoying fishing, please send them to me. Teach a kid to fish and reap the rewards for life!