Fishing Information


Teaching a Kid to Fish


Teaching a kid to fish does not have to be difficult, if you follow the right steps. There is an old Chinese proverb that states:

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". How true that is, teach a kid to enjoy fishing and you will have a lifetime fishing partner! I taught my kids to fish, while pulling out my hair, and now they love it. I will show you how to take the pain out of this task so that they will come to love fishing and the outdoors.

First and foremost you must be patient with your kids as they learn to cast for the first time. They become aggravated when they can't cast as far as you can, then quickly want to move on to another task that they already have an interest in. Out comes the Game boy. I created a game for my kids that we played at home in the yard; you may find this fun and helpful.

Make three targets and set them out in the yard at ten, fifteen, and twenty feet away. Then assign a point value for each target, say ten, fifteen, and twenty points. We always played to a score of fifty. They may only play once or twice a week so let them win some too! Now you have a game they can play to learn the task of casting before you go to the lake.

Now that you have a cast master, it's off to the fishing hole!

Show them how to properly tie a fishing knot by tying on your hook on your line as they follow along, tying on their own hook. This can be done in conjunction with the casting game. In steps frustration, don't let them struggle with this task too long or they will lose interest. Out comes the Game boy. Ask them if they want you to do it, remember it has to be a fun experience.

Now for the prey, be sure to target fish that are easy to catch. Bluegills for example are abundant around most docks and marinas, and are very easy to catch. Use very small hooks and a small piece of worm for bait with a bobber.

Crappies are also easy to catch, and eat; they are located around boat docks with brush piles under them. Check with local marinas to see if they have a crappie house, if you don't have a boat. Using live minnows for bait and a bobber so they can see when they get a bite.

Catfish are also simple to catch. They are bottom feeders and eat minnows, stink bait, and a host of over the counter and home made baits as well. I recommend a sliding weight above the hook. Let the fish take the bait on a free line, if they feel the resistance they will drop the bait. Set the hook while the line is moving and you will catch the fish almost every time.

Don't try to make them a bass pro on the first trip, keep the action fast. I recommend a Zebco 33 spin cast reel. It's very dependable and near indestructible, it will last them for many years. Use a light rod not more than 5'6" long, any longer than that and their casting accuracy goes way down. Also with a light rod that one pound crappie seems to be as big as a whale. I would buy monofilament line not larger than 10 lb test in strength. Heavier line will make it more difficult to cast, and I believe lighter line catches more fish. A small tackle box is a must have for every junior angler!

Don't go out there and set junior up with a crappie rig and you tie on this pretty spinner bait, they will want to use the same bait as you do. Stay away from treble hooks! There are way too many points to stick into too many different places.

As I close be sure to teach them about conservation. Keep only what you will eat. Don't throw your excess bait into the lake, give them to another fisherman. Don't keep them out there all day, if the fish aren't biting try skipping some rocks. You may also consider hiring a fishing guide! They get paid to catch fish.

The Fishing Vacation Guide- All the very best fishing vacation destinations, fishing tips, fish recipes, and so much more!


MORE RESOURCES:

Kansas City Star

China: all quiet on US front but fishing row flares with Japan
Financial Times (blog)
In a long-running row over disputed waters in the East China Sea, Japan arrested the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with two Japanese ...
China demands Japan release detained fishing boat, guarantee crew's safetyXinhua
China protests Japanese coastguards' clash with fishing boatMonsters and Critics.com
Japan-China Clash over Fishing Boat IncidentPanOrient News
Mainichi Daily News -BBC News -Wall Street Journal
all 413 news articles »


Brothers drown on fishing trip
Atlanta Journal Constitution
AP Wilkinson County officials say two brothers drowned while on a fishing trip in the county. Coroner William Matthews Sr. says 55-year-old Melvin Harris of ...
2 brothers drown in Wilkinson CountyMacon Telegraph

all 13 news articles »


Chicago Tribune

Asian Carp Endanger Fishing Industry, Boaters
ABC News
The spread of the fish threatens the $7 billion a year fishing industry there. The fish spawn three times a year and consume 40 percent of their body weight ...
Federal Court Battle Against Asian Carp Set to Continue Next WeekPressZoom (press release)
Indian tribe wants to join Asian carp lawsuitNews from Indian Country
Testimony continues in lawsuit to protect Great Lakes from Asian carpMLive.com
Lansing State Journal -BusinessWeek -UW Badger Herald
all 198 news articles »


Fishing Banned Near Petaluma Oil Spill
CBS 5
Authorities have instituted a ban on fishing until further notice in a part of the Petaluma River where a tugboat leaked up to 600 gallons of fuel into the ...
Fishing banned after Petaluma River oil spillSanta Rosa Press Democrat

all 45 news articles »


You "practice" fishing?
Dallas Morning News (blog)
I've never done much fishing, just a few times with my dad and a couple of times with my sons on Scout camping trips. Never caught a thing. ...
Fishing tournament trailKansas City Star

all 2 news articles »


Despite Earl, anglers enjoy good fishing
Tasley Eastern Shore News
Despite the weather, anglers have been enjoying good fishing in the area. Flounder have actually been caught from the surf lately, along with pinhead ...
Shep on Fishing: A smooth Labor Day weekend after Earl passes throughPress of Atlantic City
Time to say farewell to summer flounderAsbury Park Press

all 4 news articles »


Hybrid Cars News

EPA backs off lead shot but may limit lead tackle
Bellingham Herald
But the agency is still considering restrictions on lead in fishing tackle. The agency said it does not have legal authority to regulate ammunition under ...
Hunting and fishingHeraldNet (blog)
A Rare Moment of Sanity at EPAWest Virginia MetroNews

all 50 news articles »


Fishing Report: Redfish action getting red hot
Marco Eagle
Fishing out of Caxambas Pass, Capt. Bill Jones was looking for some tarpon willing to eat a chunk of bait, when his anglers caught two jumbo snook. ...
Capt. Charlie Conner/Fish Tales ChartersThe Ledger (blog)

all 3 news articles »


John Berry's Fly-Fishing for Trout: Fishing with grasshoppers
Baxter Bulletin
Steve was fishing a sowbug (size 16) with a bit of lead on the leader suspended 5 feet below a strike indicator. Becky had a black zebra midge (size 16) ...

and more »


Aljazeera.net

N. Korea releases S. Korean fishing crew
CNN International
By the CNN Wire Staff (CNN) -- North Korea has released a South Korean fishing boat and its crew, whom it seized last month, the South's Coast Guard said ...
Freedom for South Korean fishing creweuronews
North Korea to release South fishing boatReuters
DPRK to release S. Korean fishing boat and crewXinhua
Straits Times -Voice of America -AFP
all 1,204 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007