Great Angling - Great Angling

Fishing For The Little Fish With The Little Folks

For those without a passion for fishing, it may seem like a lot of work for very little return. This may seem especially true if you have young children, but take a look at some ways to scale down your fishing trips to make them enjoyable for the entire family.

Keep your tackle simple. There's no need for a $200 rod and reel set if your goal is to make a kid incredibly happy with a fun fishing trip. Take a look at your local retailer's selection. You'll likely find some very simple rods for under $20. You'll also probably note that fishing poles for kids are no longer imitations of the big people's. Instead, you'll find shortened poles that are easy for kids to handle, most complete with cartoon characters and in colors that are attractive to kids. While you may not want to fish with a hot pink rod and reel, your daughter will probably be delighted. This isn't a professional fishing tournament - it's a fun outing with the kids.

Choose your spot carefully. Many adults find trolling their favorite lake while fishing with artificial bait an incredibly relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Kids get bored easily. Especially if you're fishing with children under seven or eight years old (or those with very short attention spans), pick a place where there's likely to be some fast-paced action. If you think you don't know of a spot like that, think again. You probably have a creek, river, lake or pond somewhere near your home that is just brimming with small perch. Kids don't care if they catch a trophy fish - they just want to catch a fish.

Remember that if you're going to catch small perch you need tiny hooks. Some people call them "hair hooks" because they almost seem as fragile as a hair. You'll find these are relatively easy to find at any retailer of fishing gear.

Which brings up another point - the bait. Your bait should be as simple as possible and that usually means worms. While small fish will often take crickets, bologna or other tidbits, most fall off a hook very quickly. Your tiny fishermen may not recognize the tug on their line quickly enough to keep these little fish from stealing the bait. Corn also works well if you're squeamish about the worms. Just remember that you're not there to catch food for the winter or a trophy for the wall. A fishing trip with the youngsters in your family is a chance to instill a love of the outdoors, a passion for the sport and the desire to spend time with family and friends.