A first fishing trip with your kid

01What you need

• A push-button (spin-cast) rod and reel with 4- to 12-pound line$25
• Small hooks (size 6 to 10), a few sinkers and a plastic bobber$5
• A cup of worms or nightcrawlers from a bait or grocery store$5
• Needle-nose pliers and a wet ragHave
• A Coast Guard–approved life jacket that fits your kidHave / $25
• Hats, sunscreen, water and snacksHave

Where: A public pond or lake with a gentle bank or a fishing dock, close enough to leave when attention runs out.

02Steps

1. Check the rules, or pick a free day

   DadLook up your state's fishing license rules: depending on age, you, your kid or both may need one. Or go on one of your state's free fishing days, when no license is needed. Either way, the state's rules page tells you size limits and how many fish you can keep.

2. Practice casting in the yard

   Dad showsKid copiesNo hook yet. Tie a casting plug or a small rubber weight on the line. Press and hold the button, bring the rod up to almost straight, flick it forward and let go of the button at eye level. Before every cast they say, “Look behind,” and turn to check.

3. Pick a spot and rig up

   DadFind a spot with open space behind you, near weeds or rocks where the water is a few feet deep. Tie on the hook, pinch the barb flat, clip a sinker 6 to 12 inches above it and the bobber a couple of feet above that. Thread on a piece of worm.

4. Cast and watch the bobber

   KidLook behind, cast, and reel in just the slack. Now the job is watching. When the bobber bobs or goes under, lift the rod tip and reel steadily. Ask, “Is it a nibble or a bite?”

5. Let it go the right way

   TogetherWet your hands first, and keep the fish in or over the water. Back the hook out the way it went in with the pliers. If it swallowed the hook, cut the line close to its mouth instead. Hold it in the water until it swims off. A quick photo is fine; keep it quick.

6. Pack out everything

   KidPick up every scrap of line, the bait cup and wrappers. Loose fishing line can tangle birds. Don't dump leftover worms into the water; take them home or put them in the trash.

03If it stalls

• If nothing bites in 15 minutes, slide the bobber to change the depth or move to a new spot.
• If your kid gets bored, hand over a snack and a job: count turtles, net a leaf, reel in your line.
• If the line tangles, hand them a second rod you rigged at home and fix the tangle later.
• If they're squeamish about worms, you bait the hook. Watching the bobber is the fun part.

04Variations

05Sources

• Gear, casting, catch-and-release, safety. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists a state license (depending on age), 4- to 12-pound line, size 6–10 hooks, sinkers, a bobber and bait; says push-button spin-cast reels are easiest for beginners; says to practice casting with a plug, sinkers 6 to 12 inches above the hook, look around before casting and not cast near people, wear a Coast Guard–approved life vest when wading or in a boat, keep fish wet with wet hands, cut the line on a swallowed hook, pick up fishing line, and never release live bait. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Checked Oct 15, 2026
• Catch-and-release handling. Texas Parks and Wildlife says to consider barbless hooks, keep a fish out of the water no longer than you can hold your breath, wet your hands before handling, keep fingers out of the eyes and gills, back the hook out the way it went in, and support the fish in the water until it swims away. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Checked Oct 15, 2026
• Life jackets and weather near natural water. CDC says children should use life jackets for all activities in and around natural water, adults should supervise closely without distractions, and you should check the forecast because weather near water can change quickly to storms with lightning. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Checked Oct 15, 2026