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Dad Field Manual · Field card 119 · Outdoors

A first fishing trip with your kid

A first fishing trip should be short, simple and close to home. Pick a pond, rig a push-button rod with a bobber and a worm, and spend two hours watching for the bobber to dip.

Time
2 hrs
Cost
About $35
Ages
4 to 12
Where
A park pond or lake

What you need

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

At the water: read this first

  • Life jacket on your kid for the whole trip at natural water, and stay within arm's reach of young kids. Bring a second adult if you can.
  • Look behind before every cast, and never cast near other people.
  • Pinch the barb flat with pliers. Hooks are sharp: you bait and unhook for younger kids.
  • Check the forecast. Weather near water can change fast. Thunder means pack up and go to the car.

Steps

  1. Check the rules, or pick a free day. Check your state's license rules and size limits, or go on a free fishing day.
  2. Practice casting in the yard. With a casting plug and no hook, practice: button down, rod up, flick forward, release at eye level. Look behind first.
  3. Pick a spot and rig up. Hook with barb pinched flat, sinker 6–12 inches up, bobber above, piece of worm on.
  4. Cast and watch the bobber. Look behind, cast, watch the bobber. When it goes under, lift the rod tip and reel.
  5. Let it go the right way. Wet hands, fish in the water, back the hook out. Swallowed hook: cut the line. Hold it in the water till it swims.
  6. Pack out everything. Pick up all line and trash. Don't dump leftover bait into the water.

If 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.
Fish caught and let go
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date