When you go fishing with a kid it is very important to understand the delicate opportunity you have before you. It is up to you to manage the situation in a way that provides the kid with a lasting impression, hopefully a positive one. Although it is a great feeling going fishing with your kids, you would like to still experience this once you are retired. And thus is the challenge. With so many other activities for kids, it seems that any outdoor activity that makes direct contact with nature, such as hunting and fishing, are labeled with a stigma. This is why we see deer explosion over the country - especially where hunting is not the in-thing to do.
Fishing targets gamefish in its native habitat in lakes, ponds, rivers and brooks. With catch and release becoming ever popular, unlike hunting, fishing affects are much less than hunting. For this reason, I do think that fishing is an activity that should be viewed separate from hunting. There is no gun, and often, it is quite a social event. These are two things that make fishing an ideal activity for kids.
When a child is young, they will fish as they are imitative of their parents. However, around 6-8 they become more independent and will remember bad experiences. It is at this age, that fishing will become part of your child’s passion or remain a social activity. I have a few suggestions which may help your journey.
Give Control Over - One of the reasons you have loved to fish I am sure is that one-on-one relationship you have with nature while fishing. Often this is what really makes the die-hard fisherman. (Or fisherperson - for the sake of my personal choice, when I use fisherman it is gender neutral.) So don’t bring your rod - just your kid’s rod. It is time to leave when your kid says it is. This is a tough thing to do but it is critical in their journey into this sport.
Be A Steward Of The Water - Understand what water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities do. Chances are you will be fishing near one. Just by fishing in different places, you will see differences in water quality. At this age, children are very inquisitive, and if you can discuss how water quality is important for people, the fish, and our future, you will start to instill a greater knowledge of how fishing is a means to gather more data about our water bodies. For example, what will you say when your child asks why they stock in this pond and not that one, or why do they stock at all? You have the opportunity with your answer to steer your child into a direction of stewardship.
It’s Not Your Responsibility - It is not your responsibility that your child catches fish. It is not your responsibility to rig a rod, bring a tackle box, and even cast out the rod. There will be plenty of times when your child will want this help - but they will need to ask you. To start this process, buy them their own rod. Have them put line on it. Have them choose lures. Show them knots but understand as do they that it will be a while until they want to own knots. It is your responsibility they are safe, fed, comfortable, not exposed to the sun or elements, and have proper floatation. If they break their rod and they feel really bad about it, that is a good sign. You are making progress. You will lend them a spare rod until they can get a new one.
Never Raise Your Voice or Get Angry - This is why you shouldn’t fish when your child is. Forget about it until your child is self sufficient and knows better. If fishing can be remembered as an activity that brings up negative memories, then it is doubtful it will be an activity your child chooses later in life.
Our resources are precious. Our children are more so. Time is a tool where we can enjoy precious things. Fishing is an activity that justifies our time.
Thoughts on Fishing with Kids
|
|
Questions?
Comments?
Please
Contact Us