It’s funny, just these past few years, I’ve found out that fishing is free for kids under 16 in my state! So that means I can take both of my kids fishing without paying for a fishing license ($16 per year per adult).
So last year, I took my son and daughter fishing, and to my surprise, they had a blast. My son had a ball casting over and over again. And I got to teach my daughter the ropes. Of course, I was constantly nervous of getting hooked or them getting hooked, but it worked out okay. It was nice just hanging out with them.
My son caught a few small bluegill. My daughter had some bites but didn’t give the fishing pole that little jerk that hooks the fish, perhaps this year she’ll do better.
When I was a kid, my older uncles gave me grief about baiting the worm on the hook and after catching a fish, taking the fish off of the hook. I did it, but didn’t like it!!! Now, it’s 2nd nature to me, but my kids are in the same circumstance I was in as a kid.
So what trick do I use to make it more pleasant so that my kids want to go fishing?
I decided to buy some rubber gloves to make it easier on my kids. My daughter’s still not to crazy about the process, but my son took to the gloves like a fish in water (sorry, corny joke).
The beauty of using the gloves is if you get them wet first, it’s better for the fish because when you use your hands, you take some of the protective oil off of the body of the fish. So it’s a win-win! My son enjoys using the gloves so the bony fins don’t jab him, and we help keep the fish healthy at the same time (if we release it)!
Oh, I do want to share one little tip! If you just want the kids to fish for smaller fish, try small cut up pieces of hot dogs! They worked better than worms when we were in Disney World last year.
Do you use any special tricks to make an activity a little more enjoyable? If you do, what is the activity and what’s your trick?
-MR
As an observer, fishing always amazes me. In particular, I love how you can just set a fishing pole down and yet the fish don’t pull it away.
I have always loved fishing. We had a small cabin on a little lake growing up, and we fished all the time. My kids enjoy it, but I freak out when the fish swallows the hook.
Using gloves is a great idea – I had never thought of that.
I laughed when I read the hot dog suggestion. I remember fishing using some bologna when I was younger!
@Money Beagle
As a kid it’s magical, the anticipation, the fight… it’s an exciting experience… if the fish ever bite!
If the fish is big enough… It will pull the fishing pole away!
@Everyday Tips
Wow, that would have been awesome! That had to be a great time!
I use to go to Delaware for the summer and stay in a cottage with an aunt and uncle. They lived on the Delaware river, and sometimes my Uncle and I would go out on a pier and fish. It was a very strange experience, and I seem to remember a few time pulling up the fishing line and a crab would be holding on it. it would then drop as we took it out of the water. We also caught some normal fish too. It was fun.
Other than those few times, I didn’t get to fish much, so I’m not really that good at it.
I learned the hot dog trick in Disney, after a Canadian couple with kids were cleaning up using hot dogs. We went to some fishing hole to fish, and the fish barely looked at the worms, but the hot dog… but as soon as you put it in, they were biting! 🙂
My grandparents have two catfish ponds that I grew up learning how to fish. I’ve always used gloves and called my uncles silly when they got speared because they thought my gloved were sissy (my uncles were still teenagers when I was born, so I fished with them a lot). I used those big, thick working-with-car gloves…they get wet, but are easier to get a grip with.
Grasshoppers and crickets made great bait but so did hotdog and chopped up liver.
@Budgeting in the Fun Stuff
Sounds like you had some great times growing up! And good for you being so innovative at such a young age 🙂
I’ve never tried Grasshoppers or crickets (especially after watching Pinocchio and jiminy cricket, lol).