Fishing With Kids: Assemble Your First Fishing Gear

Once you’ve decided to take your child fishing, the most important thing you can do is make sure your child is personally involved in it. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to help them put together their own fishing gear. Allowing them a say in the selection of components will ensure that they are happy and as a result they will be more excited about going fishing.

The starting point for everyone is the selection of a rod and reel. For beginners, it is often best to purchase a rod and reel combo to ensure they are matched correctly. For kids, a light spincast reel on a relatively short (5ft) light rod is usually the best option. It is best to use basic monofilament line until they gain more experience. Stay away from rod and reel sets priced under $20. Often these are just toys and not suitable for actual fishing.

Once you’ve taken care of your rod and reel, it’s time to look at the rest of your rig. You need to start by placing a swivel snap at the end of the line. The snap-in swivels will help keep your line from twisting and make it much easier to change your lure. Although young children probably don’t have enough tackle to fill a tackle box, it’s best to get them one. Write their name on it and let them have full control over your organization. This will go a long way in getting them involved in the process.

The selection of additional lures and tackle will largely depend on where you fish and what species of fish you are targeting. However, there is one basic pick that should be in any tackle box. It’s often best to target smaller panfish, such as sunfish and yellow perch, when starting out. These fish are fairly easy to catch and land, which will help children develop some confidence. The best way to catch this type of fish is using a single hook (#6 – #10) and some type of live bait such as worms or minnows.

I would recommend letting them choose several other lures. They will usually choose things that are not really suitable for the type of fishing you are planning, but it is worth allowing them to have a few things that they have chosen themselves. You can fill out your tackle box with a few other basics, like small and medium daredevils and a few spinners, spoons, and jigs. There really isn’t much more required in the way of fishing gear for a beginner.

The only thing left for you to do is to find a suitable fishing spot. With younger children, it’s often best to find a fishing resort that caters to families and stays for the weekend. This allows youngsters to get started with fishing, but also have fun swimming and playing, which will help them develop a positive impression of fishing.

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