Tips & Techniques – Glad Outdoors

Getting kids interested in fishing is much easier when they catch fish. Nothing puts a smile on their face faster than reeling one in. Every parent wants to be the hero that makes it happen. Yet, many outings end without a single catch, a long drive home, and a sheepish "No" when asked if you caught anything. We've all been there. That's how it is with fishing. Over the years, I've tried everything to make fishing trips with my kids a success. Some of my ideas have worked, and some have not. Generally, the simplest changes I've made to our tackle, bait, the timing of our outings, and the snacks we take along (very important when fishing is slow) have made the difference between a great day on the water and a day everyone would rather forget. Helping my kids catch fish has brought me more joy than I imagined. I hope my five tips for catching more fish with your kids will give you something you can use to do the same. 1. STAY SIMPLE Fishing with kids can be chaotic, and having too much gear and other unnecessary "stuff" can worsen it. Keeping it simple is essential. No need to bring more than one fishing rod per person or tackle boxes full of lures you probably won't use, don't want to lose and don't want anyone to step on. In that order, I give each of my kids a fishing rod with only a bobber, split shot, and a hook on the line. Attention span can be an issue, so have everything ready before you get to the lake so the kids can fish quickly (I'll talk later about the type of hooks and bobbers I use that make a big difference). Keep it simple with the baits you choose, and it will serve you well too. Minnows, earthworms, or wax worms work great in most situations. My advice is that the smaller the bait, the better. With kids, you'll probably target smaller fish that have smaller mouths. The smaller your bait, the more likely they will eat it and hang on instead of pecking at it, which will make your bobber move and drive you crazy. I usually stick to earthworms that you can buy at the gas station or dig up in the garden. They work as well as anything I've tried and are easy to find. It may sound gross, but I cut them in half or thirds and use small pieces that fit better on small hooks. 2. TIMING CAN BE EVERYTHING It's no secret that most lakes' mornings and evenings are prime fishing times. The fish get busy and start looking for food. There are two main reasons, the water temperature is cooler, which makes the fish more active, and the low light darkens the water, so it's harder to see the fish from above, so they get bold and come out of their hiding places. Being on the water from 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 8 pm will significantly improve your chances, and it's also one of the prettiest times to be outside. This is especially true during the dog days of summer when fishing in the heat of the day can be a waste of time because the fish are less active. If this is your only option, try to focus on shaded areas and moving inlets/outlets as it will be a little cooler there, and the fish will congregate. There are some months when it pays to be on the water. In our home state of New York, May and early June are two of the best months to fish at any time of day. The water starts to warm up after the cold winter, and the fish will eat anything and everything to try to regain the weight they lost while surviving the winter. Many species of fish start spawning in late May and become very aggressive this time of year as they protect their eggs and attack anything that comes close. My kids and I have had more than 20+ fish days in late May and early June than at any other time of the year. The fall months can also be a great time to fish. The water temperatures cool down, and the fish sense that winter is coming and it's time to fatten up for the long winter ahead. They tend to be more active throughout the day, focusing less in the morning and evening. 3. THINK LIKE A FISH TO FIND FISH Fish have a pretty basic mindset. They avoid being eaten by larger fish and birds by hanging around "structure," an angler's fancy word for anything they can hide behind, such as logs, trees, rocks, grasses, and submerged lilliputians. Examine the water for these structures and focus your fishing around them. That's where the fish will be. Lilipads Submerged Trees Masses of weeds Docks Overhanging trees Tules This is a little easier if you fish from a boat and are mobile, but there are usually plenty of lili pads and weed beds within easy reach of shore if you don't have access to a boat. Try to get your bait as close to the structure as possible without hooking it. The fish will dart for food before they get to cover, and the shorter that trip, the better your chances of getting a hook. I love fishing around the lily pads. They provide cover and protection for all kinds of fish and are like villages of activity. By drifting a worm or small minnow under a bobber along the edge of some lily pads, you have a good chance of catching a wide variety of fish species like perch, bluegill, perch, and sunfish. A perfect assortment for small children. As the sun sets and the water gets darker, the fish get braver and venture further from cover, something to keep in mind if you're fishing late (or early). 4. HOOK ONLY THE FISH Now that you've armed your kids with a fishing pole with an ultra-sharp hook dangling from the end, it's time to turn them loose and whip them out with reckless abandon. No, it isn't. Trust me, nothing will end your day faster if your kids, or you, are impaled by a hook. Use the right equipment and a little common sense, and you won't have to worry about it. My first rule: say no to treble hooks. Treble hooks are popular because they are very effective at hooking anything and everything with their triple hook design, including people. It's not just kids and hobbyists who get hooked. Many professional anglers have felt the pain as well. Check out Bill Dance Outdoors' blooper reels on YouTube if you want a laugh. Even he got hooked on the foot and nose. It's best to avoid them when kids are involved and keep it simple with single hooks like the one in the picture. As I said, you'll catch more small fish with small hooks. The only problem is that they can swallow them, making removing the hook difficult without hurting the fish. Using a small hook with a long shank will help. As you can see in the photo below, this big bluefish hit our worm with a small hook, but the hook shank is so long that it didn't go in too deep. We were able to catch it, remove it and let it go without any damage. Imagine an excited child holding a fishing rod while the hook on the other end is between mom or dad's thumb and forefinger while threading a worm. There's no slack in the line. The rod swings one way or the other and bangs, a hook in the finger. This is how most "incidents" happen. The Shakespeare fishing company has created a uniquely designed bobber called the "Hide A Hook" that prevents this from happening. It draws the hook into the bobber when reeled in, making it very difficult to get hooked. It's also easier and safer for kids to cast with the bobber weight and the hook on the line end. This is my secret weapon, and this video explains how it works. This simple rig, which involves only a single hook, bobber, and a small weight, has helped us catch more fish with no injuries. It costs about $5 and comes pre-rigged and ready to fish. I can't say enough good things about it. 5. STAYS FUN, ENDS ON A GOOD NOTE Taking kids fishing is to have fun together and teach them about the outdoors. Keep it fun, and they will want to go back. If you're like me, you hope your kids reel in fish after fish while you listen to their laughter as you inspect each catch with wide eyes of wonder. You dream that they will love fishing as much as you do and that it will become something you share as you grow up. The reality can be very different. Fishing is fishing. It can be slow, and staring at a bobber waiting for something to happen can sometimes be boring. Short attention spans can be your worst enemy. Be prepared for the inevitable, "I'm bored," "Why aren't we catching anything?" or worse, "I want to go home." Having their favorite drinks and snacks on hand is always a good idea. It's amazing how Oreos and a solid juice box can keep spirits up even when the action is slow. There's also something to be said for leaving them wanting more. If we're on a good run and everyone has caught a few fish, and the action starts to slow down, I have no problem heading to the dock or car. Let them get excited and talk about their catch rather than their boredom. This will help the next time you want to head to the lake. They will remember the fish and the fun and jump in the car, excited to do it again. Conclusion The memory of pulling a fish on the end of their line for the first time is something every child will remember. I know I do. It's up to us to turn that into a lifelong love of fishing. Before each trip, I remind myself that: Patience will be required. I am the fishing guide for the day. My goal is to help them catch fish. These days are an opportunity to teach them to love the outdoors. Take lots of pictures. The days go by fast, and you'll look back on them with a smile.