Teach kids to fish; they'll get hooked

[Hamilton Reef]

Teach kids to fish; they'll get hooked

About the only way urban and suburban kids can go fishing today is for an adult to take them. Which brings up another problem -- many adults are products of those fishless urban deserts, and while they would like to teach their children to fish, they don't know how.

http://www.freep.com/sports/outdoors/eric7_20040507.htm

[top gun]

MSU puts on a workshop called "Project F.I.S.H." that teaches you how to conduct a "kids fishing day"
It not only teaches the basics, but it involves crafts, aquatic ecology, games and alot of other ways of getting kids interested in fishing. I'm going to be in day 2 of one of the 4 day work shops tonight in Algonac, and after I complete the course I'll be working with the Chesterfield Township Parks & Rec. Department to put on a kids fishing weekend.
Go to the websight for more info on other workshops coming up later this year: www.projectfish.net

[caswana]

Hello,
I am wondering if i can teach my almost 3 year old to fish and if i can what do i use for her to fish?
Blessings,
Cassie

[riverfisher]

No one is to young to begin enjoying the outdoors, and fishing is a great way to start. I started my grandson fishing when he was 4, using a Snoopy pole. We have been fishing together ever since. We started on perch and pan fish. Now that he is 11 we go on 2 - 3 extended fishing trips a year as well as day trips. There is nothing like watching a youngster land a fish regardless of the size. Also, think of the memories you'll be giving her.

[top gun]

Try any public access like Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield, Stoney Creek, Metro, or the DNR launch at the end of south river road. Use a bobber, when the kids see the bobber go under it adds to the excitement of catching them. Use minnows or worms, and if you keep loosing your bait to the smaller fish,try using smaller hooks to catch them. They may not be keepers, but that isn't what gets the kids hooked, catching them is. Have fun, and good luck!

[victor mi pro bowhunter]

my little angel is four she loves to fish.She started when she was three.
the way i got her started is by giving her a little scooby doo pole and cast it out for her. and tell her to leave it there.i know if she reels it in she will get it tangled or snaged.So what i do is get a fish on my pole and let her reel it in she loves it and has to tell every body what she got.Can't wait to take her agian she love going fishing with her uncle vic :)

[caswana]

Thank you everyone for your help. I have recently made a magnet fishing game for her. She got the concept right away. And liked it! I am going to let her do this for a while. We cannot get to a lake or any place to fish for right now so I just wanted her to get the concept and like it. Mission accomplished!:woohoo1:

Now her Dad thinks getting her pole might not be a good idea. He thinks she might drop it in the water the second a fish bites. Any suggested on this?
Thanks for all your help!
Cassie

[Burksee]

Caswana,

I saw and answered your post about icefishing too. Sounds like you've got a real fisherman in your family! Your quite the mom to come up with the magnet game, sounds great! When my daughter was 3 she had a "Barbie" pole, same as the "Snoopy" pole only pink! Great little set up for the real little ones. She's six now and has graduated to a 5'5" "PURPLE" Shakespere we got at a garage sale, I originally had a Zebco 202 on it. What junk! Even I couldnt get a cast over about 20' with it! I took it back and bought a Zebco 33, for the extra $8.00 over the 202 we now have a rod and reel everyone can use. I telling you this so you dont make the same mistake I did, when she gets a little older and needs to upgrade spend the little extra. She's getting to be a champ at casting to! We usually fish from a bank or dock were the water isnt so deep that if she if she dropped it, it wouldnt really going anywere. I did see a guy put a "teather" on his sons pole last year when we were fishing off a dock that the water was quite a bit deeper. Had a hole thru the handle, tied small diameter "nylon" thru it, tied the other end off to the dock. He told me his son had dropped two before he came up with the teather idea. Since then he's not dropped it once! Good Luck, enjoy them little ones as much as you can, they grow up way to fast!

[caswana]

Burskee
That teather idea is a good idea! And I will defently pitch the off the dock theroy to him. My thinking is, I can fish off the dock when she gets the hang of it. And that will start a family tradition of mothers teaching daughers about the outdoors in the family.(I am also taking her on her first hike through the woods this year and we're taking her on her first camping trip too.) I think he would like that. He loves to fish himself. So this will be a family activity he will like. So thank you!
~*~ Cassie ~*~

[Jeffrey Sr]

I let my 2 1/2 year old use live bait. Keeps him interested with a fish on the line.