Do you remember your first-day fishing and who introduced you to Fishing?
Whoever it was, Dad, Uncle, Grandparent, you probably still remember how excited you were from the anticipation of catching your first fish, even if it was only a juvenile fish.
Or perhaps you started with a net and a jam jar at your local pond or stream catching Tiddlers.
When the spring and summer weather arrives and the youngsters are getting bored after hibernating with their tech during the cold damp months maybe Get your young ones Fishing.
Teaching your youngster to fish, sharing the anticipation and excitement with them of playing and landing a fish could be a great experience for you both.
It won’t be straightforward and there are bound to be long pauses between catches, you will need to keep your youngster entertained while waiting for a bite, and you will need a great deal of patience.
Always start by explaining the importance of personal safety by the water.
Make it an adventure. Your goal when out fishing yourself will be to catch your PB, but try and set that to one side and concentrate on your new fishing student, they will almost certainly be happy whatever they catch regardless of size.
Sea Fishing or Coarse Fishing?
Whichever you prefer, float fishing is a great method to start with, fishing with a Bait under a float gives your junior angler something to concentrate on, you can teach them how to set the float up and what to watch for when a fish takes the bait.
Give your youngster a choice of three or four venues if you can.
If they chose the venue and reel in a fish, they would be thrilled about choosing the ideal place to fish.
Make sure your fishing buddy has the right sized Fishing Rod and Reel.
Maybe you could give them their very own Tacklebox with some terminal tackle, Barbless hooks, weights and lures.
Allow them to choose the lures with a little guidance of course and when that fish is on the hook they will be delighted to know they chose the lure that caught it.
Waiting for a catch can be frustrating for your youngster, and you will need to try and sustain their interest.
You could keep your young angler occupied by informing them about the different species of fish, the vegetation in the water, showing them where the fishlike to hide and about the insects that are part of the food chain for the fish.
When and how to handle a fish and the importance of catch and release.
While waiting for the fish to bite, make it fun.
Have a competition counting the different types of insects, etc. (be sure you don’t win all the time).
You will be surprised at how much your child will learn without even realising that they are being taught.
Above all make it enjoyable. Take a picnic, and you can share your experiences over lunch and discuss Tac-tics. Remember you are the master at fishing in your child's eyes. Passing on your knowledge can be a great experience for both of you, and if your child enjoys the experience you could have a new Fishing Buddy for life.
