1. Fishing regulations and necessary permits may vary from state to state, it is important to know your state limits and rules and always follow them. By doing so, you set an example of good fishing ethics that your children will learn to comply with as well. You will want to remember to take along a basket or fish stringer to hold all of those keepers.
2. Safety is first and foremost in any water activity, which includes children. Life vests, sunscreen and water socks are just a few examples of protection children need in the water. Of course no protective equipment is effective in keeping a child safe without the supervision of an adult to ensure that they remain unharmed.
3. Always carry a first aid kit with your fishing tackle, this should include: cleansing pads and bandages, small wire cutters and topical antibiotic. When an unfortunate minor scrape or cut happens it is best to be prepared. It is a good idea to always give proper instructions and observation with baiting a hook or casting, it is not any fun to get a hook meshed into the skin when releasing a fish. If this occurs, cut the barb end off before pushing the hook out if possible (pulling a barbed hook out will tear more skin; wire cutters are necessary for that and will usually require a visit to the emergency room.)
4. Kid friendly equipment and smaller fishing rods will be most easily mastered by little hands. Practice before you go. Your local sporting goods store has hookless casting plugs made of rubber to help little ones get a jump on their casting skills before they try fishing with the real thing in water. Bobbers are the easiest to see and so much fun to watch when a bluegill nibbles the bait.
5. It's a lot more fun if you catch the fish. So, be familiar with casting techniques and various bait and tackle setups for the common fish in your area, as they are the easiest to catch. A good way to catch several different kinds of fish is by using a top water lure, since they mimic smaller feeder fish and top water bugs. If you cast for the child and set the hook after a fish takes the lure, let the child reel in the fish. This will only help to reaffirm their hands on experience and enjoyment of fishing with you!
6. Knowing where the fish are likely to be will also help. Check with the locals who fish that area for their suggestions, or take a look at lake topography maps for underwater roadways and flat shelves above deeper water beneath the lake surface. These are likely to hold schools of feeding fish. For example: 'Pomme De Terre' is a Missouri lake that has specific areas of submerged cedar tree remains, which produce good fishing throughout the year. Check your local Department of Conservation websites for maps containing the above information.
7. Have fun and keep it lighthearted, don't let the focus be just catching the fish, swim for a while make it an afternoon of picnicking and fun at the waters edge. Praise their efforts every time a child casts especially when they catch a fish and remember you had to learn to do this before you could do it well. When children see you taking the time to teach them to fish and watching every cast they make, instead of focusing on your own angling, they will come away from the fishing experience with a sense of accomplishment and memories of their own fun participation. Take along a disposable camera so that you can take photos of their success.
