When you are into fishing and you have children(s), things get chaotic. Children don’t particularly like to be at home with someone else’s care with their parents heading out for hours.
Alternatively, you can take them with you on your fishing trips. Just keep a few simple things in mind, and your kids not only get to stay with you but also hopefully get into fishing as well.
First things first, you need to get their attention, make them interested, so that they want to do this rather than you pulling them along. Pick a nearby fishing spot; kids don’t enjoy long drives.
Keep them entertained throughout the drive and the fishing time. As long as they are entertained, they will be interested. Lastly, get some proper gear for them. With enough luck, they might get their first catch.
It is not uncommon for parents to bring children with them when fishing, including kayak-fishing. There is not much difference between regular fishing and kayak-fishing, other than the fact that you are sitting in the middle of water rather than the shoreline.
If you are worried about safety, It’s rather safe to bring them as long as you arranged the basic safety precautions.
Things To Consider When Kayak-Fishing With Kids
The secret to a successful fishing expedition is their attention. And trust me, it starts much before you actually set out for the trip. Honestly, the bulk of the job is done before the actual fishing expedition. Here’s a list of things you’ll need to consider and manage –
Get Their Attention
Yes, getting their attention and keeping them interested in the act is one of the biggest priorities for you as a parent to maintain.
Because children are well-known for losing interest and be bored in no time, especially the sub-10s, when they do, there’s nothing worse than an angry child on a kayak in the middle of a lake.
Besides, if you are hoping to get them interested in fishing as well, you must get their attention so that it actually interests them, and they try to observe and learn.
To prepare them for the trip, let them know you are taking them fishing beforehand, teach them the important lessons about kayaking and fishing, tell them about the fishes, line casting, the bites, the fight that will surely get them interested.
Anything new does. Just keep in mind not to mention the waiting; otherwise, they might bail. But it’s not a day-long task. All you got to do is to make them intrigued and eager until they get the first bite on their fishing rod.
Once they do, they themselves will carry on until the first catch, and after that, they will want more. That’s the goal anyway.
Pick Up The Closest Fishing Spot
“Get their attention” sounds way simpler than it is in reality. As I mentioned, they lose interest fast, and if they do, things start to go downhill from there. To minimize the risk of losing them, choose a fishing spot nearby. Kids aren’t a big fan of long drives.
Granted, the good fishing spots are kind of scarce, and not all the lakes have the best quality bass, but face it, your children don’t know about bass or trout or anything about fishing at all. Just pick a spot nearby and set plans.
This will reduce the driving time significantly, which is a big start already. When they see they reached fast, that’ll boost their morale by a few degrees.
Additionally, the trout’s, found in most ordinary lakes and ponds, are also known for their curiosity and eagerness to bite. The sooner your kids get a bite, the sooner they’ll start loving it.
Keep Them Entertained
Entertainment is arguably the most persuading to get children doing stuff. It is no different in getting them into fishing either. Entertaining them along the way is even more important on the first trip. Luckily, there are ways to get around this.
However, your best bet is to have the things your kids like. Snacks are a universal cheat code that will always work. However, it will start losing its effect on older children.
Regardless, be sure to stock on them, a lot of them, I do mean it, a lot of snack items. A safe bet is to let them choose their snacks. That will make them feel involved as well as make sure they will actually be wanting the item.
Pack plenty of drinking water plus a couple more bottles. You can never have too much water. Also, pack a few bottles of soft drinks and juices while you are at it. You can also bring a few chocolates and candies to treat the child when they really start losing it.
Gear Arrangements
Gear is one of the least of your worries. I mean, you will still need to plan and prepare them, but once you do, they aren’t going anywhere. But you do need to gather them, nonetheless.
If you are new to kayak-fishing as well, I’d strongly recommend following a full tutorial on gearing up first. But if you are already into fishing, I’d assume you do have your own kayak, rigs, and everything set-up.
What you do need to manage is the baby stuff. If your child is 5-6 years old or younger, getting them a baby-sized PFD is enough. But they are older; you should get them their own kayak, PFD, and rig set-up. You can rent the stuff the first few times to see how much your kids love fishing.
If they start becoming enthusiastic, you can get them their own. Take them with you and let them choose. This will increase the bonding much faster. With a little bit of searching, you should be able to find kayaks and even fishing rods for children.
Safety
Safety is a big concern when kayak-fishing with children. You, being adult and experienced, can look after you., but they can’t. So, always be attentive to them, even when you are engaged. They can easily get in trouble on the first few trips.
Losing balance, hit by a wave, the fish pulling the line with a burst, and whatnot, they are more likely to fall in water than not. As long as they have a PFD, they aren’t really in danger, but it can spook them.
Also, be sure to bring sunscreen, mosquito, and bug repellent, first aid as well as back-up clothes. Safety is always a concern, but it is even more so when there is a child on board.
Summary
Children are curious souls. They are eager for almost any new activity. Getting them familiar and accustomed to kayak-fishing early on will pave the path for them to spend their time later on.
With a successful introduction and first fishing trip, you can rest assured that no matter how busy they become with their life, they will at least occasionally spend some time with nature.
If you are still concerned about safety, let me assure you, there is nothing to worry about. It is safe to bring children for kayak-fishing. It is more so about getting their attention and keeping them interested.
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