Tips for Taking Kids on Their First Fishing Trip

As a kid, going fishing for the first time with a parent is an important rite of passage. Tagging along on a fishing trip is an equally special experience, if not more so.

And from a parent’s perspective, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to share the sport you love with your children over the course of a multi-day trip. Of course, it won’t be quite the same experience as just going on a trip with your friends. Here are some tips for how to get the most out of the experience with your children:

Keep It Simple

Your children might already be overwhelmed being in a new place on a body of water they’ve never seen before. You might want to start by targeting a species that you know is going to be a little more eager to bite. And it’s important to also keep things simple as far as the gear goes. The goal should be to master the equipment they’re using before they move onto anything more complicated.

Make it About Them

Much like other aspects of being a parent, you have to make your child’s first fishing trip more about them than about you. This means focusing on helping them catch fish rather than worrying about how many you’ve caught. It’s also important to show them how fun and rewarding a fishing trip can be, even when you aren’t necessarily catching the most fish.

Make Sure They’re Ready

A fishing trip should not be a child’s first time out on the water. They should have a few shorter fishing excursions under their belt to help them understand what the sport is all about. By the time they’re ready to go on a trip, they should have some baseline understanding of what they’re doing and also some appreciation for fishing. It’s also important to make sure they’ll be ok with spending multiple hours on a boat for a few days.

If you think your child is ready for their first fishing trip, consider Anderson’s Lodge in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada as your destination. Our lodge sits on a beautiful chain of lakes that feature plentiful walleye, as well as a handful of other species. We’ll take care of accommodations and dining so you can focus on family and fishing. If you have any questions or want to make a reservation, please feel free to contact us today!