Nothing Bonds a Family Like Fishing

If done safely, fishing can be a fun and educational experience for children of all ages. There are some obvious safety concerns when taking young kids fishing (think flying treble hooks or falling in the water), but there are some less obvious dangers that I would also like to cover in this article.

I am worried about those flying treble hooks!

The first part of fishing safely is to teach your child to cast properly. A casting plug in the back yard is a great way for children to learn in a safe way. There are a couple things to take into consideration when teaching a child to cast with a casting plug:

1. Do NOT allow a child to use a casting plug in the vicinity of electrical wires
2. Make sure the child knows that he or she is not allowed to cast the plug in the direction of any other person

Sometimes, toddlers will simply be too young or uncoordinated to learn how to cast. If this is the case there are two options; you can either cast the rod for them while letting them reel it in or you can teach them just to drop the line right off the side of the dock or boat. Many children actually prefer fishing right off the dock because they can see the fish biting at their bait.

Where should we fish?

Another important part of fishing safely with a toddler is to select a safe fishing spot. I prefer a location that has a railing to prevent your child from falling in. Many public access docks have handrails specifically designed for fishing so these are my favored places. If fishing from a boat, make sure that your child knows all of the boating safety rules. In all cases, whether fishing from a boat or from a dock, always make sure your child is wearing a state approved life jacket or floatation device. Also, try to select a fishing spot that will allow your toddler to catch many small fish. Toddlers simply do not have a lot of patience and will begin to get restless if they are not catching fish. Having a restless toddler around water is not the safest thing.

What do I need to bring?

Here is a small list of safety things you should bring to the fishing site:

• Sunscreen – I cannot stress this enough. The sunlight reflecting off the water will burn unprotected skin deceptively quick.
• Hats – Bring a hat to further help block the sun. Hats can also help increase visibility.
• Pliers – You should always have a pair of pliers with you to safely remove hooks from fish. Young children often hook fish deep so hook removal can be tricky without harming the fish or yourself.
• First aid kit – A small first aid kit is a must. No matter how careful you are accidents do happen.
• Life Jackets – If you are going to be fishing anywhere there is a chance your child could fall in, make sure they are wearing life jackets.
• Barbless hooks – I ALWAYS use barbless hooks when I take my children fishing. It allows me to get the fish off the hook for them more quickly so I am able to better concentrate on watching out for their safety. Barbless hooks are also infinitely easier to remove from skin should an accident occur.
• Hand sanitizer – I like to have some with me so we can all have clean hands before heading home.

Fishing at the location

When you go to your fishing spot, make sure and explain to your toddler some basic safety rules regarding being near water. Also make sure to explain to them the importance of casting and reeling safely. For most small children, you should bait their hooks for them. I usually use canned corn for bait because it is cheap and takes a lot of the “yuck” factor out of fishing for young kids. Also, I recommend bobbers for small children. It makes it easier for them to catch the fish and requires no movement of the rod while fishing.

I hope this article on fishing safely with your toddler will help you share the same fun, enjoyment and satisfaction that fishing brings to my children’s lives.