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| Rush's First Fish |
1. "It's called fishing not catching for a reason." Mental prep, especially for kids with special needs, is essential. Repeat the above mantra over and over, so your kids will have the expectation that catching a fish is the exception. Remind them that it often takes A LOT of casts before they bring one in, and that is true for great fishermen too. Sometimes even the best get skunked, but it is fun to be outside as a family and to practice casting. Be sure to praise persistence, nice casts, and good attitudes!
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| Easy Cast Poles |
2. The Right Pole. If having a Paw Patrol pole will make your child more likely to want to fish, go for it. But for a pole that will work for your child as they grow into a young adult, be easy to cast, and have a lower chance of getting tangled, there are a few we recommend. The Zebco Slingshot is a great, easy cast pole that you can usually pick up at Walmart for under $20. The Shakespeare Reverb is even cheaper at under $15. Both of these poles have a button your child will hold down and then release at the top of their cast. It takes some practice, but even my kids who struggle organizing their bodies because of sensory processing issues have perfected it. These are also great poles for beginning fishermen of any age looking to pick up a new hobby without breaking the bank.
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| Fishing until the sun goes down |
3. The Fish Stocking Report. You want to do everything in your power to help your child bring in a fish. Once they have caught one, it will get in their blood, and they'll be more likely to want to keep trying. One way to do that is to check when your state's ponds, lakes, and rivers have been recently stocked by looking at the fish stocking report. Utah's Fish Stocking Report lists the body of water in alphabetical order, the county, the type and size of the fish stocked, and the date. We like to scan for the most recent stocking dates and hit those ponds to increase our kids' chances of catching a fish.
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| That's a LOT of Fish! |
4. Ask Fishermen for Advice. If you and your kids are new to fishing, and you see an angler who is successfully bringing in fish nearby, don't be afraid to ask them what they are using. Most fishermen are happy to share what lures are working for them, even more so if it is a little kid asking for help. Plus, that is a great opportunity to practice their social skills!
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| Some of our favorite lures |
5. Variety of Baits and Lures. There is something about a box full of interesting, shiny, fuzzy, smelly things that attracts kids. If they aren't having luck with a certain lure, the opportunity to switch it out for something else they pick from the box can keep them fishing a while longer. Fishing is an experiment, and kids like experiments! They can also try different sprays or gels to see if that attracts the fish. If you have a child that struggles casting or is getting worn out, put a little powerbait on their hook and let them just sit with that out in the water and wait for a nibble. Sometimes while our kids are casting, we'll have a second pole sitting next to them with powerbait just to up their chances. Not sure what lures to get, check out this list.
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| It doesn't get better than this! |
6. Be Patient. As any adult who has been fishing with kids can attest, you're going to spend a good deal of time untangling line from trees or reeds, replacing broken bobbers, and just generally not being able to fish in peace. But just know that it does get easier as your kids improve their skills, and all the good feelings and memories are worth more than any number of fish you could catch!
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| Big Mama with a Big Mama! |
7. Learn Together. My husband and I are by no means expert or even experienced anglers, so don't be intimidated to go out and learn right along side your kids. Demonstrate how to learn a new skill by researching and practicing and failing and succeeding together as a family. Start by getting a fishing licence here (for Utah). Younger kids can fish on their parents' licences.
Favorite Fishing Memories:
I'll never forget Rush on the verge of giving up but deciding to pray to catch his first fish. "Please, Heavenly Father, let me catch a fish. And please let me be able to keep it and eat it!" I started praying too that his faith would be rewarded. Minutes later it was with the most beautiful rainbow trout. Rush learned more about faith than fishing that day.
Shortly after Nick's dad's death, we swung into a beautiful pond on a stunning fall evening and each of us proceeded to catch at least one fish in a matter of two hours. It was the first time Eva and Ginny had ever been successful. We all had visions of Grandpa Norm making sure we each got one as he looked on from the other side.
Happy Fishing!
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