| When introducing a kid to fishing, it has to be about | | | | water. Bluegill will come to the surface to eat the |
| the them. If you are taking your daughter out to the | | | | bread and this will usually keep your kids interested |
| pond, take her to the store to help get some | | | | because they can actually see the fish. Use a small |
| equipment first. Women love to shop and believe me, | | | | bobber, a small hook and a piece of worm. Cast near |
| they enjoy shopping as kids as well. I should know | | | | the bread and teach them to set the hook and wind |
| since I do have 3 younger sisters. So, take your | | | | it in on their own. If they need help then give them |
| daughter to the store and let her pick out some | | | | as much help as needed, but make sure to back off |
| things. A cheap 10 to 20 dollar fishing rod will work | | | | when they are ready to take control. They will have |
| and there are plenty of fishing rods for kids on the | | | | a sense of accomplishment if they can do something |
| market. She'll probably pick out a pink rod and that is | | | | on their own. When they catch a fish, make a big |
| fine. Get it for her. Let her pick out a couple packs of | | | | deal out of it. If they lose a fish, so what. Don't yell |
| hooks and bobbers, then head to the checkout. Make | | | | at them. |
| it a short, quick trip and it will be more fun for her. | | | | For the first time out, don't stay out for more than |
| Don't stand there and look at all of the lures that you | | | | an hour or an hour and a half. Have some fun, catch |
| wish you had. Involving girls in the shopping | | | | some fish and get out of there. It's better to leave a |
| experience seems to help get them involved. For the | | | | little earlier the first time out than to stay too long |
| boys, you can still take them to the store to help | | | | and give them a bad experience. When they leave, |
| pick out some equipment, but this is more important | | | | they should be happy and excited about a return trip |
| for the girls because girls like to shop. | | | | next week. |
| When you take your kids fishing, make it easy for | | | | If you can set up another rod with a big minnow for |
| them. Go fish a nearby pond that has some bluegill | | | | bass or corn for carp, set it up and toss the line out |
| and maybe even some bass and carp. Set up one | | | | a few feet away from your bluegill spot. Pay |
| rod for each kid. Put the bait on the hook for them. | | | | attention to this rod. If you get a bite, it should be |
| Don't make them touch the bait or the fish on the | | | | much bigger than the bluegill. Set the hook and help |
| first time out. Let them decide if they want to touch | | | | your kid catch a nice bass or carp. If they can |
| the bait or the fish. Once again, it's about them the | | | | experience one big fish and lots of small fish, they |
| first time out. | | | | should be hooked. If they don't have any fun fishing, |
| To get fish in the area, throw some small pieces of | | | | don't force it on them. It might not be for them, but |
| bread in the area that you'd like to fish. This is called | | | | if you plan a short trip, cater to the kids, chum the |
| chumming and it may not be legal in your state so | | | | area, catch lots of small fish and get them one big |
| make sure to check your state's fishing regulations. If | | | | fish, you should have an idea of whether or not |
| chumming is legal, toss some bread out into the | | | | fishing is something that excites them. |