Lil’ Lunkers
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Fishing is one of the experiences you can share with even a toddler. It teaches respect for the environment and basic skills of preparedness. It’s a sport that is just as much for girls as it is for boys. And at the same time provides a quiet time together that allows conversations that otherwise might get shoved to the side of life.
A visit to your local fishing shop is the ideal place to start. Gear comes in all sizes these days and some shops even rent the basics—waders and poles—in sizes that are small enough that your child can manage them, upping the chances that they will enjoy any chance they get to spend a day on the river with you.
Before you head out to your favorite fishing hole with your child in tow, be sure you’ve got the basics covered including the fact that your young one should be an adept swimmer. Talk with them about undertows and the importance of sticking by your side, not wandering off when your back is turned. Use terms they can relate to.
One of our clients relayed a story to us that underscores the importance of being clear about the details of any adventure. “I was four years old and my mother was cleaning our pet turtle’s bowl. She did this every week, but this time I was invited to help. She scooped the turtle out of the bowl, placed it on the kitchen table and said to me, ‘Watch the turtle while I rinse out the bowl.’ What she didn’t say was, ‘Keep the turtle on the table.’ So I watched the turtle walk across the table straight off the edge. Smack. It cracked its shell in half and you can guess the rest of the story.”
Talk your child through every step of handling flies. Outfit even the kids with sunglasses (to protect them from sun and errant fishhooks) and always wear sunscreen!