8 Tips to Keep Kids Fishing Experiences Fun and Engaging
By Debbie Hanson
Mar 14, 2025
Taking kids fishing is one of the best ways to bond as a family, teach patience, and help young children develop a true appreciation for the outdoors. To make the experience fun, memorable, and encourage life-long interest in the sport, check out these eight key tips to help encourage engagement while teaching kids to fish.
1. Choose the Right Location
Selecting a family-friendly fishing spot is an important first step. Look for a pond or small lake at a local park with healthy habitat and plenty of panfish. Small waterways often have high catch rates, provide easy access to the water, and typically offer amenities like restrooms, picnic areas, or playgrounds. Search online for “family-friendly fishing spots near me” or use the Places to Boat & Fish map.
2. Use the Right Gear
Fishing gear should be safe, simple, and suited for smaller hands. The best fishing gear for kids consists of an ultralight, push-button spin-cast rod and reel fishing rod combo (most come pre-spooled with monofilament fishing line), small panfish hooks in sizes 6 to 8, and live bait (worms, crickets, or minnows), and a bobber. By using a bobber, kids are likely to stay more engaged by watching the bobber to see when fish are nibbling or biting the live bait.
3. Keep Experiences Short
When teaching kids to fish, limit fishing time to an hour or two. If they’re still engaged and excited, you can extend your time on the water. Pay attention when they start to get tired or fidgety and take a break. You can go on a family hike or plan other fun outdoor activities in conjunction with your fishing trip to keep them more enthusiastic about spending time in nature.
4. Make It an Adventure
Enhance kids fishing trips by turning them into family adventures. Bring along a nature scavenger hunt list and encourage kids to spot different birds, insects, or species of fish. You can also let them skip rocks, explore the shoreline, or look for signs of aquatic life in the water.
5. Let Kids Be Hands-On
Learn how to make fishing fun for kids by letting them take a role in each step of the process. Help them cast their own lines, reel in fish (even if you assist them), handle bait (if they’re comfortable), and safely release the fish back into the water. Giving them responsibility builds confidence and keeps them engaged. Give them positive encouragement when they make keen observations about the environment and begin to show improvement in their fishing skills.
6. Bring Snacks and Drinks
Pack plenty of snacks, water, and even a small picnic lunch to keep energy levels high. Healthy, non-perishable snacks like trail mix, cut watermelon, and turkey jerky can make the experience even more enjoyable.
7. Celebrate Every Catch
Whether they catch a tiny sunfish or a big bass, celebrate each catch with excitement. Take pictures, give high-fives, and let them feel proud of their achievement. Even if they don’t catch anything, acknowledge their skills, observations, and enthusiasm for spending time outdoors.
8. Demonstrate Fishing Safety Tips
Kids look to adults as role models and examples. When you model safe fishing practices like wearing a life jacket on the boat, looking around you before making a cast, and handling fishing gear with care; kids will notice. Teach important fishing safety tips for kids and how to put those tips into practice.
When you take kids fishing, it’s not just about the experience of catching, it’s about the life-long memories and love of nature you’re helping to develop. Take the time to find the best fishing spot near you, use simple fishing gear, and keep experiences short and interactive – you’re likely to have the next generation hooked!
