HOW TO TEACH KIDS TO FISH
by Capt. Tom Rowland
I am the luckiest man on Earth! There is no doubt that my life and situation is ideal for teaching a child to fish. I am a professional fishing guide who was blessed with a wonderful wife, 2 incredible boys and a perfect little girl. My wife and I have been able to spend some of the highest quality time with our children while on the boat. We have 2 boys ages 8 and 6 who are so interested in fishing that they practiced their casting in the backyard for hours each day. The Spongebob Rod has been their favorite toy for most of their life. My little girl has taken to the Spongebob Rod and enjoys throwing the "Patrick” bobber into the canal.
The enjoyment of the time spent together fishing has led to my oldest son being the Pee Wee Master Angler of the Key West Fishing Tournament two years in a row and being second place 3 years in a row before that. My second son has tough shoes to fill and has placed second to his brother each year. They have both caught fish species and had angling accomplishments that most adults dream about daily. They are not even 10 years old. What I find exciting about their enthusiasm for fishing is the ability to use fishing as a way to spend a great amount of time together as a family. Away from the distractions of today’s world like Gamecube, cartoons and computers; time spent together on the boat is an opportunity to teach, be taught and to learn about each of their own individual personalities. I fondly remember the days that my Father and I spent together fishing. So many of these days are remembered as defining moments in my life. Lessons were learned, skills were acquired but more than anything, the most important relationship in my life was built upon continually.
So how can you get your kids interested in this activity? Here's how I did it:
1. Keep it easy. Choose tackle, techniques and species that lend themselves to catching a lot of fish in a very short amount of time. The goal should be to keep their rod bent at all times with whatever fish you can find. In freshwater, the Bluegill is a perfect species to pursue. Usually they are found in large numbers and can be effectively fished with a bobber and a worm. In saltwater, the choices are unlimited. Don’t worry about catching a fish that YOU will be proud of, catch a fish of any sort. My sons and I have had great fun catching pinfish, ballyhoo, snappers, sharks, and grunts. Kids don’t know the difference and, in fact, the more interesting, colorful and unique the fish, the more excited they will be.
2. Keep it short. Marathon days are not what you want to do. I think my youngest son, Hayden, had an attention span of about 3 hours when he was young. I always planned on being back at the house in 2 to 3 hours. Find spots VERY close that you can hit and get back home without long car or boat rides.
