Fishing Guide for Kids

Starting right

Because the start is the most important and often the hardest part of a journey.
Young anglers need lots of encouragement and support from their wonderful parents. In this guide we will focus on gear and safety. But mostly on gear because the amazing location and safety measures are provided by us and it’s the utmost important part of a fishing trip. The gear on the other side, needs to be purchased and cared for by the owner.
Starting with the right gear greatly increases the chance of success for young anglers. As a general rule it is wise to start with simple, inexpensive gear so they can learn the basics of fishing with no frustration and you wont regret if an accident happens and the rod gets broken or lost.

Cubs, Age 4-6

Spincast Reel and 5½-foot to 6-foot Medium-Power Rod

This amazing young angler here is using a 30” rod combo with spin-casting reel. It’s easy to cast, the line is enclosed and it may look funny but I’ve seen people catching tuna fish with it!
While the branded little fishing rods are funny I don’t recommend them for anglers 6 years old and up. You want to look into a 5-5 ½ feet rod for a 6-8 years old angler and 5 1/2-6 feet rod for 8 years old and up. The line on the rod should be monofilament rated for 6 lbs. This is very affordable as price and can support a wide variety of fish species.
Buying a rod-reel combo is more affordable and you have the peace of mind the manufacturer paired relatively well the reel with the rod for a smooth far cast...

Barracuda, Age 6 and up

Spinning Reel and 6-foot to 6½-foot Medium-Power Rod

Sometimes called “open face,” spinning reels excel at casting light- to moderate-weight baits (1/16 to ½ ounce). Once an angler has learned a good release point to get a long cast with a spincast reel, he is ready to step up to a spinning reel. These reels cost a bit more, but you get more durable gears and smoother casting and retrieving, which allows for more precision and better feel. Like the spincast reel, 6- to 10-pound mono works great for most situations, or you can easily upgrade to 20-pound braided line and be ready for big fish around heavy cover like logs, lily pads and docks. For almost all species except for really big predators like muskie and pike, skilled anglers use spinning gear for small finesse presentations when the bite is tough, so learning to use this rig is a first step to becoming a better angler.
For all situation I recommend medium action (it is specified on the rod) as this is the most versatile rod power able to do most any type of fishing. You can buy a variety of models and for that purpose please ask for assistance at the local fish store.

Essential fishing gear to get started

ROD AND REEL: Spincasting reels are the easiest for beginners to cast and can handle fish up to 20 pounds. Longer rods allow for longer casts and play fish better. 5-foot-6-inch rods are good for smaller guys, while a 6-foot-6-inch rod is a great all-around size for teenagers.

FISHING LINE: Monofilament is very durable and easier to handle than other line types. Try 6- or 8-pound test for panfish, crappie or trout. For bigger fish like bass, catfish and walleye, 10- to 12-pound test works better. (“Test” is a measure of how strong a line is.)

HOOKS: When using live bait, smaller hooks are easier to get started in a fish’s mouth than bigger ones. Try size 6 hooks for panfish and crappie. Size 1 hooks work well for bass or catfish. Circle hooks are the ideal hooks for beginners. They won’t end up in a fish’s stomach; instead, they stick in the corner of the fish’s mouth, making for an easy hook removal. Plus, you don’t have to set the hook, just start reeling and the fish hooks itself.

SINKERS: Small crimp-on split-shot sinkers are very versatile and easy to add or remove.

NEEDLE-NOSE PLIERS for removing hooks.

SCISSORS OR CLIPPERS to cut line.

BAITS: Artificial lures or live.

TACKLE BOX: If you’re bank fishing, a smaller tackle box is better than hauling around a big one. A couple of small tackle boxes that fit into a backpack are ideal for the shore angler.

BOBBERS: The biggest mistake novice fishermen make is using too large of a bobber. The smaller the bobber, the better you can detect strikes. Use one that will just float your bait, pulling down easily when a fish nibbles.

SUNSCREEN: Water reflects light, so burns happen even faster on the water.

SCALES OR FISHING RULER for measuring your catch.

CAMERA: Put your camera or camera phone in a resealable plastic bag, and it will be safe in case water gets splashed on it.