Story and Photography by Mark Hume
Something is moving underneath the wharf. While dad is busy planning a fishing expedition to catch big trout, the kids have found something infinitely more fascinating. On their bellies at the end of the dock, they are watching a school of minnows dart in and out of the shadows.
Forget the boat, they say, there's plenty of action right here.
Setting the expensive fishing rods aside, we cut a couple of shanks of line from a reel, tie on hooks that look far too large for the minnows and then go searching for some bait. This part of the exercise takes at least 20 minutes, as we turn over boulders, probe rotten logs, discover an anthill, chase a frog and smell some wildflowers. Finally, with a few small earthworms each, we head back to the end of the dock.
Then the fishing starts. And over the next few hours - with frequent interruptions to search out more bait - a steady stream of wriggling, silver minnows come in. They go into a plastic pail where they splash frantically every time a small hand reaches in to hold them.
At the end of the day, the whole catch is tipped back off the wharf, where they dart for cover. Catch-and-release minnow fishing. Any kid would find it hard to beat.
Fishing is a contemplative sport. That's fine for adults, who have lots to ponder, but kids like action. When the fish are biting it's incredibly fun -- but the long waiting periods can be a drag. That's why, for a lot of kids, catching 20 minnows is way more fun than fishing all day for one or two big trout.
The trick to enjoying fishing with kids is simply this -- let them decide what's fun. If they want to stop after 15 minutes to hunt for frogs, dig worms, throw rocks and watch muskrats, that's okay. If they enjoy themselves, they'll want to go fishing again.
Some tips:
Probably the best fishing method for kids is a bobber and worm. That may sound like heresy to fly fishermen, but the fact is, kids think fishing is about catching fish. They don’t want to spend hours learning to cast. They want to be out on the water, doing stuff. Get them hooked on fishing first, and worry about the methods later.
A small red-and-white plastic float with a worm dangling from a hook underneath will more-or-less fish by itself. When a fish bites, the bobber dives under the surface, triggering all kinds of excitement. And a worm is universally attractive to fish - suckers, sunfish, trout and bass will all go for it. If it's windy, replace the bobber with a small weight and let the worm sit on the bottom, with the rod propped up in a forked stick.
Kids love to cast with light spinning rods. It's active, the lures look wonderful the way they flash in the water, and it catches fish. Most of us have gone through that stage in our fishing lives.......do you remember how much fun it was? Take your kid to a store that has counters full of lures, and let them pick out the ones they like. Get them a small see through tackle box of their own. It’s neat just taking the lures out of their packages and arranging them in the box.
When you go fishing, take lots of extra spinners and spoons along - and don't make a big deal of it when they get lost on snags. So what if you lose $10 worth of tackle....it’s still a heck of a lot cheaper than most family entertainment.
Put single hooks on all your lures and use pliers to squeeze flat the barbs. You'll be glad you did when a hook ends up caught in a sweater, or in a finger.
Let your kids row the boat, or run the outboard. And don’t worry if they’re not very good at it. They don’t need to know that.
Fishing places:
Almost any dock or wharf on salt water will have perch swimming around the pilings. These pretty, silver fish will take a tiny piece of worm on a small hook.
Most rivers and streams are seasonal fisheries, and many have regulations that restrict the use of bait. Check before you go. Ask at a local fishing tackle store. And ask where you should go with a kid in tow. You want lots of fish; size doesn’t matter much.
In most areas there are lakes that are stocked by the government, with the intent of providing lots of fish to catch. If you are a hard core fly fisherman, you have probably erased such places from your memory bank. Ask the government fisheries branch for some guidance. In British Columbia, for example, biologists stock lakes in and close to urban areas as ”put-and-take fisheries.” They are intended specifically to give people in cities a chance to get exposed to angling - particularly kids. Many of those lakes get a stocking of trout every four weeks or so. If you ask, you might be told the stocking schedule. The fish are hatchery-reared rainbow trout, meant to be taken home and eaten, although there’s nothing wrong with releasing them. Let your kid decide whether to let the trout go.
Summer is usually the best time to go fishing with kids, because you are on holidays together. Unfortunately, the worst time for trout fishing is in the warmest months. You can seek out high mountain lakes, or you can go after bass and sunfish, which remain active through the summer, when trout are sulking in deep water.
When you’re in the tackle store, remember to pick up some maps and a guide book. You can read through the books with your kids, and then find the lakes or streams on the map. That can be a lot of fun in itself.
One final piece of advice: Let your kids help in the planning. After all, it is their fishing trip.
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