Tips on Introducing Your Kids to the Joys of Fly Fishing

September 10, 2014 0 Comments

Tips on Introducing Your Kids to the Joys of Fly Fishing
Posted by Mary on 2/20/2014 to Tips

Involving your kids in your favorite hobby of fly-fishing can prove to be a tedious task, but its long-term benefits can be quite rewarding. Plus, there really is nothing like bonding with your children, wouldn’t you agree?

If you’re planning on introducing them to the joys and wonders of fly-fishing, here are some tips that can serve as your guide:

Involve them in the action, but practice safety first: This is an outdoor activity and certain precautions should be taken to guarantee your kid’s safety. It’s fine to always let them in on the action every step of the way, but do make sure to keep an eye on them at all times as well.
Set realistic expectations: Don’t be too goal oriented and never make them expect a certain outcome since everyone knows fly fishing can be extremely difficult for adults—what more for children. Make it all about enjoying and cherishing the overall experience regardless of the end results.
Keep them engaged during down time: There’s a lot of down time that can be expected when fishing for trout. In order to not bore the heck out of your kids, keep them alive and moving by creating diversions such as exploring the land, playing games, teaching them tricks, educating them, and offering lots and lots of snacks for them to munch on.
Start slow: Let them take a dip before diving head first into the ins and outs of fly-fishing. There are some aspects that are best left to the adults, while there are other activities that can be easily mastered and done by kids such as reeling, attaching bait, mending, and so on.
Patience is key: Fishing can be frustrating in itself, and can be even more so when you teach it to a child. While you can just easily hire a professional to teach your kid, it’s much better to do it yourself—but do make sure to pack in a lot of patience beforehand. Create a positive setting for your little one by making it more of a learning experience and not allowing your frustrations to get the best of you.