One of the greatest joys in fly fishing is passing along the sport to the next generation. The river is a classroom which can teach lessons that cannot be learned in other venues. There is no specific age when you are supposed to take your child fishing but when you feel the time is right, here are 7 things to teach your kid on their first fishing trip.
- Proper catch and release, fish handling. Treat all fish with respect, we are lucky to have wild fish to chase and need to take care of them. It may seem far off but someday he will want to take his own kids fishing in likely the same exact spot.
- Walk slow out there. Don’t be in such a hurry to jump right in the water. Fish sit in close and do not like shadows or noises. Everything on the river should be done slowly.
- Proper stream etiquette. This obviously varies based on the river and how crowded it typically is but you don’t want your child to be the one that thinks it is okay to low hole someone swinging flies on his first day out by himself.
- How to tie knots. This one is really just important so that you will have some time to fish for yourself 🙂
- The importance of taking care of a fishery. Following up on point 1 because it is that big of a deal. We are lucky to have self sustaining fisheries and need to protect them. I have always passed along the message to new anglers that if we take care of our fisheries, the fishing will take care of itself.
- Hook removal from your skin. Prepare for the worst here, just incase..
- Be proud that you are fishing. Fly fishing is something that we are lucky to be able to enjoy. Be grateful for any time that you get to spend on the water and the lessons it can teach.
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