Tips & Essentials for Fishing With Your Kids

Duck Creek is beautiful this time of year, which is why it’s such a popular spot in Southern Utah to fish. If you need ideas for activities to take your kids on while they’re out of school this summer, plan a fishing trip with them! Duck Creek isn’t the only place to fish nearby – you can also visit Panguitch, Navajo, Quail Creek, and Sand Hollow are all within an hour’s drive from each other for a wide array of fishing options.

But how do you get your kids to enjoy fishing as much as you do? Here are 10 simple tips for making the best out of your fishing trip with your family.

1. Keep it stress-free. There’s no reason to make it high stress. Make it about having fun and the experience rather than the fish you bring home so they’ll want to go a second time.
2. Use easy tackle. Use small hooks and baits that are easy for kids to use, like bobber and nightcrawler.
3. Give them an easy task to do. For younger children, it’s important to make them feel like they are a crucial element of the trip. Even if it’s watching for fish or picking which bait to use, make them feel like they’re contributing.
4. Try for easy species. There’s no use trying to teach your kids how to catch hard-to-find species if they’ve never fished before. Fish for easy to catch species to save time and make it more fun for your kids.
5. Pack Snacks. Packing snacks is crucial to keeping your kids interested in the fishing. If they start to get disinterested or cranky, sometimes a simple snack like fruit, cheese, juice, or granola bars can get them back on track.
6. Go in the morning. To prevent cranky kids or kids who want to nap, go during the morning, when the temperature is cooler and your kids are more alert.
7. Make it short. Most kids have short attention spans and won’t be entertained by an entire day of staring at the fishing pole waiting for fish to bite.
8. Dress for the weather. Anticipate the temperatures and weather for the day, and make sure to dress them comfortably if it will be hot or cold. Bring jackets or extra clothes if you expect it might get cold.
9. Bring plastic bags. Gallon Ziplock bags are extremely useful when bringing your child along. Plastic bags help at the end of fishing to put wet or muddy clothes in for the ride home.
10. Get child-sized fishing supplies. To make it easier for your child, most department stores with a fishing section have small fishing poles and tackle boxes that are a better size for small children. New equipment can also get them excited if they’ve been before and enjoy fishing with you regularly.

For more info on fishing in Duck Creek, click here.