Fishing is a fun activity for the whole family; it’ll get your kids to spend more time interacting with nature and in the great outdoors. It’s a great way to spend time together as a family, create lasting memories, and grow inseparable bonds. However, fishing does require some preparation, and with these tips, you and your family will have time for their lives. Keep in mind that a fishing trip isn’t about how many fish you can catch, it’s about the time spent together, and the memories created.
1. Pack Food and Water
You can expect that you and the little ones will definitely work up quite an appetite while out on the water, it is imperative to keep yourselves hydrated and fed. Pack food that are convenient, mess-free, and nutritious. Avoid foods that are too filling; here are some great beverage and snack options:
- Sandwiches
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Beef Jerky
- Gatorade and Water
- Trail Mix
- Fruits
Keep carbonated and alcoholic drinks to a minimum as they both dehydrate the body. If you’re traveling with kids, throw in some candy and fun snacks into the mix. Try and get your kids to help out with the food preparation for a whole day of family bonding time.
2. Rise and Shine
The early bird catches the worm as they say or fish in your case. It gives your family a chance to catch a beautiful sunrise, the perfect touch to a great family fishing trip. The kids will be more attentive; not only are kids in brighter spirits in the morning, but temperatures are also cooler during dawn.
3. Target Easy Fish
Herrings and Tilapias are good fish to start within Singapore; bread alone makes excellent bait for these mentioned fishes. Do not go for trophy-sized game fish when you take your family fishing, fish as such requires more skill and patience that’ll result in the little ones losing motivation. Fishing can easily be boring as it takes patience and time; the goal is to keep everyone’s interest at hand. Teach the little ones to release catch that are too small, one of the rules in a fisherman’s handbook.
4. Fishing isn’t as boring as it seems
Not catching a fish can be discouraging, especially for the little ones, there are many ways to make fishing fun without catching a fish. When they are tired of casting, show them how to poke around the river bank. There are always tiny critters lurking around and behind rocks. Launch leaf “boats” into the water or give fishing a break and take a stroll instead, to keep the little ones refreshed and even more engaged on the day itself, not just on the fishing experience.
5. Keep the fishing trip short
If you are embarking on your very first fishing trip with the family, avoid making it an all-day affair. An all-day fishing trip might sound perfect to you, but it can make even the most hyped-up kid cranky, and that’s just a recipe for disaster. Kids happen to have shorter attention spans, so start with only an hour or two. Make sure they cherish the time spent together, and they had a fun time.
6. Take breaks
To make the day even more memorable and fun, take time to relax and have a picnic by the water. Get a ledger rig (a series of hooks branched out from the leader through a loop) and throw it into the water, this will increase your chances of catching bottom feeders while not actively fishing.
7. Bring life jackets
Safety on a fishing trip is critical, especially when kids are involved, everyone should be wearing a life jacket as they learn how to fish, including yourself! It’s also essential to bring a pocket-sized first aid kit in case of any minor injuries or cuts.
8. Essentials
There are bound to be mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies flying around, so be sure to pack insect repellent. Pack extra hats/caps and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun, getting sunburnt will not be a fond memory. Forgetting one or more of these items can be the reason your fishing trip is cut short.
9. Bring a camera!
When fishing the little ones, every catch is an accomplishment, so take every catch as an opportunity to capture the moment with a camera at hand. You’d want to take as many pictures as possible to remind you of the amazing fishing trip with your family.
10. Never waste precious teaching moments
Take advantage of these moments to teach them about nature – bugs, birds, fish, and plants. The great outdoors! The best kind of classroom your kids will get to experience. After all, fishing is not only about just catching fish; it’s also about creating memories and learning. Playing games with them, such as fun quizzes and riddles, will not only entertain them, but it’ll also enhance their knowledge.
11. Celebrate!
It’s not easy to catch a fish, so every time someone in your family catches a fish, do a celebratory dance. It doesn’t have to be a 2-minute dance program, but just a fun little celebration. It might seem a bit silly, but think of those athletes scoring a goal and celebrating with a bit of a dance, your family will surely find it amusing, and the kids will love it.
12. Cook the catch
Making a meal out of the fish your family caught is a great way to end the day. You could either cook the fish at home or have a barbeque right there at the lake. Bring along some burger patties and sausages to grill, in the chance everyone spends the day empty-handed. If you practice catch and release, when it comes to fishing, you might want to keep at least one that your little one reeled in. It doesn’t take that many ingredients to grill a fish – some butter, lemon, salt, pepper, and you’re good to go or take the catch home and make a fancy fish dinner out of it.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if anyone catches a fish or goes home empty-handed because it’s all about creating beautiful memories with your family. The “fun” part is most important; if you keep this in mind, regardless of the number of fish caught, each outing will be a success.