How to teach kids to fish can be a frustrating process, but it doesn’t have to be. Your goal is to encourage your child to use proper techniques and help them recognize how to spot great fishing spots, all while keeping the atmosphere light and fun. Kids hate being told what to do, especially by their parents, but they love to learn and can spend hours doing something they love. In this Fishing for Kids guide, we’ll go through kids fishing basics, best fish to catch and gear.
Spread the Love
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through our links result in a small commission to us at no charge to you. We only recommend products that meet our brand standards based on testing and first hand use by our authors.
Do Kids Need a Fishing License?
The first thing to address in kids fishing 101 is the fishing license? In Ontario, children 17 and under do not need a license. There is, however, a free young angler’s license that can be picked up at the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show or any Learn to Fish sessions. My children loved their kids fishing license – it made them feel special and part of the club.
At What Age Does A Kid Need A Fishing License
Once your child turns 18, they will require to purchase a fishing license and an Outdoors Card. There are two options when buying a fishing license – you can fish conservation or sport, each come with different catch and possession limits.
Does Ontario Offer Free Fishing?
In Ontario, there are four FREE fishing periods throughout the year where a license is not required regardless of age. If the adult is not licensed, this is the perfect time for a family fishing trips. Use these days as an opportunity to introduce yourself and your child to fishing.
Note: No matter when you fish or what category you fall under, please remember that daily catch limits and regulations still apply. There are heavy fines in place for not following the rules.
What Age Can a Child Go Fishing?
I think the child’s age is irrelevant when it comes to fishing and would base this more on behaviour. Our children started fishing at the age of three with a kid’s fishing rod and reel combo. They refused the rod and preferred the primitive way of fishing instead – a homemade fishing rod using a stick, fishing line and a small hook.
Use your judgement, as only you know your child. If they can listen and can hold a fishing rod responsibly, then they are ready to start fishing.
Which Fish is Best for Kids?
With licensing under our belt, let’s look at what is a good starter fish for a child. A fantastic way to introduce your kids to fishing is to start with sunfish or bluegill. These are freshwater fish species that are fun, easy to catch and require almost no gear.
I’m not kidding! My little one didn’t want to use the kid’s rod and reel combo we got him. Instead, he handed my husband a stick and some line. Obliging, my husband tied the fishing line to the stick, attached a small hook and off he went fishing. He saw the sunfish approach and couldn’t understand why they weren’t biting.
And, here’s where the first lesson on bait begins. And, no, it did not start with worms – it started with cheese!! With a bit of cheddar cheese on the hook, he had quite the collection of sunfish in his bucket in mere minutes, which is easy fishing for kids and perfect for short attention spans!
Here’s the point – children want to have fun. They love to laugh, they love the action, and they need instant gratification. This is why sunfish are such a phenomenal starting fish for kids. There is no worry of lines tangling, losing tackle, hooking oneself, losing your rod in the water, etc.
What it does do is allow your child to experiment with bait, technique, reflex and ask for help. It will enable them to experience the highs and lows of fishing and give you the opportunity for short lessons, such as baiting a hook, unhooking a fish and why it’s crucial to release fish quickly.
If not released immediately, a bucket with the waterbody’s water is a perfect makeshift livewell. As your child fills the bucket with fish, you and your child can celebrate their success. Then, say goodbye and gently pour the fish back in.
Your kids are kids. They don’t need a big monster bass they can’t even reel in to be happy. To your young children, a little sunfish is a treasure! They also get bored, and the amount of action far outweighs the actual catch.
Once your little ones are ready to step up a notch, get them a kid’s pushbutton fishing rod and reel combo. Don’t spend too much money on it – we lost 5 or 6 in one season alone to the bottom of the lake:(
Ready for the Big Leagues
Once your young angler has mastered catching sunfish, they’ll want to catch bigger fish. The following target species to progress to would be either small and largemouth bass or crappie. Both are fun species that love to fight and swim hard. Bass often jump out of the water when it’s being reeled in, and it’s exciting even for adults!!!
With Kids, Pick Your Battles
Now, being older, Grandma got my little guy an annoying 11′ long telescopic, heavy fishing rod. We struggle to get fish in the boat! It’s too long to net or pull in. Did she do the right thing? In one way, yes. It got him excited, and he would run towards something that was otherwise becoming boring.
Even if the kids fishing technique is off or the equipment is wrong, don’t sweat it too much. Your child is still outdoors, experiencing the joys of fishing. If things aren’t perfect, they’re still learning something. Be happy they are not indoors playing video games!
Teach kids to fish with proper fishing habits, and have some leeway to look the other way when they insist on using some bad ones. Ex. If they want to throw a foot-long lure that won’t work, as long as it’s safe, who cares – let them!
Remember, kids are curious – they will eventually see your success and come around as their patience and maturity develop. Keep fishing fun, and one day soon, your little fishing buddy will mature and eagerly join you once they are ready.
What Does a Kid Need for Fishing?
What to buy for beginner fishing once they outgrow the stick and line? Keep it simple with a kid’s pushbutton rod and reel combo mentioned earlier. The best kids fishing rod would be the Zebco Kids Splash Rod and Reel Combo. It’s easy to use, lightweight and best of all, it floats!!! Saving you a ton of money on replacing lost rods to rivers and lakes.
Eventually, you’ll work them up to a nice graphite fishing rod with a spinning reel that can stay with them for life. If they do take up fishing, they can even progress to a baitcasting rod and reel setup once the proper casting and handling techniques are mastered with their spinning setup. Below is a table of appropriate fishing rod lengths for children.
| Child’s Age | Fishing Rod Length (in feet) |
|---|---|
| 3 – 5 | 2′ – 3′ |
| 6 – 9 | 4′ – 5′ |
| 10 – 14 | Over 5′ |
Kids Fishing Tackle Box
Just a heads up, your child will want a tackle box to hold their favourite fishing lures and other little finds. My little one at the time didn’t even fish, and yet he wanted a tackle box. He wanted to be like mom and dad.
Inside were his favourite fishing lures, fishing pliers, plastic worms, and, of course, a collection of hot wheels. 🙂 The tackle box made him happy and eager to try his new finds. The best tackle box for kids are ones that comes with stories, like grandpa’s or dad’s hand-me-down. Or opt for a used box from Kijiji or garage sales that come with an arsenal of fishing gear – kids love these!!! The point is, that the tackle box doesn’t need to be fancy – it just needs to be their prize possession.
Fishing Lures for Kids
As to kids fishing lures and artificial baits, my husband scoured tackle shops that had used sections and Kijiji. He did very well this way. You can buy used tackle for a fraction of the cost, and believe me, your child won’t care. Discount bins at tackle shops are fantastic, too! Same deal here – the size, shape and colour are far more important to little ones than the brand and price.
The odds are higher that your child will cast into things where the fishing lure is unrecoverable! In other words – give them fishing lures you don’t mind losing. Once they’re older and have more fishing experience, you can invest in better tackle without worrying about loss.
Bobbers, especially the light-up ones, artificial bait like crayfish (crawfish) or even a small crankbait, Z-man Chatterbait or Whopper Plopper are the best fishing lures for kids.
Having short attention spans, these are lures that are entertaining even if your child is bored of fishing and will buy you enough time to make a few casts of your own. You can also try live bait, such as worms. Many anglers will have their children help scour the yard for small worms to use for baiting fish.
Kids’ Fishing Programs/Charters
When all else fails, and you are struggling to teach your child how to fish, know there are plenty of kids fishing resources available to help your child learn how to get started.
Ontario’s Learn to Fish program is free for all ages. This 2-hour session teaches you the rules and regulations, fishing safety for kids, identifying fish species, and rigging, baiting and casting a fishing rod.
The second hour of the two is spent on supervised hands-on fishing! Don’t worry about bringing fishing equipment – the program provides access to everything you need, including a license, lifejackets and sunglasses.
A kids fishing derby is also a great way for children to engage with others and acquire fishing tips. And believe me when I say this, they will come back with a wealth of knowledge and start schooling you on ‘how to fish the RIGHT way’!
Fishing Charters for Kids’
If you are struggling to figure out where you can take your child fishing, a fishing charter may be the answer. There are plenty of fishing charters available – ask locals around lakes or tackle shops for recommendations.
With a professional fishing guide, you will learn how to catch those elusive or trophy-sized fish, have access to pro fishing techniques and learn how to scout the best fishing spots. You’ll also get to try out the best tackle and gear!
Conclusion to Fishing for Kids
The best fishing spots for kids, especially young ones, is where there is opportunity to swim and then play. Attention spans are short. Docks, small ponds and riverbanks make for great starting points to teach kids to fish, create unforgettable memories, and educate them on important life skill that they could use later in life.
You would be surprised to learn how many adults recall fond memories of fishing with a loved one when they were just children. Just remember, there is plenty of time to perfect your kids fishing technique.
Your job right now is to encourage your child to fish and make it fun. There will be times when you get frustrated or lose your cool. Remember to step back, take a deep breath and realize that your child is new to the world of fishing – it will take a lot of time, practice and patience to learn and perfect the hobby. The last thing you want to do is deter them from creating an everlasting bonding experience with you.
What’s your fondest childhood fishing memory? Share your story in the comments below!
Bookmark this post on Pinterest for future reference!
This kid was so fishing 🎣. Anita
It pays off to start them young. 🙂
Great post for parents of young children! Your really did a great job explaining and making this teaching moment easy.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your kind words.
What a great family activity! I have fond memories of fishing with my grandpa.
It absolutely is. I can’t recall anybody having a negative experience fishing with a loved one. Happy to hear that you were able to share those moments with your grandfather.
great post! I remember fishing with my Dad as a kid. Picking out my fishing box and getting the gear is as much of a core memory as fishing itself.
Thank you! You’re absolutely right, the entire process is just as valuable. My kids loved finding the shiniest lure, the biggest one and the longest rod possible and trying to convince us that this was the winning formula to catching fish. 😂
Honestly, your content is unique!
Thank you for your kind words! Have a great day!