Little girl fishing off a small dock

Fishing for Kids: A Guide to Catching Their First Fish

Teaching a youngster how to fish can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. The goal is to encourage your young angler with proper techniques and recognize how to spot great fishing spots 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 upon hours doing something they love. In this guide, we’ll go through the tips and tricks to fishing for kids, along with what fishing gear and tackle to start with.

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Fishing License for Kids

First up, do children need a license to fish? In Ontario, children 17 and under do not need a license. There is, however, ayoung angler’s license that is free and can be picked up at Toronto’s Sportsmen’s Show or any Learn to Fish sessions. My children loved this card – it made them feel part of the club. Anglers between the ages of 18 and 65 need to purchase an Outdoors Card and fishing license.

In Ontario, there are four FREE fishing periods throughout the year where a license is not required regardless of age. They are as follows:

Family Fishing Weekend (Falls on Family Day Weekend)
Mother’s Day Weekend
Father’s Day Weekend
Family Fishing Week (First week of Summer Vacation for kids)

Note: No matter when you are fishing 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.

Starter Fish

Catch and Release Sunfish
A couple of Sunfish caught with cheddar cheese as bait

With licensing under our belt, let’s look at what a good starter fish for a child is. A fantastic way to introduce your kids to fishing is to start with sunfish and bluegill species of fish. These target species 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 line to the stick, attached a 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 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.

Remember

The fishing line needs to be long enough to get a few feet into the water.

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. 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.

Remember

Don’t keep the fish in the bucket for too long. I would go half an hour or so.

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:)

Further Reading: Insider Tips to the Best Time for Crappie Fishing

Ready for the Big Leagues

Young boy caught a largemouth bass
Young boy caught a largemouth bass

Once your young angler has mastered catching sunfish, they’ll want to catch a bigger fish. The following target species to progress to would be either a crappie or small and largemouth bass. 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!!!

Further Reading: Choosing the Best Bass Fishing Lures: A Beginner’s Guide

With Kids, Pick Your Battles

BushLife - Uncle and Nephew Fishing
As the sun rises, Uncle and Nephew are fishing together at the end of the dock

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 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.

Try to teach your kids the proper habits, and have some leeway to look the other way when they insist on using some bad ones. Ie. If they want to throw a foot-long lure that won’t work, as long as it’s safe, who cares – let them! Remember that kids are just 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 Fishing Gear Do I Need For Kids Fishing?

Little Girl Fishing off a Pontoon
Little girl fishing off a pontoon at sunset in the summer

Once they outgrow the stick and line, you can keep it simple with the kid’s pushbutton rod and reel combo mentioned earlier. Eventually, you’ll work them up to a nice graphite 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 rod lengths for children.

Child’s AgeFishing Rod Length (in feet)
3 – 52 – 3
6 – 94 – 5
10 – 14Over 5
Zebco Kids Splash Rod and Reel Combo

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Just a heads up, your child will want a tackle box to hold their favourite 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 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. Grab a hand-me-down, used box or a cheap little tackle box for children. It doesn’t have to be fancy – it just needs to be their prize possession.

Plano 2-Tray Tackle Box

Imagine keeping your child safe and organized. Introducing the Plano 2-Tray Tackle Box, the perfect companion for your child's fishing adventures! With its spacious two-tray design, your little angler can easily think about what they need for a successful day on the water. No more tangled lines or lost lures—everything they need is right at their fingertips!

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Fishing Lures for Kids

As to 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 great starting lures. 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.

River2Sea WPL110/18 Whopper Plopper

Think about starting your fishing trip by catching a big bass or even a musky. Enter the River2Sea Whopper Plopper - it's an enticing lure that provokes an awesome strike. With its unique design, this lure creates a loud noise that attracts fish from afar, making every cast an exciting adventure. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, the Whopper Plopper is easy to throw and guarantees a thrilling day on the water.

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Pro Tip!

If your child wants to try their luck at casting lures but isn’t ready for a hook, grab some side cutters and cut them off! Grant them the joy of lures without the risks of hooks. You can cut the ring (or detach if detachable) that goes between the hook and lure and save the hook for later. If your lure survives your child, you can buy the rings and reattach the hook when your child is ready. Once your child can consistently cast safely and well, they are generally prepared for a fishing hook.

Further Reading: 11 of The Latest Spring Fishing Lures for 2024

Fishing Programs/Charters

When all else fails, and you are struggling to teach your child how to fish, know there are available programs 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, safety, 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.

If you and your little one are ready for an extraordinary fishing adventure, there are plenty of fishing charters that can accommodate you both. This is a fantastic way to learn how to catch those elusive fish or trophy-sized fish, learn pro fishing techniques, try out the best tackle and gear, and learn how to scout fishing spots from an angling pro properly. In the Peterborough area of Ontario, 2B Fishing is a highly recommended fishing guide. Bobby has taught many young anglers to perfect their techniques and catch some massive fish.

Conclusion to Fishing for Kids

So, whether they’re fishing from a small dock, small ponds, rivers, or lakes, the point of introducing your child to fishing is to create unforgettable memories as well as to teach them an important life skill that they could use later in life. You would be surprised to learn how many people can recall fond memories of fishing with a loved one when they were just children. Just remember, there is plenty of time to perfect technique.

Your job right now is to make fishing fun. There will be times when you get frustrated or lose your cool, but the best thing you can do is take a deep breath and realize that your child is new to the world of fishing, and 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.

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Little girl fishing off a small dock
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Katherine Widziak
Katherine Widziak

Fuelled by the boundless energy of my two adventurous children, my diverse repertoire extends beyond the realms of an ordinary mother. As a seasoned graphic designer, master of social media content, and savvy marketing strategist, I've sculpted my own entrepreneurial journey. My passion for the great outdoors defines me - from igniting fires to setting up camps, my skills are diverse and practical. Skilled in ATV riding, possessing sharpshooting accuracy, and a knack for out-fishing just about any man - even my husband, though that's our little secret.

When not working away at something creative, you'll find me enjoying the outdoors in one form or another. Hopefully, I can inspire many women and men alike to pursue their outdoor goals and embark on new adventures.

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10 Comments

  1. Great post for parents of young children! Your really did a great job explaining and making this teaching moment easy.

  2. 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. 😂

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