Simon Perkins helps out a new angler.
Photo courtesy Simon Perkins
Simon Perkins, Senior Manager of Orvis Adventures, knows a thing or two about teaching folks to fish. He was a fly-fishing guide in Montana for more than a decade, and during that time, he founded a fly-fishing camp for kids on the Blackfoot River. He now has a daughter of his own, which has him thinking even more about the best ways to get kids involved in the sport.
In a great article on the website Fatherly, Simon offers his advice, starting at the earliest stages of a child’s life:
Ages 1 And Up: Get Them A Toy Rod
As Perkins was learning how to walk, his father gave him a toy rod so his sense of coordination developed while holding it. By the time he was ready to actually set foot in the water, the rod felt as natural in his hand as his finger did in his nose. Start them off with a toy fly rod to introduce the feel of casting and handling line. While you’re at it, grab a few magnetic fishing toys so they can learn the thrill of catching something (and how to lie about how big it was).
You can get plenty more where that came from by clicking the link below.
I like the idea of giving them a toy fishing rod when they are young so they can learn how to play with it. I love fishing of every kind so when I have kids I definitely want to teach them how. I think there are a lot of life lessons to be learned through fishing, don’t you? Thanks for sharing!
I bought my nephew a tow fishing rod for his birthday last month and he hasn’t stopped talking about fishing since! I think that he would really enjoy it and I know that my brother-in-law would be thrilled to have a son that loved fly fishing! I will have to look into planning some trips in the future for all of us to go on. I can attest that getting them a toy rod is a great way to queue their interest!
https://latitudesoutfitting.com/#!fly-fishing/c1px
My husband and I have been wanting to get our kids into fishing for a while now. We bought them all toy fishing rods for Christmas last year but haven’t had the chance to use them quite yet. We will have to keep this information in mind and see if we can get them interested, thanks for sharing! https://www.keywestflatsfishingguides.com
For those of us who don’t live near trout water, I believe ponds are the best way to get kids excited about fly-fishing. My first fish on a fly was a bluegill, but my biggest bass came on a fly, too. Even as an adult, my heart still races at the mere sight of a farm pond.
https://fishinglab.net/