any advice for taking my 5 year old fishing

[UphillHabit]

I’m new to fishing and want to take my 5-year-old out for the first time. I’ve seen those little fishing rods in stores, but I’m unsure if they’re worth it. What do you all use for a simple fishing trip with kids? I want to make sure it’s fun and not too complicated since I have no experience. Any tips on bait or how to keep them entertained would be great!

 

[SDGrampa]

Be serious on have fun,not so much on catching. A few snacks,throw a few rocks. It's time spent with little ones that's important

 

[Darkmode]

To keep it fun and simple for your five-year-old, skip the cute toys and grab a reliable spincast rod and reel combo, which are the easiest for beginners to cast without tangles...and for bait, stick with the classic and highly effective worms, they attract fish quickly and build excitement.

Also focus your efforts on catching easy-to-find bluegill or sunfish near the shore, which bite often and keep the action moving. You can use a simple setup with a bobber, small hook, and a tiny weight. Keep the trip short, pack plenty of snacks, and remember that the goal is to make a fun memory, not catch a trophy

 

[Regan]

That's awesome, getting them hooked young! Everyone tells you to keep it simple, but here is the non-obvious advice I learned the hard way:

- Forget fancy lures, get a tub of PowerBait or just plain old hot dogs sliced small. You aren't teaching them technique, you're teaching them that fishing works. Get them on easy, hungry bluegill or sunfish that bite immediately.

- Also bring three rods, One for you, one for the kid, and a third fully baited extra rod ready to cast immediately. When your child inevitably loses their patience, or you get a bird's nest, you can hand them the ready-to-fish pole and keep the action going

- Finally, bring a small, separate bucket for collecting. A five-year-old only fishes for about 15 minutes. The rest of the time, they are collecting cool rocks, pinecones, or leaves. Let them, and they'll consider the trip a massive success, regardless of the fish count.

Good luck!

 

[UT2SD_GUY]

I picked up an ice fishing pole and the smallest reel I could find. Then I went knowing that his interest was not going to last more than 30 minutes if we didn't catch anything.

He still likes it, but its not his main jam.