Simple Safety Tips when Fishing with a Youngster

There’s nothing as rewarding for most parents or guardians than spending a day in the boat or along the river’s edge fishing with their son or daughter or any youngster for that matter. These days getting a youngster away from a wide variety of personal electronics can be a challenge in itself but fishing may be the answer. Fishing is one of the most pleasurable, personal, and most rewarding outdoor activities anyone can do with their children. However, during the excitement of fishing the most important thing you can teach kids is how to be respectful, ethical, and safe on the water.

DON'T FORGET THE LIFE JACKETS
Kids need to know the importance of wearing a life jacket at all times when they’re in the boat or around the boat launch. Also, often overlooked is wearing a life jacket along a river’s edge.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Remember, if you preach it, you better practice it. Kids are like sponges and they see and do everything adults do. Kids must have respect for the water and the rules on the water and in the boat.

ALWAYS WEAR SUNGLASSES
I highly recommend making kids wear sunglasses when fishing and I encourage you to wear a pair as well. Kids are not always aware of where the ends of their rods are or where their hook is and it’s not uncommon to be fighting a fish at the side of the boat or the river’s edge and the hook comes free and snaps back at the angler fighting the fish or the person netting the fish.

Fishing hooks are very sharp and penetrate anything they come into contact with. And fishing hooks are very unforgiving. Removing a hook from your flesh is painful but it can be done. However, a hook or a rod tip in the eye is a trip to the hospital and a high possibility of the individual losing their sight. Again, they can be very unforgiving but a simple pair of sunglasses acts as fashionable safety glasses while you enjoy a day of fishing.   

Finding ways to keep kids involved and making their fishing experience fun will help the lessons they learn and the memories they make last a lifetime. And it won’t be long before the youngster you're fishing with today will be fishing with a youngster of their own.

Wes David | Len Thompson Pro-Staff, Alberta