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25 Fishing Tips for Kids

Nicholas Thompson aka Nickfish is just "a kid that loves fishing", so much so that he also loves to share the sport with others through his magazine articles, radio show appearances and kids fishing clinics. Forget the gaming box... it's all about the tackle box and getting out on the water. In this article Nickfish gives us 25 Fishing Tips for Kids. Fish on!

• HAVE FUN!: The best thing to do when fishing is to have fun, whether you're chasing spangled perch in the small creek or the 1000 pound black marlin in the open water, it's all about having fun.

• Match the Hatch: Match the hatch means to represent what the fish are eating. For example, say barramundi were busting up prawns, then put on a prawn lure. If you put on a mullet profile they may think that something is a bit fishy. This tip works the same for bait, if the fish are feeding on prawns then use prawn for bait.

• Weather: Weather is a simple tip to follow. Check the winds and the tides before you go fishing. (Where I fish, I also never fish a west wind)

• Structure: Structure simply means to find places where the fish can hide. For example, if you're in an empty room and there is one chair, you're going to go straight to the chair... same with fish, they hang around the structure. Once that structure is found the fish will be peeling in no time.

• Bread and Butter: Targeting bread and butter species is the best way to get kids into fishing. These fish species include whiting, bream and flathead. The best part is that these fish can be caught all around Australia and they are great fun to catch.

• Never leave home unarmed: Never go anywhere without a rod or else you could be missing out on some epic fishing spots.

• Light Gear: It's generally better to have lighter gear rather than to have gear that is too heavy. If you use light gear then you will get more hook ups, however you still may lose a fish or two and that's fishing. If you were to fish with gear that is too heavy, then you will generally not get as many hits, so less opportunities to land fish. It's also a little less fun because the fish tend to not pull as hard on heavy gear.

• Burley: Burley can be really helpful when the bite is slow. Burley is a mixture of food and scents that attracts the fish. I like to use tuna, pilchard and other very oily fish. I also heard that the whiting like vanilla. Don't forget you can also add scent on your lures. Scent on a lure not only helps with bringing the fish to your lure, it can also help to mask the scent on your hands (oil, sunscreen, bug spray). I like to use Pro-Cure Super Gel because it has a very jelly-like consistency that stays on for longer and they have a wide range of different scents.

• No Touchy: No touchy means if you don't know what it is - don't touch it! This is because there are a lot of venomous fish and other creatures out there. You also need to remember that you shouldn't take it home to find out what it is as it could be undersize or a protected species. Take a phot or a good mental picture of it. There are also hundreds of apps that can help you to identify different fish species.

• Know what you're targeting: This tip is used by all anglers. It means don't go fishing without having a target species in mind. This allows you to have the right gear for the right fish. However there are always exceptions... so be prepared.

• What might happen: Although you may be chasing jacks, still bring some smaller lures because there may be some big bream around that same snag or the jacks may be eating tiny bait. I have been in this situation before. I was chasing king salmon and had the normal largish lures, however they were smashing tiny bait fish on the surface. If I had my smaller lures I may have caught heaps... instead I left empty handed.

• Game plan: Never leave home without a game plan. You need to know where you're going and when you're wanting to be there. I also follow the old saying, never leave fish to find fish.

• Gear: When buying your first set up, the first thing you need is a good rod. There are a few things you need to look at before you purchase a rod. The first thing that you need to consider is what you're using it for. If you are going to use it for lure fishing, then you would be looking at a graphite rod. A favourite of mine is my Okuma Cerros spin rod. If you were using it for fishing in the surf, then you would likely want a longer rod in graphite composite or fibreglass. The next thing that you need to consider is what the rod can handle, as in what weight rating can the rod handle. If you were looking for a barra rod then you wouldn't use a rod with a rating of 1-3kg, you may want something around 3-6kg or heavier, whereas the 1-3kg may be perfect for bream.

• Gear II: So, you've got your rod and now you need a reel. Reels are easier to pick out than rods, however there are still few things you need to consider first. Size is the first thing that you need to consider as the reel needs to suit the rod, hold enough line and have a drag capable of handling your target species. A great allrounder is the Okuma Epixor XT in a size 30, as that will catch 90% of your estuary and freshwater target species.

• Gear III: So we've got the rod and the reel, now we need to get something to spool up the reel with. There are two common choices that you can spool up your reel with, the first being mono line and second being braid. I tend to use braid because I can get a lot more feel from it and also more casting distance. Monofilament line is still popular for bait fishing and although you don't get as much casting distance it does have a lot more stretch in it.

• Safety: This means to be ready for something bad that may happen. It's better to have the stuff there and not need it, rather than need it and it not be there. Even something as simple as sunscreen or bug spray.

• Change it up: This tip has saved my trip a few times. This tip could be applied to different types of fishing but especially lure fishing. What happens is people get stuck with this one lure, when all they need to do is change it up. A change from a white to pink or a 4" to 3" may be all that's needed to switch on a bite. This happened to me on a recent trip. I was fishing with a ZMan 4'' DeZiel MinnowZ and I was getting lots of short bites. As soon as I changed to a 3'' ZMan Slim SwimZ, bang flathead on and they just kept on coming.

• Double Check: You've just landed a big salmon, get your line back out, have a second hit, set the hook and then the leader snaps. This is because of chafing on the leader. Once you land a big fish, you need to check your leader otherwise you may lose the next monster.

• Keeping It Live: Think of it this way, if you had a piece of steak that had been in the fridge for a week or a piece that was fresh from the BBQ which one would you take? It's the same with fish, live or fresh is always best when bait fishing.

• Ears & Eyes: Always be aware of what's happening around you. If you have loud music on or you're not paying attention you may miss that barra boof behind you or those mullet being chased by flathead on the flats.

• LANDING NET: Bring a landing net for every trip. Even if you're just chasing bream, whiting or other fish that don't require a net... you may need one. I've caught big flathead while I've been chasing bream and whiting... losing just as many because of not bringing a net.

• Gear Care: Taking care of your gear can be as simple as wiping it down after every trip. I also like to put reel oil on my reels moving parts every month or so.

• Buy the Best: This doesn't mean that you have to spend a thousand dollars on a reel, but buy the best that you can afford. It may land you a fish of a lifetime.

• Source local knowledge: Whenever you go fishing in a new place, source some local knowledge. You can find this knowledge online, however one of the best sources of local knowledge is the local tackle stores.

• NEVER EVER TAKE BANANAS ON A BOAT!: Bananas are your worst nightmare out on water... if one of these is taken then you will likely leave empty handed. ;)

Fishing is a great sport for kids. You get to spend time outside with friends and family, surrounded by the wonders of nature, while also chasing fish for sport or a feed and potentially landing a new species or a new PB. If you haven't tried fishing, keep it simple and get out there.

Cheers, Nickfish