This past weekend I went trout fishing with a friend, his two young sons, and my son, who is 6. When we first anchored and started casting it became apparent that all of the kids trying to cast at one time was a dangerous proposition for anyone in the boat. There were hooks flying and lines going everywhere. We made the decision to troll an area and that would allow all of the boys to have a chance to fish without endangering one another. This was a great solution. Not only did it keep someone from catching a stray hook in the head, but it also allowed the boys to set the rods down and look around and enjoy the beauty of nature. They even saw a bald eagle fly right over head. They learned to take turns reeling in the fish and it helped them to learn to work together to get the fish to the boat. Fishing in the winter time can be tough with small kids. If they are not comfortable their desire to stay in one spot and fish is not very strong. They tend to get antsy and get bored much more quickly than they normally do. Trolling allows them to move around the boat and gives them ever changing scenery. This is a great time to point out things to them and to teach them about different marine life and habitat and you make your way down a river. On this particular trip we were fishing the harbor and the history of the city also provided some great learning opportunities for the boys. We were able to tell them about the battery and the old buildings. If you get a chance to take kids fishing this winter, you may want to give trolling a try. You may just find that it makes for a really relaxing and fun day of fishing.
Andy Pickett,
CharlestonFishing.Com</font id=“blue”>