I remember the first time I caught a fish. I was already a young adult working as a camp counselor on the Chesapeake Bay. Campers learned alongside me as we explored coves and hot spots along the Chester River; we learned about bait fishes and how to rig our lines before casting off into the murky, warm waters. We shared in the excitement held by another group member as their line tugged and their pole arched toward the water. Together, we looked upon perches that arose from the waves and curiously gazed upon their shiny scales and ferocious-looking fins. Valuable lessons in humane killing and where one's food came from were subjects of conversation as we cleaned our fish, fried, and ate underneath the eastern shore's starlit sky. We made positive memories and friendships through fishing during my two seasons in Maryland.
These memories are why I still fish. I fish near my residence and utilize simple resources to get the job done. If you are looking into getting started or want to get others involved, here is a basic beginner's guide. This is a great way to introduce fishing to all ages because it requires inexpensive resources, little time, and little knowledge.
Location
A favorite place to fish of mine is a small creek within walking distance of my apartment. I live in a heavily urbanized area, so I am fortunate to have a healthy creek to sustain fish life. In addition to its proximity, The creek has several beautiful characteristics that make fishing easy and fun.
As you can see in the picture, this creek is tiny and well-shaded on both sides. The vegetation provides root systems and shaded areas alongside the creek's banks. Fish love shaded areas with lots of woody vegetation because they offer places to hide and safety. Look for areas with structures for fish to hang out in, like tree roots, jetties, rock formations, tall reeds like cattails, and shaded areas.
My creek is very shallow and transparent, allowing me to see what is happening in the water. I can see where there are rocks, aquatic vegetation, and other underwater structures that fish might find cozy and safe. When you can see clearly in the water, you can see all the fish and their behavior. I know where to cast my line and watch how the fish react. This can be as much fun for kids and even beginners as catching the fish. The fish become curious about the bait as it sinks or swims before them. I like practicing a few techniques when my bait is in the water. Most of the time, during hot days, I let the worm sink slowly to the bottom and then give it a few sharp jolts up before letting it sink back to the bottom. It is fun to see some fish scurry away in fear or come right up to the bait before leaving it alone. I'll reel the line in quickly or move the line side to side and watch the minnows follow in anticipation. You never know, sometimes something unexpected happens in these clear waters. The other day, a crayfish came out of its little hole and cautiously marched over to the bait as I wiggled it up and down.
Find a suitable location using this app: https://fishbrain.com/
Equipment
The whole point of this kind of fishing is simplicity. As you or the ones you teach get more into fishing, there are plenty of equipment items you can own, but for now, start with the bare minimum items that work. The bare minimum is a Texas fishing license, 8-foot spinning rod, 1/16 ounce or lighter "jig head" bait hook, grub lure, and a multi-tool with a sharp knife and pliers.
Pictured above: jig head small hook with a grub lure rigged.
There are a lot of different inexpensive lures you can use. The grub has a tail, giving the lure extra movement as it moves around the water, helping it resemble a yummy snack.
The colors of these lures vary and can be used in different situations when the water is clear or murky. If the water is clear, you can get away with lures with more natural and dull coloration. When the water is cloudy, lures with brighter and less natural coloration may be what you need.
You can always use live bait if you or the kids struggle with artificial lures. Perch and sunfish prefer live bait to artificial lures, and will result in better success. You can quickly get live bait like worms from a store like Walmart or have an adventure capturing some of your own. Make memories sifting through the garden or compost to find living worms and grubs.
In the heat of summer, when all the grass has dried out, the grasshoppers are everywhere. I have some great memories chasing down grasshoppers with campers and using them for bait.
Cast nets are great for catching live minnows. I bought a 4-foot radius cast net from Academy. Cast nets take some time to get the hang of but with a bit of practice and "how-to" videos, even a four-year-old can throw a cast net over live minnows. Here is a helpful video by "Salt Strong" for cast net throwing.
Catching Fish
We are catching smaller fish like perch and sunfish with the abovementioned equipment. These fish are a good introduction because you can fish them year-round and have a lot of success with different types of bait and skill levels. Small fish are easy to handle if you are a little kid and can be quickly released.
When using an artificial lure like the grub, there should be movement in the water to attract fish. As described above, my first technique is to throw out line and let the worm sink gently to the bottom before I slowly reel the line back in. I reel it back in a foot before letting the grub return to the bottom. I may let it stay there for a second or two before giving it a jolt back to the top of the water column and letting it fall again. Then I reel back another foot or so and repeat. This technique can include more or less movement with more or less waiting and patience depending on the time of day and season. Usually, fish are more active at dusk and dawn when the temperatures are cooler and during seasons when the water temperature is not as hot or cold. When temperatures get too hot or cold, fish tend to be more sluggish and require a more sluggish approach to casting. Part of the fun is trying different techniques and watching what the fish do!
Pictures: Sunfish at Nolan Creek caught with grub lure and jig head hook
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