Fishing is a great source of positive lifetime memories for children.

Perhaps its greatest benefit is the opportunity fishing creates for loved ones to spend meaningful time with children. Often, conversation becomes unimportant. Just spending time together in the outdoors can be very reassuring for youngsters - and adults.

While catching fish is a natural thrill for kids, the size or species could matter less to them. But children have limited attention spans and can get bored after an hour or so. Let them try different baits or other places to fish. Pay attention to their equipment and ensure that they are placing their bait in a logical place to catch a fish such as close to rocks, logs, dock pilings, or weed clumps, etc.

Its all about fun.

IT IS IMPORTANT that adults anticipate that children need to have a diversion.
Encourage them to go exploring, take some outdoor toys or let them take a swim. Make sure they get lots to drink, especially if the weather is hot and insist that they wear a hat and sunscreen to prevent over-exposure to sun.

Some special snacks will also add to the enjoyment of the day. Fishing is also is a terrific way for youngsters to interact with nature and learn about our fish and other aquatic creatures as well as the need to use them wisely. Share your knowledge with them but try not to make them feel like they are being lectured.

Listen for feeback

PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT PARTS OF THEIR FISHING ADVENTURE they liked and disliked. It is important to reinforce the positive experiences and learn from the things that they did not care for. Start planning your next fishing adventure right away.

Cleaning your catch

CLEANING FISH IS BEST LEFT TO ADULTS as it requires a very sharp knife. The most popular method of cleaning a fish is to fillet it. With a sharp, narrow-bladed filleting knife follow these steps:

1. On a flat surface, hold the fish by the head and make a cut just behind the gill cover from the backbone down to just behind the front (pectoral) fin, being careful not to cut the backbone.

2. Then run the knife along the length of the back bone cutting close to, but not into, the rib cage, pulling the meat away from the bones as you go.

3. Next cut down through the fish behind the rib cage to the vent and run the blade close to the spine, all the way out to the tail. To remove the skin, lay the fillet skin-side down on a flat surface. Hold the tail tightly, then run your knife blade away from you, cutting between the skin and the meat, the length of the fillet.