Why Not Hold Your Own Children's Fishing Derby?

June is Great Outdoor Month, and it is time to start thinking of ways to get the children outdoors, and enjoying the wonders of nature. Why not start Great Outdoors Month off with a little fishing derby? These can be rather inexpensive affairs. Fishing rods and equipment for children can be inexpensive, you might even have these available from other fishing trips. You can find earthworms in your lawn, just turn on the sprinkler for a good portion of the day, and start looking for the worms in the evening. We actually buy our worms from Walmart, I don't have the time to look for earthworms.

Every city, town or village has a body of water that contains fish. I have fished in a pond in the middle of Albany, New York for crappie, bass, panfish, and the children had a gas. Children, for the most part do not care what species the fish are fishing for, they just love to catch them. I have taken children out to catch panfish, and with all the yelling and screaming you would think they were catching whales.

Holding your own fishing derby is also a way to teach the children how to fish, ie how to look for signs of where the fish might be, how to cast, how to bait a hook, or even how to tie a hook, etc. It is also a way to teach them how to have respect for water.

How to give out prizes. You will want everyone to have a feeling of success when they go fishing. Try to make sure that you have a little certificate for everyone, these can all be printed out on a computer. You can give out prizes for each fish caught if you want, it is a good opportunity to discuss some fishing laws of the land, ie the legal size of the fish. Get the children to measure the fish when they catch the fish.

Just one word of warning, if you are thinking of eating your fish, check with the local guidelines. In New York State, because of the pollution there are recommended amounts of fish per person per week that can be consumed. Even though children like to keep their catches, if you explain that you are catching and releasing the fish as a conservation issue, they will understand. Everyone has a digital camera that is capable of taking short videos or stills. Take a picture of the catch.