Teach your kids how to ‘study the river’
This fishing report, provided by Dustin Berg and Go Unlimited (supporting disabled anglers) and the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Fishing a river does not require much gear and can easily be done from the bank or while wading.
Children should use shorter rods and smaller, lighter reels. Five-and-a-half-foot rod and reel combos are not expensive and are great for kids ages 7-12.
Teaching kids how to fish takes time – I recommend fishing for short periods of time, 30 minutes or so with short breaks. And don’t forget to bring snacks. Stay close to your kids as things will go wrong. Snags, tangles and losing tackle and bait are part of the process. Do not show frustration as mistakes are to be expected and are a major part of learning.
As the adult you will not be doing much fishing. You will be baiting hooks, tending to tackle issues and hopefully unhooking fish. If you do hook a fish, let your child reel it in and experience catching a fish.
Remember, fish are predatory and are constantly in search of food. Fish themselves can be eaten by other wildlife so staying safe, preserving energy and hiding is a major priority for them.
Teaching your kids how to study a river or stream to locate possible hiding spots for fish will sharpen their fishing skills and lead to a lifetime of angling success:
• Learn how to approach a river carefully;
• Learn how to divide a river into small sections;
• Learn how to take the time to study the water;
• Learn how to identify spots in a river that potentially hold fish;
• Learn how to fish certain features in a river.
Find a downloadable fishing lesson at wildlife.state.nm.us.