Taking kids fly fishing is a rewarding, outdoor family activity. If they learn some key skills beforehand, kiddos landing trout with fly rods will be fun and productive.
First, do your homework. Choose safe rivers where negotiating banks and riverbeds is easy for little legs. Alder and brush-free stretches of stream are essential. Tributaries are perfect starter waters for little tikes because stream flows are typically slower and shallower.
Choosing Fly Rods and Fly Line for Kids
Matching your child to a fly rod is crucial. Most fly rod manufacturers offer novice-level rods tuned to the beginner's skill set. Some fly rod companies design down-sized versions youngsters may find advantageous. The fly rod grip should fit easily in their hand, and rod length should be no more than one and a half times the child's height. A comfortable rod for kids spans somewhere between 6' to 7' 6".
Fly rods are made with varying actions. Some are rather stiff, while others flex through their entire length. A good rule of thumb for choosing a fly rod action is to go with a more flexible rod for novices, where expert fly casters may enjoy success with more rigid rods.
Fly line selection is critical. Floating line will highlight how water reacts in a variety of situations. Opting for brightly colored line will hold their attention and teach them how to read water.
Cut approximately fifteen feet of line from a spool and tie one end to the tip top guide of the rod. This allows for 20' casts (including leader and tippet length) without encumbering novices with reels and line stripping.
The Casting Motion for Little Ones
Many fly casting resources preach a casting motion arching between a ten o'clock and two o'clock swath overhead. But for kids the back cast should stop somewhere near the twelve o'clock position, or directly overhead. And the forward cast should land lightly upon the water every time. No false casting.
This process will keep the fly on a high plane, away from their bodies, ears, and eyes on the back cast, and the fly will be on the water a large percentage of time on the forward cast.
For practice, lay their taut fly line down in the grass, rod in hand, with the tip pointing to the far end of the fly line. Teach your child to raise their rod to the twelve o'clock position with a crisp, deliberate motion, wait for the line to load, then drop it back down where it lay in the grass previously. Once kids can repeat this process safely without a leader and fly, they are ready for the water!
Fly Selection
Fly selection is key if kids are going to catch trout. Youngsters will be clueless, so pick highly-successful, brightly-colored attractor patterns for starters. If that doesn't prove effective, match the hatch, or try a variety of proven flies.
Since your child won't have line in their hand for stripping in their catch, simply tugging the fish to the bank will suffice. Have a net handy and be sure to praise your babies even when they miss.
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