How to Catch a Fish (and Have Fun Doing It!) For young anglers starting out.

1. Get Your Gear
   Grab your fishing rod, some wiggly worms or pretend worms (we call them bait), and a grown-up buddy. Don’t forget your lucky hat—it’s very important for catching fish (and looking cool)! If you don’t have one, go to you local Walmart. They have all you need even wiggly worms! And if you decide to use a pretend worm, visit this page and watch the video on how to properly put it on with the help of an adult.
2. Find the Perfect Spot
   Head to a lake, river, or pond. Fish like to hang out where it’s nice and quiet. Imagine you’re going to their secret hangout! Be sure to ask you an adult to check local weather before heading out.
3. Cast Your Line
   Hold your fishing rod tight, swing it back, and send that line flying into the water. (But watch out for trees—they don’t like fishing as much as you do!)
4. Be patient and wait for a bite
   Be very patient. Fish are like us—they like to take their time picking snacks. You can sing a silly song, check out the view or tell the fish why they should choose your bait.
5. When to Reel It In
   When you feel a tug, start turning the handle! Reel in slowly but not too fast—you’re having a tug-of-war with a fishy friend and not hurt it too much as you catch it.
6. Say Hello
   If you catch one, say “Hi, fishy!” and let a grown-up help you to release so it can swim back home.
7. Celebrate!
   Whether you caught a fish or not, give yourself a high-five! Fishing is about having fun, not just catching fish. Maybe the fish were playing hide-and-seek today. Remember, fishing is about hanging out with friends and family. Good luck!!