Best Fishing Adventures for Children

Fishing is a fun and relaxing pastime that can be practised by people of any age. Many children take to fishing because it provides a calm atmosphere, promotes the skills of patience and perseverance, and allows children to learn about nature and the environment.

There are many ways to get involved in and practise fishing, from local angling clubs to bigger organisations that manage individual lakes and ponds. There are also lots of different styles of fishing for children to try, such as pole and line, trawling and fly-fishing, and they can be done in a range of settings such as at lakes, at sea or in canals. Here are a few of the more fun activities and adventures available to get children “hooked” on fishing.

Fishing Breaks - Nether Wallop Mill and River Test

Located in the New Forest, near Stockbridge, is an organisation called Fishing Breaks, who run a vast array of activities for children. They offer camps, one-to-one tuition, courses, day events, birthday parties and more. Any time spent with Fishing Breaks will be an adventure, as the instructors know how to make fishing fun, with fun competitions and activities part and parcel of every package they offer.

Waldegraves Holiday Park Fishing Lakes - Essex

With four lakes on offer, and the opportunity to go sea fishing from the park’s beach, this place is guaranteed to be a great fishing adventure. The whole place is set up for families, so you don’t need to worry about bothering other fishers. There’s a wide variety of easy-to-catch fish to fire your child’s curiosity, and you have the option to upgrade your visit into a full fishing holiday, which includes the use of a static home and unlimited fishing.

Junior Lakes at the Hawkhurst Fish Farm

This site in Kent is designed for the absolute beginner, making it a great one for very young children. Basic equipment can be hired out at the venue, and there are instructors around to help give you tips and help you set up. Everything is available on site, and there’s even a delightful cafe that you can stop at for lunch. What's more, you don’t require a licence to fish here as all fishing is covered by the venue’s blanket licence. So you can literally just turn up empty-handed and be fishing within half an hour.

Whitby Sea Fishing

This well-established and reputable organisation takes families out fishing on the open seas around Whitby. There are a number of trips on offer, but the best for children is the three-hour taster session. Kids will love learning how to set up their rig on a moving boat, while taking in the stunning scenery and feeling really close to nature. There’s a good chance to catch something, with a huge variety of easy-to-catch fish around the bay.

Let’s Fish! - Canal and River Trust - Nationwide

Let's Fish events are run by the Canal and River Trust in many locations across the country. Free to attend, the activities are closely coordinated with local angling and fishing clubs, so by attending your child will have the opportunity to learn from some of your area's most passionate anglers. The focus is definitely on fun and is an easy way to give your child a taste of fishing. For a list of lessons and links to your neighbourhood club, see the Let's Fish! page of the Canal and River Trust website.

Photo by Derek Owens on Unsplash