Introduce Your Kids to Fishing During Your Big Bear Cool Cabins Vacation
There are dozens of fun things to do in the Big Bear Lake area, from shopping to skiing to sightseeing. But you simply can’t go home without spending a few hours enjoying the fantastic fishing provided by the area’s namesake lake. And while you could certainly sneak off a get in a little fishing by yourself, you should consider taking your kids along. Big Bear Lake is one of the best places for your kids’ first fishing trip, and it’ll give you the chance to form a few more great memories during your stay.
But if you want your children to have the best time possible, you’ll want to embrace a few important tips and tricks when heading to the water. This will help ensure everything goes smoothly and your kids have a great introductory experience.
1. Outfit Your Kids with Size- and Age-Appropriate Gear
Handing your 8-year-old an adult sized rod with a complicated bait-caster is a recipe for disaster. Instead of spending the day reeling in fish and smiling, your child will suffer hours of boredom as you work to untangle lines and retrieve snagged hooks.
Instead, set your kids up with a 5- to 6-foot-long spinning or spincasting combo, which will be much simpler for them to use. In fact, really young anglers may prefer to forego the reel entirely and opt for a cane pole instead. Be sure to grab a package of small hooks, some split shot, and a few floats while you’re picking out their rods and reels.
2. Target Easy-to-Catch Species
Rainbow trout and – to a lesser extent – largemouth bass attract most of the attention at Big Bear Lake. But these species are often quite wary and difficult to catch. Accordingly, your kids will have much more fun fishing for bluegill and catfish, as these species are easier to catch. These species often hang out in the relatively shallow waters near the shoreline, and some even congregate around docks.
3. Pick a Good Location
You’ll obviously need to select a good fishing location to have a successful outing. But when fishing with youngsters, you’ll need to pick a spot that not only has plenty of fish but provides a safe and comfortable place for your kids too.
Fortunately, Big Bear Lake provides a number of great places for your kids to fish. You can always rent a boat and cruise all over the water, but it’s easier to simply head to one of the numerous public fishing docs around the lake. There’s a great public dock near the Carol Morrison Public Boat Launch, which is particularly productive during the spring and fall. But, if you’re visiting in the summer or winter, you’ll probably have better luck at one of the piers at the deep end of the lake. The dock near Duane Boyer Public Boat Launch is a great choice, and also provides quick-and-easy access to public restrooms.
4. Use Real Baits
Adults and seasoned anglers often prefer to use spoons, spinnerbaits and crankbaits to catch fish, but your children will have more success by using worms, crickets or leeches as bait. These baits will elicit nibbles from an array of species, including bluegill (and other panfish), perch, trout, catfish, and bass. They may also have success using corn kernels to catch bluegills and trout or hot dog slices to catch catfish.
5. Be Sure to Follow Local Rules and Regulations
It is important to set a good example for your kids (and to avoid problems with law enforcement officers), so make sure you obtain a sport fishing license before heading to the water (kids under 16 can fish without a license in the state of California). Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with the daily limits before filling a bucket with freshly caught fish.
If you’d like to learn a few more tips and tricks for making your child’s first fishing trip a good one, check out Outdoor Empire’s comprehensive review of the subject. But in the meantime, grab your kids and fishing gear and head out to the water – the fish are waiting!