Kids Learning to Fish – North Canterbury Fish and Game Initiative

Kids Learning to Fish. An old proverb reads that if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime. Parents contemplating bored kids these holidays might be wise to think “teach the kids to fish and stop them from driving us crazy”. To this, Fish & Game North Canterbury have come to the rescue with an initiative whereby parents can borrow children’s fishing equipment at no cost.

The fishing equipment, which includes a rod, reel and tackle set, can be picked up from the Fish & Game Office in Christchurch. In addition, children will also receive an ‘Introduction to Fishing’ DVD and a discount voucher to purchase children’s fishing gear at a number of fishing retail stores. Licences are free to children under 12 years old.

Fish & Game Officer Steve Terry set up the program because he believed many parents would like to get their kids into fishing, but were reluctant to buy all the gear until they know whether their children will like it.

Mr Terry encourages parents to get out there with their kids this summer and teach them to fish. “Fishing is a great way to spend time with your kids and teach them a skill that builds confidence and gets them interacting with nature,” says Terry.

“Many who fish will have their favourite spots, but for those who don’t they can pick up a Fish & Game fishing access brochure which describes access points to rivers and lakes around Canterbury,” says Mr Terry. “The Avon / Heathcote Estuary, the Rakaia Lagoon, the Selwyn River below the top Selwyn Huts and the Kaiapoi River are all good sites to take kids fishing, but make sure you keep an eye on the kids for their safety”.

Mr Terry says that kids often find bait fishing easier than spin fishing, as there is not as much casting and winding in. To bait fish, use a float, such as a film canister half filled with water. Clip the line between the lid and the canister to hold it in place. He recommends using worms or frozen shrimps as bait. But you can also use lures. Here is a big rainbow trout caught at the Groynes by a youngster on a Brown Trout pattern Tasmanian Devil. Pictures and info on the Groynes Junior Fishing Lakes (near Christchurch).