Where would you take a 4 year old for their first time fishing?

[poopdeck]

I kind of think 4 is a little young but any pond should do. I would also eave the 4 wt at home and focus on her.

 

[GoldenRfly]

Little Buffalo has lots of bluegills that are very easy to catch (right by the boat launch).

I think Memorial Lake is easy to catch bluegills too and has the bonus of plenty of playground equipment when you’re done fishing.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

My experience taking my toddlers fishing is to make it fun, the serious fishing usually lasts 15 min to 30 minutes. Then they look for bugs, frogs and chase butterflies, play in the water etc. Sometimes we get 2-3 rounds in of serious fishing.

Keeping fish for a fish fry seems to keep them interested longer, we have a blast at bald eagle state park crappie fishing. In fact, I may take a group of kids there instead of a trout stream on mentor youth day this year.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

If you're taking a preschooler fishing, make sure it's a one-on-one situation. I hooked my first fish in a farm pond near Erie, and walked in after it instead of reeling it in. I was too young to remember but my dad told the story several times. I was about 2 steps away from a drop from waist deep to over my head when Dad grabbed me. At the time, a floatation vest was for rich people who owned a john boat. We never had one, but it may not be a bad idea for a little kid next to a body of water.

 

[Bruno]

I taught both my kids on Childrens Streams. Figure out when the fish Rodeo is and go a day or two after

Summary Book - Children / Disabled Fishing Areas

 

[laurelrun]

Living in Hershey, I'll underscore some already mentioned options. Middletown Reservoir is a great place to go, but much easier with a young one after the first couple weeks of trout season. It gets quite a lot of pressure. Mid summer blue gill and bass are almost ready to play. The pools below the damn are signed for kids to fish during trout season.

Dauphin County Anglers association's coop nursery is bounded by a kids only (12 and under) section of the Clarks Creek in Dauphin. Great place for a picnic, seeing the fish in the pens, and bonus that 3B Ice cream is nearby.

Bullfrog valley pond by the Med Center has a few willing sunfish in the summer. Early May Derry Township has their trout derby. It is posted once they stock it until the derby. It is a total zoo, shoulder to shoulder early in the day. But still a nice event. I'd suggest going there later in the day when the crowd disperses.

Manada Creek is the closest stocked creek. I can recommend a few spots.

All that to be said, when I take my little nieces and nephew out, we dig up some worms and go to Middletown Reservoir.

 

[salmo]

Any pond or lake loaded with Sunnys add to that a bober and snoopy pole
Expect their intrest in the abundance of snacks and drinks you bring along to out weigh the purpose of your trip

And don't forget the sunscreen!

 

[HoboWithAFlyRod]

Living in Hershey, I'll underscore some already mentioned options. Middletown Reservoir is a great place to go, but much easier with a young one after the first couple weeks of trout season. It gets quite a lot of pressure. Mid summer blue gill and bass are almost ready to play. The pools below the damn are signed for kids to fish during trout season.

Dauphin County Anglers association's coop nursery is bounded by a kids only (12 and under) section of the Clarks Creek in Dauphin. Great place for a picnic, seeing the fish in the pens, and bonus that 3B Ice cream is nearby.

Bullfrog valley pond by the Med Center has a few willing sunfish in the summer. Early May Derry Township has their trout derby. It is posted once they stock it until the derby. It is a total zoo, shoulder to shoulder early in the day. But still a nice event. I'd suggest going there later in the day when the crowd disperses.

Manada Creek is the closest stocked creek. I can recommend a few spots.

All that to be said, when I take my little nieces and nephew out, we dig up some worms and go to Middletown Reservoir.

Thanks for the tip about Middletown reservoir. I didn’t even know it was there because I’m not from the area. The coop nursery is a good idea too because it guarantees a fishy experience even if we don’t do much actual fishing. I’m just trying to get her exposed and interested. Is Manada creek accessible anywhere for just walking along it? We do nature walks along the Quittapahilla sometimes and she likes that.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

Is Manada creek accessible anywhere for just walking along it? We do nature walks along the Quittapahilla sometimes and she likes that.

Manada has access, but it isn't set up very well for taking little kids along if you want to walk along the whole thing. There are nice holes at the bridges on roads that turn off Manada Bottom Road, where a kid can fish. Upstream of Furnace Road is Delayed Harvest.
In the DHALO section the west side is government property. but access is allowed (at least nobody has ever run us out). The east side is well-posted as private property, so we avoid walking on it.

 

[laurelrun]

Forgot to add for Middletown Reservoir... The entire opposite side after crossing over the walking bridge below the damn is simultaneously a mud pit in the spring time and a poison ivy field in the summer. Keep the kids on the bank closest to the parking lot and groomed trails. Sunfish are often close to the vegetation along the bank, so no hero casts are needed. one of those hipster 3 foot nets helps with the green snot algae along the bank.

Manada creek has some walkable areas, but a lot of the stocking points are bridges along Manada Bottom Road. DM me if you want more details. One way I have found new places is to help stocking. Your little one may not be able to carry a bucket yet, but she may enjoy watching. You just need to be cautious parking along the road to help the bucket brigade. Helping to stock at Clarks Creek is easier, because the parking is at designated pull offs as long as you aren't helping float stock.

The only thing really comparable to the manicured Quitty Nature park would be heading over to Boiling Springs to the Yellow Breeches. Also worth taking her to fish in Children's lake there. Highly Pressured, but lots of fish in season.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

The only thing really comparable to the manicured Quitty Nature park would be heading over to Boiling Springs to the Yellow Breeches. Also worth taking her to fish in Children's lake there. Highly Pressured, but lots of fish in season.

I believe there's a walkable path all the way from the stone bridge in Boiling Springs to the dam at Allenberry - at least there used to be prior to the recent improvements to the Children's Lake outfall.

 

[tomgamber]

The OP stated NOT flyfishing related. 4 is plenty old enough to take fishing. Took my kids to the local put and take as soon as they could use the bathroom.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

I don't know if you'd call this "fly fishing" or not, but I have 3 bits of advice from my experience with my son:

1. Panfish on shore in May on the grassy shore of a lake or pond, wearing polarized glasses. Panfish are aggressive and in shallow at that time of the year, and kids don't care about species as long as what they catch alive, wet and wriggling.
2. Use a #12 or 14 bead head nymph with a bit of flash on a fly rod. Don't cast have them, just dapple at rod's length (like a marionette - think "cane pole"). They can watch how the fish react to the fly. And it keeps them engaged in the process. I found that my kid got bored quickly if he couldn't see fish.
3. Take a broad, shallow bucket, like you'd use to chill beer on ice, and put a few fish in the bucket with water so they can be played with and then released alive.

We went instantly from having our worms stolen to catching dozens of small panfish in an hour. Each time he'd catch one, others would gather around to see what all the fuss was about!

Good luck!

 

[Bamboozle]

I don't have kids, but I've taken plenty fishing, many for their first time and I've gone fishing with kids as young as two.

A couple of things I learned...

It's not about you. It's also not about trying to make them anglers for life, it is about having fun that first time and seeing if they ever ask you to go a second time.​

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Leave your rod in the car.​

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Rock throwing and general disinterest is to be tolerated.​

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Combine the fishing with a planned picnic or other activity to see if they get a second wind WHEN they get bored.​

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As tough as it is, leave to go home when they say they want to go home. A quick antidote in this regard on a trip to a small local pond with a former GF's two year old son...​

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Excitedly he woke me up at daybreak, I made him breakfast, packed the car, put him in the car seat and we headed off to the pond which was about 15 minutes away. We unpacked, got started fishing, caught some fish and in about 20 minutes or less he said he wanted to go home...​

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And we did.​

A technique tip:

I used to fish with a bunch preschoolers belonging to some friends at a small pond. After watching them struggle with the concept of timing and setting hooks, I decided to help them out without their knowledge.​

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After the cast, I would kneel down or stand in front of their rod and secretly grab their fishing line past the tip top. When the oblivious kid didn't realize it was time to set the hook, I'd do it for them by jerking hard on the line in my hand.​

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If the hookset was successful I usually say, Hey I think you got a fish, reel it in!!" That was followed by screams and smiles all around and they were none the wiser they had help. 😉​

Tackle tip:

When fishing with some different kids with the similar timing and hook-setting issues I had an epiphany...​

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Circle hooks...​

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You won't find them in a fly shop and the small sizes can be a challange to find. However, because I also fish bait, when I went home I tied up some simple nymphs on some small circle hooks. The next outing I also brought along some bait holding versions.​

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Once I got the kids on board with reeling in versus setting the hook, the fish were hooking themselves. I also UP-SIZED the float so it offered more resistance to the fish which results in some automatic hook-sets.​

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Try circle hooks sometime, you and your kid(s) will be pleased with the results. 😉​

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Have fun!!!