any tips for a first fishing trip with my kid

[UphillHabit]

i've never fished before, but i'm thinking about taking my 5-year-old out for a fun day by the water. i saw some kids' fishing rods at the store, and i want to know if those are a good option for beginners. honestly, i'm a bit nervous since i don't have much experience myself, but i really want to make this a nice memory for us. any advice on what kind of tackle or bait works well for little ones would be great!

 

[SpringThunder]

Get an uglystick 6 foot to 7 foot for yourself. light, medium light or medium spinning rod combo. GX2 uglysticks are great. If the reel has line on it already take that off and learn to tie your line to the spool and spool your own line up. the rods will tell you what line is best for the rods by the handle. get some 8lb test monofilament for yourself.

As for your boy If he likes spiderman get that rod or whatever character he likes. I would get some 6lb test or even 4lb test and respool the little kids reel as well. he wont be able to cast or set the hook possibly. a larger round bobber with an octopus hook or circle hook of a small size will probably land to more fishing being hooked and hopefully not gut hooked. The larger bobber will cause the hook to almost set itself once the fish runs using a octopus or circle hook as thats basically their design. you can use small or proper sized bobbers and baitholder hooks too. gold aberdeens offer a longer shank so if the fish does swallow it you can get it back a bit easier but the damage is done at that point regardless.

The line that comes on them works but fresh line is the best line. it'll force you to learn a couple knots too.

if you get tired of putting worms on the hooks, ahead of time while you are buying the rod or rods, get gulp alive minnows in the 1 inch size. comes in the small containers maybe 3 ounce liquid filled little jars. Those and 1/32oz or 1/16 oz jigheads. pick your poison there. you'll be set if you grab all the mentioned above. Use a bobber with that jig and gulp minnow. Twas the go to setup for years plucking panfish. you'll get the ocassional bass too with that. The gulp alive containers will leak for certain if they aren't standing straight up. they are expensive for bait but they'll last longer than a 24 pack of night crawlers similarly priced.

Rig up a pair of toenail clippers or line snippers to something you'll have with you at all times when fishing. I always heard biting line will mess up your teeth. I have the teeth to show the proof and I'm only 30. Don't make the bad habbit of biting line with your teeth or if you smoke cigarettes to burn the line because my old man did and I thought it was the coolest so I obviously used his same trick when I started thinking he was the coolest...

 

[Wirenut]

The only thing I can add, is take them where you know for a fact they can catch fish.
Attention span is usually short when fishing is slow.
If you can try small farm ponds that are usually loaded with hungry Blue Gills.