Fishing advice for novice

Some corks, straight shank perch hooks and worms/crickets. At 4 yrs old, they will most likely only be interested if they are catching something. Live bait gives you the best chance to catch some bream. Cork makes it easy to adjust depth depending on where fish are biting. May catch a bonus catfish if fish deep enough.

Cork, small lead weight, small hook, small cheap rod/reel combo, cricket/worms and an Iowa State fan or someone from another school that isn't afraid to put the cricket/worm on the hook.

Snacks. At that age, you need to mix a few things like snacks and drinks in with a little fishing at a time. Helps pass the time if they start to get a little bored or lose focus.

On top of what everyone else suggested, I’d also suggest a small beetle spinner. They are a great pond bait and will catch almost anything that’s in there. Just throw it out and reel in slow. Easy peasy.

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Snacks. At that age, you need to mix a few things like snacks and drinks in with a little fishing at a time. Helps pass the time if they start to get a little bored or lose focus.

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This.

As soon as the snacks are gone, the fidgeting begins and the fishing wraps up.

Get a mega-box variety pack of Lance Crackers and just keep them stowed in your automobile somewhere, so you never actually run out.

The Horizon ultra-pastuerized milk boxes that don't necessarily have to be refrigerated.

Juice boxes.

And set up a decoy tackle box that doesn't have anything sharp in it, just bobbers, soft plastics, etc. Mine likes going through everything in the tackle box to pass the time.

Bug spray.


In the picture below, that Carhardt cooler is 100% snacks and he'll eat 100% of them too. (I think I see a half-eaten Lance Cracker) As soon as the snacks are gone, fishing is over. The rod and reel combo is a Zebco 'Sling Shot' combo from Walmart several years ago, under $20. I have since swapped out the reel with a zebco micro which is easier on his little hands, but the reel it came with is also fine for most.

As others have said- bobber, split shot, bait. Really simple. But, you'll get more tangles that way.

If you do a little more prep-work and use a bobber-stopper rig, the child can reel the bait all the way up to the tip, then cast. It's hard to explain by typing it out, it's easier if you find a video online of a bobber stopper rig. Downsize your hooks so you can catch the bait stealers and provide more action with the child.

But like another guy said, depending on the lake, you can't beat a good old cane pole. Find some grasshoppers in nearby grass, scrape back some forest mulch for grubs and worms.