Plan a family fishing vacation

You work your butt off all year-round. Five days a week, eight hours a day – maybe more. Finally, when you have a week of holidays coming up, all you really want to do is fish. But – the kids. Convincing the whole family that a dedicated fishing holiday is a great idea might not be the easiest sell. Even with kids who like fishing and being in the boat, sometimes they have a different idea of summer fun. This is a scenario that challenged our family in the past. But for the last few years, our crew has really come to look forward to our annual fishing/camping excursions. Granted, it’s not all about the fish on those trips. But we spend enough time with lines in the water that it truly feels like a fishing holiday. Here are a few tips from our family of five on how to get everyone excited to go: Plan an adventure While the grown-ups are dreaming of trolling Rapalas for golden walleye, kids can get pumped about a wilderness adventure. Take them off the beaten path – or at least, make them feel that way. We like to plan hike-in, quad-in and boat-in island locations. But even a cabin or campground can feel like a remote getaway if you emphasize nature and leave creature comforts at home. Whether out in the boat or back at camp, challenge kids to be as hands-on as possible. Baiting their own hooks, handling the fish, helping to fillet and starting the campfire can be exciting for someone who’s learning. The confidence and trust you show in them can result in many memorable firsts. Also make sure the kids’ catch is part of a celebrated meal. Do it up shorelunch-style, and cook as much as you can at the fire. If you’re adventurous enough, make it a family project to gather other wild edibles for meals too, even if it’s just some blueberries to add to breakfast. Stack the odds Accept the fact that you won’t be fishing 12-hours a day on these trips. Instead, make the most of the time you do have on the water and make an effort to get everyone out for a few hours at peak times, when the bite is most likely to be on. Good action will keep everyone involved and leave them eager and ready for more next time. When you expect the bite to be slower, dedicate that time to indulging other interests in the family. Those are the times to go tubing, swimming, hiking, biking and play games. In the case of our crew, it’s also the time to have lightsaber battles on the beach and family crayfish derbies. Understand that family members may want to do other things in the boat during fishing time. We bring along a swimming ladder so the kids can jump in the lake and climb back out easily. They also spend a lot of time playing with the bait and lures (instead of using them to catch fish), reading and playing with toys. But even when they are wrapped-up in their favourite novel or comic, they are still quick to pick up the net when there’s a fish on someone’s line. Break the rules Normally we’re a family that doesn’t make devices a part of our fishing and camping plans. But reluctant kids can get excited about the idea of documenting a vacation and, using apps like iMovie, creating an impressive family video that will be enjoyed by everyone for years to come. Consider vacation parameters around device time (for example, use them for photos and video but not for games or social media) and look forward to being able to relive your memories from the perspective of younger family members. Relaxing other rules helps, too. Candy rewards for fish are always appreciated, as long as the grown-ups don’t eat too much of the stash. And scrap the strict bedtimes. If the bite is on or shorelunch is starting late, all family members should stay up to enjoy every minute of it together.