Fly Fishing - even a 2-year old can do it!

[Daniel Davala]

Had a beautiful day off yesterday and got VA and Paulie out to a local pond.  VA's basically a pro at this point and can do most things herself.  Her cast is actually quite impressive, and she almost nailed a pretty big bass that ate the fly right in front of us, but the hook found no home. 

While I'm still mostly hands on with Paulie, he is really getting it and having a blast fishing with his sister.  Besides a few cooperative fish, we saw lots of birds, a snake, cool bugs, and a bull frog, so quite the adventure only a few minutes from the house. 

For those of you with little ones, I think the big secret to teaching them with the fly rod is to never tell them it's hard, or "for when they get a little older".  As I say in many of my "grown-up lessons", it truly is just a stick and a string, and in my opinion even simpler than worms and bobbers.  Less tangles too!    

Now go get them out there!

Dan Davala

[Jeremy Maggio]

Dan,

Awesome to see the little ones pulling in some fish and I am sure they had a blast! I agree that you shouldn't discourage a child from fly fishing as the practice at a young age will really benefit them in the long run. I wish my Grandpa had put a fly rod in my hands when I was 5 instead of a spin rod however, I am still grateful that he got me into fishing at a young age.

For the record, your daughter's cast looks better than mine!

- Jeremy 

[Davis Walker]

I remember my dad teaching me to fly fish when I was about 5 on gold course ponds..... unfortunately I had the attention span of a gnat and back then would rather had build sand castles in the sand traps.

now i need some of his tutelage cause my casting is not very good.  

On Thursday, May 22, 2014 10:51:46 AM UTC-4, Dan Davala - Founder/President wrote:

[HeaveToo]

You know.....You just may have to write a book about your experiences teaching your kids to fly fish.  It could be a small informational book.

It would also be a good new class series for getting kids to learn fly fishing.  Maybe pair it with having the adults in the class with the kids.

Just a thought.

[Hendrick]

Dan:

My little one is reaching 18 months and has her lifetime Virginia Legacy license. She may be a bit young now, but I took a page from Snowhite's book and take the "baby lady" in the Kelty pack (with a rain cover on for protection from flying hooks and daddy's errant casts) to Lake Cook and Roaches' Run. For those of you with kids younger than two years old, the Legacy license program offers lifetime fishing and hunting (some limitations on the latter) licenses for $125. When my daughter moves to Montana or Colorado or Idaho or Alaska for school (a bit presumptive, I know), she can always return to Virginia and fish with dear old dad.

Hendrick

[Ernie]

Very cool report Dan....

Ernie

[namfos]

Impossibly cute children, Dan. You're one hell of a dad. Full marks for Melody, too!

Mark