Fishing stories | Good advice from a fisherman dad

It takes a fisherman dad to give good advice on how to introduce kids to fishing. Gabriel Touchette is a web marketing consultant. He is involved as a volunteer with the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs. He manages a website, Pêche QC. But above all, he is the father of four children who began to taste fishing at an early age.

Gabriel Touchette based himself on this experience, and on that of his fishing friends, to write a little guide for children’s initiation to fishing, available on his website. The secret is to focus the first outings on the needs of the child and not on the desires of the fishing parent.

“The first times I went fishing with my child, I didn’t bring my fishing gear, only my child’s,” says Mr. Touchette in an interview. My job was to give information, to change the lines, to untangle them. The parent should not expect to fish too. »

He says that some of his friends, great fishermen, have difficulty transmitting their passion to their children. “The first time they took them fishing was lake trout at the start of the season. It’s cold, we don’t smell a lot of fish. It’s less fun. Conversely, with my children, I often started in fish farming, with easier species such as yellow perch or pumpkinseed. For a fisherman, it’s less interesting, but for a child, it’s very exciting: they are beautiful fish with beautiful colors, they really like it. »

outdoor outing

It is important to adapt the outing to the age of the child. It is from 1 year that we can try a first outing in kind. “Your child’s mind is on full alert. But when it comes to fishing, don’t linger, he writes. Try catching a few small bluegills to let him know there are fish in the water. »

From the age of 3, we can start discussing strategy and let the child choose where to cast his line. Gabriel Touchette still advises targeting wharfs, shallow bays and structures likely to harbor yellow perch, sunfish and catfish. “Kids this age love catfish because they find the name very funny,” he says.

It is obviously necessary to avoid rock capes and areas with currents, which can be dangerous. “Lead by example,” insists Mr. Touchette. If you are going canoeing with your child, put on your jacket. Your child learns a lot by copying what he observes in his environment. »

Happiness to share

This father of three girls and a boy is careful to note that fishing is not just a guy’s job. “Take your little girls fishing. They will quickly become great fisherwomen. »

For Gabriel Touchette, it is a pleasure to fish with children. “Of course, I’m very happy when I have a good catch, but I realize that often I have more fun watching my children catch fish than I do catching them myself. »

He enthusiastically recounts how he organized a fishing trip for his toddler daughter’s birthday party.

Her 8-year-old son is now an avid fisherman. “He probably caught more fish of different species than the vast majority of Quebecers. »

Gabriel Touchette was introduced to fishing by his grandfather and his uncle, but he mostly learned on his own. “I find it interesting that my boy, at 8 years old, has all this knowledge that I took a lifetime to accumulate. I tell myself that his children, it’s going to be crazy how good they are going to be in this. »

The Fondation de la faune has set up a program, “Pêche en herbe”, to introduce young people who do not necessarily have access to a fishing parent. After the activity, they obtain a fishing license which will be valid until they reach majority.