Outdoor writer/broadcaster Wade Bourne has covered sportfishing for more than 30 years in national magazines, radio and TV.

Streams are great places to introduce kids to fishing, for two main reasons. The first is that many streams support large populations of fish that don’t get much fishing pressure, hence, they bite eagerly and the catching is easy. Kids need a lot of bites on their first trips to keep their interest level up.

The second reason is that streamfishing is an adventure. There is always a new bend to round and abundant wildlife to view. Kids can get in the water. They can picnic on a sandbar. They can enjoy the pleasures and the discoveries of being in a wild, natural environment.

The best way to introduce a youngster to streamfishing is to make a short float in a canoe. (Make sure you’re both wearing life jackets!) Your young partner will enjoy helping you paddle. You can cover water efficiently, then beach the canoe and wade or fish from sandbars when you come to productive riffle areas. Pay special attention to deep holes beneath the riffles where current carries food to predator fish waiting below. Holes beneath riffles are good spots to catch bass, sunfish, catfish, trout, etc. Both live bait and artificial lures (plastic grubs, crawfish crankbaits, tube jigs) are good bets.

Take plenty food and drinks. Plan to spend a half-day on the stream. Stay out longer than this, and your young angler might get tired. Take swimming trunks if the weather and water are warm enough. Plan more than just fishing by making the float-trip a multi-faceted outing. If you keep it simple and fun, you will have a willing partner the next time you extend a similar invitation, and hopefully, this will lead to a lifetime of fishing adventures together.