Planning a Family Fishing Trip That Everyone Actually Enjoys

Here's what happens on most family fishing trips: Dad wants to bass fish a reservoir at 5 AM. Mom wants to sleep past 7. The teenager wants WiFi. The 8-year-old wants to catch a fish. The 4-year-old wants snacks. Nobody gets what they want, everyone is frustrated, and the car ride home is quiet for the wrong reasons.

It doesn't have to be that way. With some planning and realistic expectations, a family fishing trip becomes one of those core memories that kids talk about decades later. Here's how to make it work.

Step 1: Choose the Right Destination

The destination makes or breaks a family trip. You need fishing AND non-fishing activities nearby. Consider:

• State park with a lake — fishing + hiking + swimming + camping. All-in-one.
• Lakeside resort or cabin — private dock fishing, boats available, comfortable sleeping for the family
• Coastal vacation with a fishing pier — beach for the family, pier fishing for the angler(s)
• Pay-to-fish ponds — guaranteed fish for kids, usually near other family activities

Step 2: Set Expectations Before You Go

Have an honest family conversation before the trip:

• For kids: "We might catch fish, we might not. The fun is being outside together."
• For non-fishing spouses: "I'd love a couple hours of fishing in the morning. The rest of the day is family time."
• For yourself: This is not a tournament. Lower the fishing expectations and raise the family expectations.

Step 3: Gear Preparation

Prepare everything before you leave. Nobody wants to spend vacation time in a tackle shop (okay, YOU do, but nobody else does).

Step 4: The Trip Schedule

Build flexibility into every day. A rigid schedule falls apart the moment someone needs a nap or a meltdown happens (kids OR adults). Here's a template:

• Early morning (optional): Serious fishing for anyone who wants to get up. No pressure for sleepers.
• Mid-morning: Easy family fishing — dock fishing, bobber fishing, relaxed pace
• Midday: Non-fishing activity — swimming, hiking, exploring, lunch by the water
• Late afternoon: Optional fishing session for those interested
• Evening: Cook fish if you caught them, campfire, star watching, family time

Step 5: Activities for Non-Anglers

The trip works best when everyone has something to enjoy:

• Swimming — the universal kid magnet near any body of water
• Nature hikes — identify birds, trees, animal tracks
• Kayaking or canoeing — even non-fishers enjoy being on the water
• Photography — give the non-fishing spouse a camera and wildlife to shoot
• Campfire cooking — s'mores, hot dogs, foil packets, and of course, freshly caught fish
• Star gazing — away from city lights, the night sky is spectacular

Step 6: Capture the Memories

• Take photos of EVERYONE, not just fish. The candid shots of kids exploring, spouse laughing, and the scenery become the treasured memories.
• Start a family fishing journal — record each trip, who caught what, funny moments, and weather
• Let each kid take a photo of their favorite moment from the trip
• Print and frame the best photo from each trip — create a family fishing wall over the years

Help the family pick the right bait with our bait and lure selector — let each kid make their own choice. And teach the older ones a knot or two with our knot guide.