When the Fishing Trip Gets Rained Out: 8 Activities to Keep Young Anglers Hooked

Rainy Days Don't Have to Be Wasted Days

You promised the kids a fishing trip. They woke up at 5 AM buzzing with energy. Then you looked out the window and saw a thunderstorm rolling in. Their faces drop. Your day just got complicated. I've been there more times than I can count, three kids, no fishing, and a whole day to fill.

But here's the thing: rainy days can still be fishing days. Not on the water, but building the skills and excitement that make the next trip even better. These activities aren't just time-killers, they actually develop abilities that translate directly to better fishing.

The Activities

1. Knot Tying Practice

Give each kid a piece of paracord or thick string and a large hook (with the point cut off or covered with tape for safety). Teach them the Palomar knot and the improved clinch knot. These are the two knots they'll use most. Make it a competition, who can tie the fastest? Who can tie it with their eyes closed? The muscle memory they build today means faster rigging on the water.

2. Tackle Box Organization

Dump out a tackle tray and have kids sort lures by type, color, or size. This teaches them what different lures look like and what they're called. Ask them questions: "Which ones float? Which ones sink? What fish would eat this?" It's a sneaky way to teach tackle knowledge while they think they're just organizing.

3. Casting Practice (Indoor-Safe)

Tie a practice plug (a casting weight with no hooks) onto a rod and set up targets in the garage or backyard porch. Hula hoops, buckets, or paper plates at different distances. Score points for accuracy. This builds casting muscle memory without the frustration of wind, water, and tangles.

4. Fish Identification

Pull up your state's fish identification guide online and quiz each other. What's the difference between a largemouth and a smallmouth? How do you tell a bluegill from a pumpkinseed? Kids love this, it's basically a real-world Pokemon game. Print cards and make a matching game for younger kids.

5. Lure Making

Simple jig making with a few supplies: plain jig heads, thread, marabou feathers or craft materials, and super glue. Wrap thread around the jig head to hold feather material, seal with a drop of super glue. It takes 10 minutes per jig, and kids will fish with their homemade lures for months. The pride of catching a fish on something they made is unbeatable.

6. Watch Fishing Shows Together

Not as a babysitter, watch actively and discuss. "See how he set the hook? That was a fast rod tip." "Watch where the fish was sitting, right next to that log." Educational viewing builds knowledge that kids recall on the water. Pick age-appropriate shows with good sportsmanship.

7. Map Study / Trip Planning

Pull up a lake map of your next fishing spot and plan the trip together. Where will you fish first? What depth are you targeting? What time do you launch? Kids who help plan the trip are invested in the trip. They feel like crew members, not passengers.

8. Fishing Journal

Start a fishing journal where kids record each trip, date, weather, what they caught, what bait worked, what didn't work. Add drawings or photos. Over time, they build a personal database that teaches them patterns. "Hey, last time it was cloudy and warm, I caught bass on a spinnerbait. It's cloudy and warm today..." That's analytical thinking disguised as a coloring project.

When the sun comes back out, grab the right lure from our Bait & Lure Selector and put those practiced knots to work with the Fishing Knot Guide.