Taking the kids fishing involves a fair bit of extra preparation, and the younger they are the more planning is needed.

I often take my five-year-old Caitlin and my two-year-old Emily fishing. What I have learned will no doubt be helpful to other parents, aunties uncles friends or grandparents who want to maximise the fishing experience their little buddies have.

First of all, kids around this age can have a little or a lot of patience...usually it's a little. This means that it's best you have a good idea of your chances before you go. If you know the area this is easy, if you're new to fishing or new it's a new area to you there are a few things you should do in advance.

If I have the luxury of having a few days holiday, then on the first day I go down to the water's edge and throw a few pieces of bait in the water. If a few little fish turn up then you automatically have something for the kids to play with. This is "usually" easy in the salt water: rarely do at least a few baby fish turn up.

If you don't see a few piddlers or someone else pulling in a few: the first thing you should do is take a look at a few more spots. Sometimes this is only 20 metres away, sometimes it's the jetty down the road.

In fresh water some mulched up bread should attract a few minnows or shrimp, especially before it gets too cold. You could also throw a piece of bait in for a yabby or two. It's all about keeping your bases covered.

Kids do not care how big fish are, so if there are little ones about let them try to hook them with a small bait and a very small de barbed hook. If this is hard often the kids have just as much fun feeding the fish, or even scooping a few from the shallows with a small hand held net. A bait trap is will also entertain for hours: these cost about $10 or you can copy one using a 2 litre soft drink bottle.