It’s been a long time since I’ve posted an article. 2020 came in with such promise. Then, COVID-19 hit and seemed to take much of the wind out of my sails. Thankfully, my family has remained safe and healthy through this time, but we had to adopt new routines just like everyone else. Gone are the days where I could take my kids to the aquarium or my son to a movie. We no longer enjoy a warm, American breakfast at Denny’s on the weekends. Instead, we need to provide our own entertainment in solitude. This is why I’ve taken my kids fishing as much as I can during the Coronavirus pandemic.
I’ve been taking my kids fishing as often as I can. It helps to break the monotony of home schooling and a friendless summer. Done smartly, it’s one of the few activities that you can do with minimal to no human interaction. This helps keep the kids safe from “The Sickness,” as we call it in my house.
If you’re looking for a new thing to do with the kids to break the routine, it’s hard to beat fishing. If you’re brand new to the sport, check out a few of my other articles or consider purchasing my book to help you get started. This article assumes you have the basics down and are just looking for some ideas on how to fish safely during a pandemic.
Avoid Large Crowds
Fishing and crowds usually don’t go hand in hand, but there are some times and places where you can expect to find a crowd. Jetties, certain bridges and beaches, and even certain days are going to be busier than others. I’d advise that if you’re fishing during the Coronavirus pandemic, you play it safe and try to find a quieter spot to wet your line.
Some governments are attempting to enforce social distancing on our waterways. For example, earlier this year the Connecticut governor opened fishing season early in an effort to avoid large crowds on opening day. In past years, you’d find anglers standing almost shoulder to shoulder vying for freshly stocked trout to come along and take a nibble. This probably isn’t the best idea in the middle of a pandemic.
To the extent you can, pick your spots. I’ll admit it has been a little challenging to do this. It seems that boat ramps are busier than usual on the weekends given how everyone is stir crazy. When possible, try to fish on weekdays to avoid the crowds. If you’re working from home, you might have spare time normally devoted to your commute. Use it to take the kids for a short little adventure at lunch to a nearby pond.
Buy Worms in Bulk
One of the first purchases I made during the Coronavirus pandemic was 500 Canadian nightcrawlers for fishing. I purchased them from Windsor Wholesale Bait . It worked out so well that I’ve purchased them twice during this time. You go through a LOT of worms when fishing is literally the only fun adventure you can take your kids on!
So long as you have some spare fridge space to store them, buying worms in bulk is a great idea. It is considerably less expensive than buying a dozen at a time, and much more convenient. Now with COVID-19, it also spares you a trip to the gas station, with all that entails.
I’m quite pleased with my interactions with this company. I am not an affiliate of Windsor Wholesale Bait, but can tell you that they are a pleasure to work with. Their website advises that they ship worms on Mondays, and that you need to put in your order by a certain time Friday to guarantee your order will ship quickly, but I’ve found that a phone call to them manages to get your order on the truck, regardless. Perhaps this won’t always work when things are busy, but their willingness to help me out was appreciated.
Other Retailers
If you prefer the convenience of Amazon, you can find several worms for sale on their website as well. For example, these European nightcrawlers from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm. You can also find several items to help you keep your worms longer, such as the Frabill Habitat II. I like how it is slimmer than the styrofoam box the nightcrawlers ship in (my fridge barely fits the shipping box), and how it has plastic aeration vents. I attempted to make some vents in my first box of worms and it didn’t work very well.
You can also find other options like the Intruder Crawler Crib which boats breathable walls, and handy carrying cases to take them to the lake. I’ve just been using some plastic soup containers with a few holes punched into them, but it would be nice to have some dedicated equipment with handles and lids less likely to pop off randomly.
If you’re planning on keeping the worms some time, you can also invest in bedding for your worms. These claim to help grow worms and keep them lively. While I haven’t tried them yet, I have no reason to doubt it. I will say, however, that moist dirt also works fine.
Buying your fishing worms in bulk keeps you away from the public during the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s also convenient, less expensive, and saves you a trip to the store. These are all great reasons to consider purchasing them, but there’s an added bonus: Your kids will absolutely love opening the box:
Bring Your Own Potty
Let’s face it: most boat ramps don’t have world class facilities. You’re lucky if there is a porta potty much less a restroom with plumbing. Most of these “facilities” near far-off fishing hot spots aren’t going to be cleaned or emptied all that often, so you can’t count on them being sanitary, which is a problem during the Coronavirus pandemic. Many don’t have running water, so it’s challenging to clean your hands, and most adults likely try and thread the needle and touch as little as possible while they’re in there. Kids have no such qualms.
My advice is to bring your own potty for your children. If you’ve been potty training them, whatever potty you’ve been using will work fine. If you’re past that, a 5 gallon bucket does just fine. You can buy a lid that will fit on it and bring some creature comfort to the situation. You also can find privacy screens for sale if there aren’t enough trees nearby.
This is a decent investment even outside of the pandemic as you can all but guarantee that without it, your kids are going to need to go to the bathroom after you’ve made your trek to the best fishing spot.
The whole point of taking the kids fishing during the pandemic is to provide a fun escape away from places that are infested with germs. It makes very little sense to go through all the trouble to bring them to some far away lake only to have them use an outhouse or porta potty when they get there. You already have the 5-gallon bucket sitting in your shed. Invest in a seat and call it a day.
Fishing Toilet Recomendations:
If you wanted to go with the 5-gallon bucket adapter, just buy a toilet seat lid.
If you don’t have space for a bucket, or can’t quite bring yourself to that, you could also purchase a folding commode stool.
Whatever you go with, make sure you get some toilet liners. These are especially important if you plan on reusing that bucket to carry your stuff (or especially your catch) back home!
It might seem a little extreme, but I’d argue the last place I’d want to stop on a fishing trip during the Coronavirus pandemic would be an outhouse that’s rarely cleaned.
Consider Buying that (well, “a”) Boat
Another investment you may wish to consider is a boat of some sort. I make this statement with the full understanding that times are tough. Not everyone is secure or has disposable income lying around. You need to make ends meet and until they do, toys like boats should be the last thing on your mind. Make sure you have your six months emergency stash and a few weeks of toilet paper on hand before even considering reading further.
Still there?
Is your significant other somewhere else?
If you do have a few spare coins, picking up an inexpensive boat wouldn’t be the worst decision on earth.
Let me put it to you this way: All those things that you used to do with your kids during the summer have been put on hold indefinitely. In many parts of the country, water parks are shut down and even playgrounds are taped up and off limits. If you don’t have a yard, you’re limited in what outdoor activities you can do with your children.
Owning a boat opens up a lot of ways you can fix that. Depending on what you buy, fishing, tubing, or swimming away from crowds are all possibilities. There’s the chance to take your kids on an adventure down a canal looking at wildlife, and to simply let them sit on your lap and drive a bit to blow off some steam. All good things.
You need to consider the possibility that you may be left to your own entertainment devices for the foreseeable future. Isn’t a used rowboat a better choice than an I-Pad? If you can get your kids out fishing during the pandemic, Coronavirus won’t be as dreary.
Boating Options In A Pinch
The least expensive way to get into boating is to check around Craigslist. Used row boats and canoes can be had very inexpensively, as are many powerboats. Many of these things have been sitting in someone’s yard for ages, and people want them gone.
If you’re stuck in an apartment without anywhere to back a trailer, don’t despair. You can purchase high-quality inflatable rafts that can hold 4-5 people and fit in the trunk of your car when deflated.
There’s quite a range of styles and prices for any budget, though I’m skeptical about how well the less expensive offerings would hold up to a fish hook. I’d probably go with something like an Intex Mariner 4, Intex Excursion 5, or the Intex Seahawk 4. Intex makes smaller boats, but I’d rather have something with some space if i was fishing in it with my kids. Space is a premium with novice casters.
If you do go with an inflatable, consider installing a wooden floor. You can find several videos on YouTube, including one on installing this on the very Intex Excursion 5 I discussed above. A wood floor will add much needed stability to the boat. It will also offer at least some protection from hooks.
Again, please make sure this makes financial sense for you. Don’t do this if you’re in a risky position. Just consider it if you can, as it is an inexpensive way you can get your kids away from the television. This pandemic is very hard on your kids and having a new hobby would be great for them.
If you need more help picking out a boat, check out Chapter 9 in my book.
In Sum, Fish to Avoid Germs During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Again, many of the hobbies you once enjoyed are off the table for the moment. Fishing can be a very inexpensive way to keep the kids entertained while socially distancing from others, all while building some great memories you can cherish for life. Frankly, there is no better time to practice this hobby so I do hope you’ll take the advice above and get out there and enjoy some casts with your children.
As always, if I can be of any assistance to you, please drop me an email or leave a comment below and I’ll try to help you as much as I can. Thanks.
John Paxton
