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Fishing with your child is bonding at its best, but it's an activity that takes preparation. Here's what you need to know to have a great time, from buying the pole to bringing home your catch. And the rest is fishtory!

Plan ahead. Most discount department stores or sports stores carry a child's pole for beginners. Perfect for little squirts, these poles have a large button that releases the line either for casting or lowering the line into the water from a dock or pier.

A tackle box is half the fun of fishing, so fill a shoebox, a bucket, or a real tackle box with bobbers, sinkers, hooks, fishing line, needle-nose pliers (for those swallowed hooks), a small towel for wiping hands, and a child-size gardening glove for holding the fish while removing the hook.

Cast your line. Help your child practice casting in the back yard or a local park. Fit his pole with a rubber sinker (in place of the hook) and place a small bucket or box on one end of the lawn as a target. Point the tip of the rod at the target and bring it back just behind your shoulder. As you bring the rod forward again (with your aim on the target), release the line by pushing the button or whatever release method your pole calls for.

Choose your bait. Worms are really the best bait for first-time fisherkids. They work well, and getting them is part of the fun. Kids will love looking for worms under logs, rocks, or piles of leaves. To hook the worm, run the hook back and forth through the worm's entire body to make a zigzag shape. Minnows are an alternative to worms, but you'll need to go to your local bait shop for the minnows and a bucket to keep them in. You can also try to catch your own minnows by using a small hand net in shallow water. To hook the minnow, run the hook up through the lower lip and out the upper lip.

Pack your bag. In addition to the basic equipment, bring life jackets (even if you're fishing off a dock), sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a cooler with snacks and drinks, and bug spray.

Pick a spot. Many city park ponds are stocked with trout or panfish, or head to a local lake that's known for good fishing. Be sure to pick a site that's not only comfortable but safe as well. If you're fishing from shore, choose a bank with no loose gravel or slippery mud that might cause your child to slip into the water. Bulrushes, cattails, and weedbeds are signs of a great fishing spot. If you're unfamiliar with the area, call your state's game department and ask for recommendations.

Catch something. Kids want the immediate thrill of catching a fish. Find out which spots stock fish that are easy to catch, such as bluegills, perch, sunfish, and trout. Unless you're planning to eat what you catch, practice "catch and release" and send the live fish back to their watery homes.

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