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Best Places To Go Fishing With Kids In Cincinnati

minnow bait

With years of expertise from the fishing captain, Papa Jake, we’ve gathered the best places to go fishing with kids in Cincinnati.Ā 

Need kids fishing tips? Want to know the basics and where to find lessons? Check out myĀ Fishing With KidsĀ post.Ā Ā 

Here’s hoping your kids catch a bigger fish than that one when you go fishing with kids! I’m kidding, that’s the bait!Ā 

Choosing The Right Place To Fish in Cincinnati

Don’t forget, you need a fishing license before you go fishing with kids in Cincinnati! You may purchase them at most local sporting goods stores or if you’re in Ohio, get an Ohio fishing license here.Ā 

Choosing a lake may depend on what you have and need. I’ve divided up the options by one stop shop with everything you need and places that are great to fish but BYOB(bait!)

Plus, there are a ton of great fishing activities for kids run through the Great Parks like tournaments and competitions.Ā 

One Stop Shop Fishing in Cincinnati

Lake Isabella

Lake IsabellaĀ  – a great place to fish for families! During a normal fishing season, they hold tournaments for kids – complete with trophies and all! And there is often live music and grill outs on Friday nights. It’s a ton of fun for all!

You will need a fishing ticket ($3 for kids, $12.50 for adults) and state license – see above to get one. They have a bait shop to purchase gear and bait. You can fish on the bank or you can rent a boat during a normal season. This lake is stocked with fish by the parks department so the odds for catching something are good!.

Miami Whitewater Forest – You can rent boats or bring your own canoes and kayaks. You can also buy bait or tackle at the boathouse. If you don’t want to go in a boat, bank fishing is also available. Don’t forget to get a fishing license before you go!

Sharon Woods Park – a great option for fishing with the family. The boathouse rents row, pedal and pontoon boats and kayaks. Personal canoes, kayaks are permitted. Fishing is available from boats or the fishing pier.
There are also tons of other activities there, so make a day of it with my guide to Sharon Woods Park for families.Ā 

Winton Woods – the boathouse offers row, pedal, motor and pontoon boats; kayaks; and canoes for rental. You can also bring your own canoes and kayaks. Bank fishing is also available. You can also purchase bait and tackle at the boathouse. Don’t forget your fishing license!

BYOB (Bait) Fishing in Cincinnati

There are also great options to fishing, but you have to bring your own bait. Most stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop have a variety of bait. Chances are, the closest gas station to the lake has bait available!

Other options include:
Baehrā€™s bait and tackle shop in north Cincinnati
Latonia Bait & Tackle – in NKY

BOYBait to these great places:

Lake Barber – a great fishing lake in Newtown with a paved path around the lake great for walking and bike/scooter riding. Bring the scooters or a nature scavenger hunt (see Outdoor Activities With Kids for info). You will need to bring everything (including a fishing license) because there is no fishing support there. You fish from the bank for free in a natural lake that is not stocked. Don’t forget to see my Fishing With Kids post to make sure you have all the right gear.

Woodland Mound – A small lake with bank fishing only. This lake is stocked with fish by the parks department, so while fishing is a sport of chance and skill, your odds of getting a bite are better here. Note, you need to bring all your bait and gear as there is not boathouse. Great Parks parking permits are usually required and available to purchase at entry. There is also a boat launch ramp available if Ohio River conditions allow. Grab your bait at Shell (4525 Kellogg Ave) or Marathon (6790 Kellogg Rd)

Little Miami River at Bass Island – fishing on the bank of the river (this is a great creeking spot too). The parking lot is just past the Little Miami Golf Center. You can also bring your own Canoe or kayak. Speaking of this place, check out my golfing with the kids blog for information on their great putt putt golf course (kids 4+), Par 3 course and driving range.Ā 

Fernbank Park – You can fish from the banks of the Ohio River. BYOeverything and don’t forget your fishing license! There is a great flat path here if you want to bring scooters or bikes to ride when the kids want to take a break! And, there is a playground nearby for the really short attention spans.

Triple Creek pond – The park offers a nice neighborhood fishing pond where you get to keep the fish and no fishing license is required.

East Fork State Park – A huge lake with boat access and bank fishing. You will need a state fishing license and will have to pay for access into the park. I have a ton of information on my blog post about spending a day (or weekend) at East Fork with the family.Ā 

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Fishing With Kids

Looking for a great outdoor kids activity to do during socially distancing? Try fishing with kids! It’s an outdoor adventure for kids of all ages that the whole family can enjoy. Yes, it’s a slow-paced, but I have some tips to make it enjoyable for all. Looking for a spot? Check out the best places to fish with kids in Cincinnati.

fishing with kids

What to bring fishing with kids

Papa Jake is our go-to fishing expert with over 50 years experience fishing and most of the tips below are from him. I’ll go into more detail, but you need a:Ā 
– tackle box (see below for what’s needed inside)
– fishing poles
– proper bait
– a fishing license (see below for how to get one)
– camp chairs for the kids
– plus a few other tricksĀ 

fishing chair

Camp chairs for kids are key because fishing requires ALOT of waiting.Ā Speaking of waiting, bring lollipops. It gives them something to do as they sit there and watch the line for a bite.Ā 

Bubble machines keep the littles entertained. Just make sure you’re not on a dock chasing the bubbles because that’s a good way to end up in the lake.Ā 

Other musts for our family:
– sunscreen
– sunglasses or a hat
– a fishing vest to look the part – which can also be used for ALL your outdoor adventures.
– snacks, hand sanitzer and drinks are also necessary.

Best Bait for fishing with kids

fishing bait
minnow bait

Looking for the best bait for fishing in a lake? Fishing bait is a key to catching fish, obviously.

Sometimes the bait is the most fun part of fishing for kids! Seriously, my girls played with the bucket of minnows for 75% of the time. And it was fun to see that the youngest one was the first to ‘catch’ a minnow in the bucket and had no fear holding it. She held it a little too long…oops!

Minnows, wax worms and nightcrawler worms are best. If you can’t find that, hot dogs work too! Parents, bait the hook for your kids. No one needs an ER visit!
** Pro Tip: if you leave a hook on the fishing pole, push the hook into a wine cork so no one gets hurt!

Best Fishing poles and equipment for kids

New to fishing? Have a 4 or 5 year old who wants to cast by themselves, but needs help? This pole has a casting button which is helpful for the ‘I do it myself’ kind of kids. Just give them space and stay away from the hook!

This is a great option for a beginner who is too old for the ‘kid rod’. The reel is great for ease of use.Ā 

A tackle box with hooks, bobbers and fishing line is essential. It’s always good to have a small pair of scissors for when the lines get tangled and a needle nose pliers for the hooks when you snag a fish!

This rod is a family favorite! There’s no reel so you just bait the hook and drop it in the water. It’s good for the new fisherman.Ā 

Fishing lessons for kids

No clue where to start? Try a fishing lesson from Bass Pro Shop or Cabela’s. There are fishing classes for kids and fishing seminars for 2 select weekends at Bass Pro Shop each year, usually the first weekends of June. Bass Pro Shop has a FREE catch and release pond event with fishing pros there to give you tips and crafts for kids to pique their interests.Ā 

Fishing not your thing? There are tons of other Ā Outdoor Activities With Kids to be had as a family. Give Disc Golf a try!Ā 

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