You’re never to young to begin fly fishing. You just need to learn how to cast first.

Learning how to feel the line load a rod, as well as what you’re supposed to do with your body in response, is a challenge for most new anglers. If an adult can struggle, a child can struggle too. Figuring out casting requires patience, fine motor skills, and the ability to turn verbal commands into actions. Age often helps in those areas, but it can also be a detriment. Sometimes kids are better listeners, quicker studies, and more receptive of instruction.

Taking a kid fishing is a lot of fun. It also pays off dividends when you want to share more of those moments later in life. But before any of that can happen, there needs to be some level of instruction. When do you start? Young children, even as young as four years old, can fly cast. It isn’t easy. It takes work. Most of all, it takes patience – on your part.

Here are five ways to think about teaching the child in your life how to cast a fly rod:

Go hands on. The sense of sight matters when she’s learning to cast. But it is a distant second to touch. Having her watch you cast is a first step, then get the rod in her hand. Before she can start flailing, guide the casting stroke with her. This shows how little motion is actually involved in a cast, and begins to train her to feel the line load the rod.

Fix the length of the line. Everyone wants to cast far – and there’s nothing wrong with that. The only problem is that deficiencies in the casting stroke are magnified when more line is out. Stick with a shorter length of line (15-20 feet) until he’s consistent and comfortable.

Lighter is better. 6-weights aren’t heavy. They’re not going to wear out your wrist and elbow. But you’re an adult. Just like a trout angler would tire after casting an 11-weight for a little bit of time, a 9-foot 6-weight will be heavy for a smaller child. 7- or 8-foot 3- or 4-weights will be much more manageable for her smaller hand and arm.

You don’t fish. Like any other situation where you’re teaching fly fishing, you shouldn’t be fishing yourself. He’s going to need help, and you need to be right there and ready. It’s hard – but again, consider the payoff.

Make it fun. She doesn’t need to cast like she’s getting certified as a casting instructor. She needs to get the fly 20 feet in front of her. The best way to ruin your day and potentially her view of fishing is to take it too seriously. Keep it light, keep it fun, and don’t be afraid to keep it brief if need be.

There is obviously a lot more that can be said about teaching fly casting. And for every word ever written on that topic there are probably at least two books on how to effectively teach children in general.

Here are some other considerations:

• Keep her away from trees. Manicured subdivision pond banks and gravel bars in rivers will reduce the chances of a frustrating 15-foot-up snag.
• Let him try to straighten out that first bad tangle. Be close by and at the ready, but give him a shot at remedying his own situation.
• Put her on fish.  If that means you take a break from casting lessons so that you catch a fish she can play and reel in  – do it. Casting is fun, catching is more fun.