Short trips, and simple hopes
Roach and small perch are nearly everywhere and bite often, and frequent bites are exactly what it takes for a child to find it fun. A short, light rod, artificial worms and maggots with no mess, and a float that clearly shows the bite.
Safety first: a life jacket on small children near water, always. An adult baits the hook and unhooks the fish at the start. Choose a calm, safe place with firm ground, a jetty or a flat shore.
The corn we don't sell
Corn is one of the best and cheapest baits for roach and bream. A tin from the supermarket goes a long way, so the shop doesn't sell it: it isn't worth the postage.
What it does sell is artificial corn, which stays on the hook and doesn't get mashed. It floats, too, and lifts the hook a little off the bottom, so the fish find the bait more easily.
