Fishing-Related Activities for Rain-Outs or Dangerous Weather

While we all hope for perfect weather on any fishing trip or other outdoor-themed adventure, Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate. How can you pass the time if one of the days for your fishing trip has been interrupted by rain, snow or other weather events?

At Pybus Point Lodge, we're here to help. Not only do we offer the very best in all-inclusive Alaskan fishing packages, we also provide numerous other first-class accommodations, from our gourmet meal menu to numerous in-lodge activities, both for kids and full families. If you've brought the family along for any fishing trip and are experiencing a rain-out or other dangerous weather conditions on a given day, what are some fun activities or pursuits you and your other family members can take part in with a bit of a fishing-related twist? Here are some options.

Fish ID and Learning Flash Cards

Especially if you have kids who you're introducing to the wonderful world of fishing, you can use a rainy day as a chance to identify different species of fish and learn some interesting facts about them (and not just the types typically found in our day-to-day lives, such as bass or trout). There are many books and flash cards on fishing-related subjects that can be brought with you to keep kids engaged for a long time.

If you aren't able to locate any of these resources, you can likely make your own deck of cards featuring a variety of different species that you can find in your region. If even this is a bit too much work, simply connect to the internet and look for online fish ID flash cards or related games.

By turning this sort of education into a fun activity for kids and families, you can not only build a greater love of fishing in those around you, but also help them better appreciate the wild places and creatures that we as sportsmen and fishers seek out. Instead of kids feeling like they "have to" learn these things, they'll want to.

Fishing Imitation Games

For kids who just love the process of reeling in and catching fish, you might consider simple games where they get to do this even without being on the water. For instance, cut some fish shapes out of felt or construction paper, then spread them out on the ground. You or other adults can be blindfolded and attempt to catch these using a fishing rod (or even just their bare hands). The individual who catches the most wins!

This game can also be modified for multiple players by simply taping several fish cut-outs together at the tail so that they can be easily reeled in, and having each player attempt to do so until all of their fish have been "caught."

Learning Fishing Skills

Another fantastic use of time if the day is too rainy or otherwise dangerous to attempt fishing: Helping your kids or other family members learn basic fishing skills. A few examples of skills that can be taught or practiced within your room or any other part of our lodge:

• Knot tying: If you've ever struggled with tying the right knot for the type of fishing you do, or seen others try to tie knots without knowing what they were doing, teaching kids how to tie different types of fishing knots is a great skill. It can also be an excellent refresher for adults who haven't tied a proper fishing knot in years.
• Lures: Even if you're not into catching fish with lures, having kids able to identify them and learn about them can make your fishing trip more interesting for all involved. Kids love lures (probably because they often look like food), and it's an excellent way to make them feel like they are participating in the activity of fishing itself. And if you do happen to find yourself with a hook in the water, this is one way for kids to get involved without actually catching any fish themselves.
• Rod-Making: If your family loves the outdoors, make sure all members feel included on your trips by having everyone build their own fishing rods. Even if the kids aren't old enough to fish with them, they can practice casting on their own, fly fishing for teddy bears or simply carrying them around as part of your adventure.

Creating Tomorrow's Checklist

Maybe it's pouring outside right now, but the forecast for tomorrow is blue skies and ideal fishing conditions. In these cases, get the family together and spend an hour or two making an exhaustive checklist for the next day. This list can include:

• The fish you're hoping to catch (there's nothing like chasing after specific species)
• The gear you need to bring along
• All the food and snacks you're taking with you
• Which vehicles will be driving where, and assigning everyone a role in loading all of your supplies into those vehicles
• How much gas will be needed for the day's activities, if applicable. Just be sure everyone knows their role, and you can avoid frustration in the morning.

Non-Fishing Themes

Of course, all families are different -- some kids or other family members will get their fill of fishing concepts during non-rainy days, and don't want to spend their time indoors covering the same subjects. If this is the case for your family, there are numerous other indoor activities to consider: Baking, scrapbooking, coloring, Lego building and more can be extremely rewarding and give everyone a chance to de-stress and connect with each other on an elevated level.

For more on quality family fishing and non-fishing activities to pursue on days where it's too miserable outside to actually fish, or to learn about any of our all-inclusive Alaskan fishing packages, speak to the staff at Pybus Point Lodge today.