GO FISHING!

For this fishing trip, you won't even need to buy a license!

See the Gone Fishing game for an alternate version with fish templates that have points on them

READY:

• gift wrap cardboard tube, long stick or piece of wood  (I prefer the gift wrap tube as there's less opportunity for the kids to hurt each other)
• string
• paper clips
• magnets (strong fridge magnets work ok!)
• paper fish

SET:

• Make your fishing rod (you only need one for the game, but you can make more if you like)
  • Tie a string 2 to 3 ft long to the cardboard tube.
  • Attach 2 or 3 fridge magnets to the other end of the string
     
• Make your paper fish
  • you'll need enough for everyone at the party
  • Attach 1 or 2 paperclips to the mouth of the fish. 
  • Test the # of magnets on the fishing rod and # of paperclips on the fish prior to the party to make sure you can easily catch the fish
     
• Set up your fishing station
  • we do our fishing over the back of the couch (pretending the couch is the boat) and just scatter the fish on the carpet. 
  • You could do it outside with the fish on the grass or driveway (use a large cardboard box as a boat for a bit of extra fun or fish off the deck)
  • If you want, you can make your fish out of styrofoam and actually put them in a bucket of water!
  • Whatever you choose, make sure the fishing rod string is the right length for your fishing station.

GO FISH:

There are a few variations of the game that you can play.  

1. FISH FOR PRIZES: 
   • This is like the carnival game. 
   • Write a number on each fish and on a piece of paper, match each number with a small prize.
   • Make sure contestants are old enough that they don't start fighting/crying over the prizes (can you tell I have a 2 year old *sigh*)
      
2. FISHING RELAY:
   • Split your fishermen into teams (ex:  red team and blue team). 
   • Make your fish red and blue.
   • Let each person catch one fish. 
     • If they catch their colour, they keep it. 
     • If they catch the other colour, they throw it back. 
     • Pass the rod onto the next team member (you can put the teams away from the fishing area so they have to run too)
     • Keep doing this until one team (the winners) have caught all their fish.
        
3. FISHING FOR POINTS (good for teaching math!):
   • Write a number on each fish (the numbers should be single digits for young kids and double digits for older kids)... you can set up a pond with separate fishing areas for young and old if you have a group with varying ages/skill levels.
   • Let contestants catch 2 fish each
   • Make the contestants ADD their fish (if you're fishing from two fishing holes, multiply the single digit scores by 10 before comparing them to the double digit scores).
   • Highest point with correct math wins!

Printable version of these instructions