There is nothing more rewarding for most parents than to enjoy a day in the outdoors with their children. Fishing can provide a very exciting time for kids as well as adults. I believe the future of our sport depends on the willingness of parents to spend time with their children in the outdoors not only for the life long memories, but for the bonding, the experiencing of nature and gaining knowledge of our environment. I believe all of these aspects of a fishing trip should be a wonderful learning experience for kids and even adults. When I think of guiding a parent and child, I believe the fish caught may only be a small portion of what any child chooses to remember about that day. Ultimately, the children will make the decision based on past experiences whether they will become anglers or not. With that being said, It is out of my own guiding experiences with parents and children that I have come up with some basic suggestions and guide lines to follow to help ensure your child enjoys their day on the water .     Safety always comes first. State law requires certain rules be followed while children are in the boat such as life jackets being properly worn at all times. Children must be seated when the boat is in motion. As the Captain of the boat, I have many different duties and responsibilities to ensure our safe travel. What this means is it is ultimately the parents duty to care for and watch their child once they have boarded the boat. It is also the parents duty to remind their child that they must listen and respond to any requests that are made by myself or their parent.    Always bring proper clothing, sunscreen, bug spray and other essentials your child may need to ensure they remain comfortable for the duration of the trip. Snacks, fruits and such will also keep them occupied at times. I provide bottled water on board for my guests, it is not recommended that children are given soda or other sugary drinks while on the water as it can increase their metabolism. Even a small toy may be a good idea if they choose to take a break from fishing for awhile. Children can get board easily and turn what should be a enjoyable day into a uncomfortable day for both parent and child.    I would recommend half day trips for children as an 8+ hour day is in my experience too long. They will become tired, uninterested and ultimately form a poor opinion about fishing in general. Many parents will actually end the day sooner than scheduled if they see their child is loosing interest or tiring of the experience.    Although fishing is a fairly safe activity, there are accidents that can happen when children are not attended too. Most worrisome is the inability of children to understand the dangers of water, how easily they may slip or fall in or out of the boat. This possibility is what makes it unacceptable for children to be moving about the boat unattended.  Other dangers exist as well like a trip to the Doctor to remove a hook from a hand, arm or nose that would certainly ruin what should have been a great day.    We should always talk by phone prior to our outing for the purpose of exchanging information. In order to provide a educational and enjoyable day on the water, I need to know what you and your child's skill levels are when it comes to fishing. Many parents tend to exaggerate their child's skill level which will only limit their chances of having a good day on the water. For instance, if you tell me your child has knowledge and experience with spinning reels only to find out later that he does not, it's too late to change as I gear up prior to the outing with the information I receive from you. My goal as a guide is to pick up where your child's level is and assist from that point on. A child would much rather catch lots of fish on a bobber than no fish with a Rapala.       Finally, it's very important not to fool yourself when stating your taking your child fishing. If your gonna take him, then the day should be for him. Your fishing becomes secondary. The purpose of a parent  taking their child fishing is to spend quality time with their child...... not have their child spend quality time with a guide. My policy needs to be clear, I will assist and help in anyway I can to ensure you and your child experience a fun, safe and productive day on the water providing I see interaction between you and your child. Ultimately, that is your responsibility. With all due respect, I am proud of my guiding abilities but, a child's behavior while on-board is entirely the responsibility of the parent. I hope you understand my concern and reasoning behind these suggestions and I reserve the right to end a trip at any time if I believe that any of these conditions are not being met or being dealt with properly.