Fishing Water Safety Checklist

A family's one-page guide to keeping kids safe on every fishing trip

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Read it before you load the car — and again when you reach the water.

🎣 Before You Go

Pack a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every child — sized to the child's weight, in good condition, all straps working. Water wings and puddle jumpers are toys, NOT life jackets.
Bring a throwable rescue device — a ring buoy, throw rope, or spare life jacket on a line lets you help from shore without going in.
Dress for the water, not the weather — water is often much colder than the air. Pack dry clothes and a towel in case anyone goes in.
Charge a phone and know your location — save the address or GPS of your spot so you can direct 911 to a remote bank or ramp.
Check weather and water conditions — skip storms, high water, and muddy fast-current days. When thunder roars, go indoors.
Talk through the rules in the car — life jackets stay on, no running near the edge, fish only where a grown-up says.

Scout the footing and drop-off first — watch for slippery mud, wet rocks, and algae-covered docks. Many ponds drop off sharply within a step of shore.
Set up base camp back from the edge — seat young children a safe distance from the water; they approach only holding a grown-up's hand.
Assign a dedicated Water Watcher — one adult, no phone, no fishing, eyes on the kids. Rotate every 15–30 minutes and hand off out loud.
Keep hooks, knives, bait, and tackle out of reach — store sharp gear closed and elevated. A child reaching for tackle near the edge is a child near the water.
Mind docks and piers — boards get slick and gaps trap small feet. Never let kids swim near a powered dock (electric shock drowning risk).
Point out the boundaries — show kids exactly where they may stand and where they may not. Physical limits beat a vague "be careful."

Life jackets stay ON — not just while casting, and not just on the boat. The jacket only works if it's worn when a child slips in.
Keep toddlers within arm's reach — for under-fives and non-swimmers, supervision means close enough to touch. Bring a second adult so fishing never competes with watching.
Never wade or swim after gear — a snagged lure or dropped rod is replaceable. Kids tell a grown-up; they never go in after it.
Watch tangled lines and slippery footing — line around ankles, a lunge for a bite, or a slip on a wet rock can all put a child in the water.
Take breaks away from the water — tired, hungry, bored kids take risks. Move back to eat and rest, and rotate the Water Watcher.

Reach or throw — don't go — extend a rod, pole, or branch, or throw a ring, rope, or life jacket. Brace yourself so you can't be pulled in.
Trust the life jacket — a properly fitted jacket keeps a child's head up even if they panic. This is why it goes on before the trip.
Teach flip, float, and follow — roll onto the back, float, stay calm, and call for help. Calm floating buys the time an adult needs.
Call 911 and be ready for CPR — once the child is out, if they're not breathing, start rescue breaths and CPR immediately.

Most fishing-trip drownings happen from the bank or dock — not a boat. The calm setting hides the same hazards as any open water.
Fishing pulls adult eyes away. A dedicated Water Watcher — whose only job is the kids — is what closes the gap.
Swim skills are the backup layer. A child who can float and stay calm after a fall has a far better chance — life jackets and lessons work together.