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Thought I'd post this here before I call the local TPWD warden to ask, as I know some of you are likely avid fishermen/women.

I bought my daughter a little Disney fishing pole for her birthday. She's four years old. She had seen some people fishing off a dock at a small municipal lake/park near our home and got interested. Found the pole on sale at Academy ($5) and thought it would be a good way to get her started. I am not an avid fisherman. I go occasionally when an opportunity presents itself, but don't regularly buy a license every year unless I know I'll be going that year.

So, if I sit with her on the dock of this little lake and help her cast her little Disney pole or if we sit on a boat or dock on Lake Travis and do same, do I need a fishing license if I don't have a pole with me? I'm just helping her with her pole.

Just don't want any hassle from TPWD. If anyone knows the answer to this, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise I'll call the warden.

Unfortunately, if you are on waters that require it, you must have the license if you have the pole in your hand. The GW could fine if he chose to. The fine is $130.

ok, thanks for the info

Cowboymd is correct.
What would you do if she "caught a fish" & could not real it in & as a 4 yr old will do, holler Daddy, Daddy, help. You are fishing when you cast it out & when you help her reel it in.

longtooth wrote:Cowboymd is correct.
What would you do if she "caught a fish" & could not real it in & as a 4 yr old will do, holler Daddy, Daddy, help. You are fishing when you cast it out & when you help her reel it in.

I understand the point and why TPWD would make the rules this way (otherwise folks would abuse this by brining along a minor every time they go fishing). But this is one of those situations where a bit of case-by-case interpretation is a good thing, IMHO. She's a 4-year-old with a two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole. I'm just trying to have a fun afternoon with my daughter and see if she enjoys fishing. The chances of us catching anything at all are probably slim and none. Why does the state require a $25 tax (err, excuse me FEE) for me to do this? Seems they'd be better off just allowing parent/child "teaching moments" like this so that she grows up wanting to go fishing when she's old enough to pay for a license every year.

/rant

Again, thanks for the info guys.

You mentioned Lake Travis. I don't know if that lake has a state park on it, but if so, you can fish from the banks or pier of any Texas State Park without a license.

I know i am no fisherman but I thought that allowance of from the bank w/ no liscense had to be w/ a cane pole.

austinrealtor wrote:I understand the point and why TPWD would make the rules this way (otherwise folks would abuse this by brining along a minor every time they go fishing). But this is one of those situations where a bit of case-by-case interpretation is a good thing, IMHO. She's a 4-year-old with a two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole.

If you went to court and the judge saw the two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole, he'd probably let you off.

Free fishing day is coming up soon.

The first Saturday in June of each year is the annual Free Fishing Day and no person is required to have a fishing license or stamp endorsements while fishing on that day.

WildBill wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:I understand the point and why TPWD would make the rules this way (otherwise folks would abuse this by brining along a minor every time they go fishing). But this is one of those situations where a bit of case-by-case interpretation is a good thing, IMHO. She's a 4-year-old with a two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole.

If you went to court and the judge saw the two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole, he'd probably let you off.

Yeah, but it would cost me 500 Disney Princess fishing poles worth of legal fees

Free fishing day is coming up soon.

The first Saturday in June of each year is the annual Free Fishing Day and no person is required to have a fishing license or stamp endorsements while fishing on that day.

What's the source of this? Is it on TPWD web site?

longtooth wrote:I know i am no fisherman but I thought that allowance of from the bank w/ no liscense had to be w/ a cane pole.

longtooth wrote:I know i am no fisherman but I thought that allowance of from the bank w/ no liscense had to be w/ a cane pole.

According to Eisenhower State Park up here on Texoma any state park as long as you keep your feet on the parks bank or pier. But if you get in a boat, even inside the marina, you have to have that license.

austinrealtor wrote:

WildBill wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:I understand the point and why TPWD would make the rules this way (otherwise folks would abuse this by brining along a minor every time they go fishing). But this is one of those situations where a bit of case-by-case interpretation is a good thing, IMHO. She's a 4-year-old with a two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole.

If you went to court and the judge saw the two-foot Disney Princess fishing pole, he'd probably let you off.

Yeah, but it would cost me 500 Disney Princess fishing poles worth of legal fees

Free fishing day is coming up soon.

The first Saturday in June of each year is the annual Free Fishing Day and no person is required to have a fishing license or stamp endorsements while fishing on that day.

What's the source of this? Is it on TPWD web site?

Look at this url: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... _licenses/

You will need to have a valid fishing license while assisting your daughter to fish. I have taken my daughters many times and have been checked by the Game Warden. Just buy one and then you will take her out more often just to get your money's worth! She will greatly appreciate it and will never forget the memories of doing it with you.

Dan20703 wrote:You will need to have a valid fishing license while assisting your daughter to fish. I have taken my daughters many times and have been checked by the Game Warden. Just buy one and then you will take her out more often just to get your money's worth! She will greatly appreciate it and will never forget the memories of doing it with you.

VViper wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:

WildBill wrote:Free fishing day is coming up soon.

The first Saturday in June of each year is the annual Free Fishing Day and no person is required to have a fishing license or stamp endorsements while fishing on that day.

What's the source of this? Is it on TPWD web site?

Look at this url: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... _licenses/

Thanks for the link. I might try it out that day, then if she likes it go ahead and get the license (shoulda bought the super combo when I bought my hunting license last fall )

cowboymd wrote:

longtooth wrote:I know i am no fisherman but I thought that allowance of from the bank w/ no liscense had to be w/ a cane pole.

longtooth wrote:I know i am no fisherman but I thought that allowance of from the bank w/ no liscense had to be w/ a cane pole.

According to Eisenhower State Park up here on Texoma any state park as long as you keep your feet on the parks bank or pier. But if you get in a boat, even inside the marina, you have to have that license.

Thank you cowboymd.