JUNIOR RANGER

Let’s Go Fishing!

ACTIVITY BOOK
With this book in your hands, you’re already on your way to becoming a Junior Ranger Angler!

All across the United States you can find public lands, places we protect and share for all. 

If you’re ready to dive into the world of fishing, these parks, wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries,

and reserves are great places to start. Follow the directions below to begin your adventure.

Hey there!

What public lands are near your home?

Pictured above: Masonville Cove, Baltimore, MD: 

Baltimore Rivers to Harbor Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership

Angler: one who fishes 

with a rod and line.

Junior Ranger Angler: one 

who respects fish and fish 

habitats, protects nature, and 

is a role model for safe and 

smart angling practices. 

Complete this book. 

Do as much as you can as best as you can. If you’re really about to 

go fishing, great! If you’re not fishing today, use this book to plan 

a fishing trip—real or imaginary— that you would like to go on. 

Check your work. Show a ranger, fish and wildlife manager, 

teacher, or other adult what you completed. 

Get a Junior Ranger Angler badge. Return your completed 

book to a participating park, wildlife refuge, or hatchery. See the 

back cover for more instructions.

1 Let’s Go Fishing!

HUMPBACK CHUB Anglers help this 

native fish by fishing for non-native fish

competitors at Canyonlands National Park.

No matter who you are or where you live, whether you’ve been fishing or not, 

if you’re ready to learn, explore, and be a safe angler, fishing is for you! 

What would you like most about a day out fishing? Draw or write below. 

Act out what you are most looking forward to 

for your day outside. Don’t use words. See if your 

friends or family can guess what you mean! 

SAFETY CHECKLIST

LIFE JACKET

WATER 

SNACKS AND FOOD 

LAYERS OF CLOTHES

HAT AND SUNGLASSES

SUNSCREEN

FIRST AID KIT

FLASHLIGHT

CATCHING DINNER? For types of fish and amounts of fish safe to eat, 

check fish eating guidelines (fish consumption advisories). 

time out in nature time with my quiet time 

friends + family learning about 

animals + plants adventure

playing relaxing 

Know before you go! Read and discuss the SAFETY 

and STAY SMART checklists with your friends and family. 

STAY SMART CHECKLIST

I’M FISHING WITH A BUDDY.

WE GAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY 

MEMBER OUR FISHING PLAN. 

WE KNOW THE RULES FOR FISHING.

WE’RE NOT RELYING ON CELL 

PHONES. (Phone service may be 

limited. Only use phone flashlight 

and map apps as backup.)

Your name
2 Meet a Fish 3 Fish and People

Northern pike

The pike’s long body is designed for 

quick bursts to grab prey. Pike live in 

lakes and like to hide in aquatic plants,

waiting for dinner to swim by. 

Bluegill sunfish

A skinny shape and special fins help this 

fish swim fast and change directions 

quickly. Sunfish search for bugs in the 

underwater grasses of lakes and ponds. 

Channel catfish 

Like whiskers, barbels help catfish 

move and find food as they hide in 

muddy creeks, channels, or under logs.

 From tiny seahorses smaller than your pinky finger to whale sharks that weigh more than 

 a car, the huge group of animals we call ‘fish’ share a similar anatomy, or body structure. 

 Label the fish by reading the terms below and writing in the matching number. 

1. Gills help fish breathe by taking oxygen from the water. 2. Tail moves side to side and pushes the 

fish forward. Other fins help the fish steer. 3. Lateral line runs along the middle of a fish and helps it 

sense its surroundings. 4. Scales cover and protect fish’s otherwise soft bodies. 

Draw a line to match each fsh with its habitat (home in nature).

Design your own fishing lure! 

A lure tempts fish to bite the hook. 

Think of a fish—imaginary or 

real—where it lives, what it would 

eat, and how to catch it. Draw and 

describe your lure below.

underwat

er g

rasses

lake edge

s

muddy

cre

e

ks

sandy bott

o

ms

Fish and culture. Can you find the fish carved into the bottom of the 

Wooch Jin Dul Shat Kooteeya Centennial Pole? Sitka National Historic Park, Alaska. 

Summer flounder

With a sideways mouth and two eyes 

on one side, this flat fish wiggles into the

sand and waits for food to swim above. 

Look for them in bays and beaches. 

For thousands of years, fishing has been important not just for fun but for 

food and survival. Fish are still an important food source around the world today. 

The amazing halibut hook. Imagine you are in a canoe, fishing in the icy waters of Alaska. 

You hope to catch a halibut, a flat fish that lives on the sea floor. The problem is, halibut can be 

huge—over 300 pounds! If you hook a big one, it could swamp your boat! What do you do?

Long ago, the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people of Alaska designed a wooden hook that 

catches only perfect sized halibut. The biggest halibut, can’t fit their lip through the opening. 

The smaller halibut can’t fit their mouths around the top. These beautifully carved lures show 

how art, design, and respect for and understanding of fish can come together in fishing. 
Types of Fishing

To try ice fishing, bundle up and visit Upper Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota

4 The Junior Angler Way

Choose one rule and create a ‘poster’ below imagining you are helping rangers 

and fish and wildlife managers teach others about the rule and why it is important. 

WEAR A LIFE JACKET.

DON’T FORGET WATER, SNACKS, EXTRA CLOTHES, HAT, 

SUNGLASSES, SUNSCREEN, FLASHLIGHT, and FIRST AID KIT.

FISH WITH A FRIEND.

 WHEN WEATHER GETS BAD OR THUNDER 

 ROARS—GO INDOORS. 

KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY, HANDLE + RELEASE FISH.

GIVE ANGLERS SPACE—STAY AWAY FROM OTHER 

FISHING LINES and CHECK YOUR AREA BEFORE 

CASTING YOUR LINE.

KEEP FISH HABITATS CLEAN 

—DON’T LEAVE BEHIND TRASH OR FISHING LINE. 

5

 From the rushing rivers of the Rocky Mountains to deep ocean trenches, from warm swamps 

 to the frigid waters beneath thick lake ice, fish can be found across the United States and around the world!

Where are you visiting today and/or 

Where do you live? Mark an X on the map.

If you live outside the United States, you can 

write your home country below. 

On frozen lakes huddled 

around a hole cut into the 

ice, you can try to catch pike, 

walleye, perch, and bluegill.

Visit: Long Lake National 

Wildlife Refuge, North 

Dakota.

ICE FISHING 

You can wade in the water, 

stand on the bank, sit in a 

kayak, or work on tying a fly. 

Try for trout and bass. 

Visit: Ozark National Scenic 

Riverway, Missouri.

RIVER FISHING 

In lakes, crappie, bass, and 

trout might be lurking nearby. 

Try to learn the different 

places they hide!

Visit: Hagerman National Fish 

Hatchery, Idaho.

LAKE FISHING

With an extra long fishing 

rod, you can stand in the 

sand and cast out into the 

surf for striped bass, red 

drum, or dogfish. 

Visit: Chincoteague National 

Wildlife Refuge Virginia. 

SURF FISHING 

DEEP SEA FISHING 

Bring a strong fishing pole 

and head far out into the 

ocean to look for fish like 

halibut, cod, and snapper.

Visit: Biscayne National 

Park, Florida. 

What kind of fishing would you try at this 

site or in your state? Check out the list on the 

right for ideas! 

Circle a type of fishing you’ve never tried 

before. What do you think would be fun about it? 

What would be challenging? 

US territories 

STAY SAFE! Always check to make sure it is safe 

and allowed to enter the water!
6 Get to Know the Gear 7 Junior Role Model 

Label the fishing setup on 

the left by writing in the 

name of each part. 

1. Fishing rod: the main tool used in 

fishing, a pole that holds the reel and 

fishing line.

2. Line: a special ‘string’ made for fishing. 

3. Reel: a device that holds, spools out, 

and retrieve fishing line. 

4. Hook: usually sharp, shaped like a ‘J’ 

and attached at the end of the line, 

it catches or hooks the fish.

5. Bait: a natural attractant like worms 

or baitfish that tempts the fish into

biting the hook.

6. Lure: an item designed to look like the 

fish’s prey or other food it would like to eat.

7. Fly: a special kind of lure made by tying 

strings and feathers, it is used in river fishing. 

8. Bobber: a ball attached to fishing line 

that floats. It keeps bait from sinking to 

the bottom and can help you see when a 

fish bites! 

9. Sinker: a weight that helps

pull the line down in the 

water, closer to the bottom.

Visit TakeMeFishing.org/FirstCatch to find 

out how, when and where to fish in your 

area and to show off your #firstcatch !

Although there are many different kinds 

of fishing and types of fishing gear, you 

can start by learning this basic setup. 

Like the rules you have at home or school, regulations are things we agree 

to follow. Regulations help us protect fish and keep fishing open to the 

public. A good angler always learns and honors these rules.

Find out the regulations for the site you are 

visiting or would like to visit. For help, you can ask 

a fish and wildlife manager or ranger or visit the state info 

page at TakeMeFishing.org. Know before you go!

Where will you be fishing? 

What kind of fish would you like to catch?

Can you keep this fish? How many?

(If applicable) How long must the fish 

be for you to keep it? 

Which species (kinds of fish) are 

“catch and release” only?

Check that the site is open for 

you to visit and fish.

Check which types of bait and 

lures, and sinkers you can use.

TIP! You can use the ruler on this page 

to check the size of your fish!

JUNIOR RANGER ANGLER RULER

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Who in your group needs a fishing 

license? 

GEAR TIPS!

-Protect wildlife by using lead-free sinkers.

-Learn how to cast by visiting TakeMeFishing.org 
9 Tic-Tac-Go Outside

You don’t have to catch a fish to have fun while fishing!

A smart angler learns about fish, how 

to find them, and how to handle them 

safely and with respect.

Read the tips below and mark an X in the places you think you might find fish.

Clean these boots by marking an X on each 

‘hitchhiker’ or other spots where the boots 

looks dirty. 

Find something slimy in 

nature. 

Find something a fish 

would eat. Draw it here.

Go outside and play tic-tac-go with a friend or family member. One person is X 

and one is O. Take turns picking squares to complete and mark. First to get three in a row wins. 

(If you’re doing this activity by yourself, try getting three in a row or the four corners.)

What was it?

Act out an animal that 

eats fish and see if the 

other player can guess 

what it is. 

What was it? 

Make up a song about

fishing and sing it.

Tell someone a short 

story (real or imagined) 

about fishing.

Find a place where you 

think a fish would hide, 

and explain why you think 

a fish would like that spot. 

What did you find? 

Listen to the sounds of 

nature around you for 

three minutes.

What did you hear?

Draw yourself as a fish. • Try barbless hooks. They cause less harm to the fish.

• Use wet hands—never a towel—when holding fish 

so you don’t wipe off the fish’s protective slime.

• Don’t keep a fish out of water too long. 

Put it back gently head-first. 

8 Angler Tips

RIVER FISHING

River bends and confluences,

places where two bodies of

 water meet, have good food 

for fish. Rocks make pockets 

of calmer water downstream.

Fish also like eddies where 

water slows and whirlpools.

LAKE FISHING

Lily pads, logs, grass beds, 

fishing piers, and other 

‘structures’ give places for 

fish to hide and find food.

Holes have cooler, deeper 

water that some fish like on 

hot days. Islands and the

lake edge can be good fish 

habitat too. 

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia

Read and discuss these tips 

with your friends or family. 

AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS. 

Check your boots and boat! Don’t accidentally bring worms, snails, 

or other plants and animals to a fish habitat where they don’t belong.

(STAY SAFE: Check for underwater hazards like holes, trees, and slippery rocks.)

Invent a new fish species. Tell 

your friend about it, including 

where it lives, what it eats, 

and how to catch it. 

What is your new fish called?
10 Protect and Conserve

This is the inside of the card.

You’ll make the front on the next page.

On an ordinary day out fishing you’ll make choices that affect fish and other anglers. 

Junior ranger anglers set an example of stewardship, taking care of a place, and 

conservation, protecting nature. 

Dear

Your friend,

11 Pass it On

Think of a friend or family member you would like to invite fishing, and write 

or draw them a note. If you went fishing, tell them about your day. If you haven’t gone 

fishing yet, tell them something you learned in this book and why you would like to go!

Read the story and complete the crossword puzzle. 

1

Our Day Fishing

We were so excited for our day fishing! Before we headed out,

we checked the rules or 1. ___________________ . We wanted to stay safe 

near the water, so we brought a 2. ____________ _____________ for each person. 

The sun was shining. It reminded us to pack 3. __________________ to protect our skin. 

After a long time fishing, I felt a tug on the line and reeled in. I did it! I caught a fish! I decided to 

let it go, and carefully put it back in the water. When it was time to leave, we looked around our 

site. We didn’t want to leave behind any fishing 4. __________ or fish hooks. We packed out 

all of our food wrappers and other 5. ______________, too. We left the site looking great for the 

next anglers and safe for the fish and other wildlife. At home, we got the mud off our boots and 

made sure they were 6. ____________, so we don’t carry aquatic hitchhikers. It was a great day! 

We can’t wait to go again! 

 

 life jacket 

 line clean trash 

 regulations 

 sunscreen 

WORD BANK

BRAVO! In 2016, to raise awareness about the 

harmful effects of waste and trash on marine life, students in the Kodiak 

National Wildlife Refuge Annual Salmon Camp program used beach litter to 

create a salmon mosaic. It’s on display at the refuge visitor center.

S T E W A R D S H I P 

C O N S E R V A T I O N 

2

3

4

6

5

1

,
JUNIOR RANGER

Let’s Go Fishing!

CERTIFICATE of ACHIEVEMENT 

I ____________________________________,

 promise to help protect public lands and nature, 

to show others how to fish safely and responsibly, 

and to keep having fun exploring outdoors!

PARK RANGER OR FISH AND /WILDLIFE MANAGER SIGNATURE

S TI E

STA

M

P

OR

DATE

I learned this tip for fishing safely:

Let’s Go 

 Fishing!

12 Continue the Adventure

You’re near the end of this book, and close to getting your Junior Ranger Angler badge! 

But this is just the beginning. In every state in the U.S. you can find a place to fish, or even just 

play outside. Plus, you can keep earning junior ranger badges at public lands near you. 

Send a fishing invite! Complete the rest of the card by adding your own 

design and tips you learned from this book. Give your card to a friend or ask an 

adult to help you address an envelope and mail it.

I learned this tip for protecting fish and fish 

habitat: 

JUNIOR RANGER CANCELLATION STAMP

BACK OF CARD FRONT OF CARD 

Cut out the card along the dotted line. 

Fold it in half and it’s ready to go. 

JUNIOR RANGER MAIL

Visit TakeMeFishing.org to get ready 

for your next fishing adventure!

We could go fishing here: 

SPINY DOGFISH
Thank you. 

The Junior Ranger: Let’s Go Fishing Activity Book 

was produced by the National Park Service 

with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

and the National Park Foundation.

Additional support was provided by the International 

Game Fish Association and TakeMeFishing.org, 

a national campaign of the Recreational Boating

& Fishing Foundation.

Get your badge!

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

Visit fws.gov/refuges/kids/jrrangers for a list of the 

national fish hatcheries and national wildlife refuges 

that distribute badges.

Please call or contact a participating hatchery or 

refuge before you visit to confirm badge availability 

and operating hours. The list will change as additional 

refuges and fish hatcheries offer the Junior Ranger: 

Let’s Go Fishing! Program, so check back often.

National Park Service

Contact your local park to see if badges are available. 

If you are completing this activity book at home; 

email a picture of a completed page to

junior_rangers@nps.gov.

Make sure to include a name and address!

Check it out!

Here are some online resources:

Explore fish species, learn new fishing techniques, and find places to fish, 

by visiting TakeMeFishing.org or VamosAPescar.org.

Find your next Junior Ranger adventure at nps.gov/kids/jrrangers.cfm.

Learn more about fishing in parks and refuges by visiting 

nps.gov/fishing and fws.gov/fishing.

LAKE STURGEON