How to go fishing for a name
- Stock the pond. Each name in the list becomes a fish with a name tag, swimming lazy loops.
- Cast the line. Press Cast the line, tap the pond or press the Space bar.
- Wait for a bite. Fish gather around the hook and the bobber dips once or twice.
- Reel it in. One fish bites and is pulled up out of the water with a splash, under a big "Caught!" card with its name.
Why a fishing game?
Fishing is the calmest game on the site. There is no countdown to the finish line and no crash of a lid, just a peaceful pond and a slow build-up while the bobber twitches. That makes it lovely for younger children, for quiet moments in class and for anyone who finds races too loud, while still keeping everyone watching for the bite.
Ideas for the fishing game
- Calm classroom picks: who reads next, who feeds the class pet, who chooses the story.
- Little ones' turn-taking: put the children's names in the pond and catch who goes first on the slide or the swing.
- Catch a question: fill the pond with short questions and reel one in for circle time.
- Gone fishing for prizes: list small prizes as fish and let each winner of a party game cast for one.
- A full catch: tick Rank everyone to catch the whole pond in a random order.
The pond uses the same list as every other game, so you can switch to the duck race when the room wants more noise.
Questions people ask
Which fish gets caught?
The fish your browser's secure random generator chose at the moment you cast. Every fish has the same chance (or more, if you give a name extra chances with Name *2). The fish crowding the hook and the bobber dipping are part of the show; the catch was decided before the line went in.
How many fish can be in the pond?
Up to 30, each with a name tag. On a small phone 30 tags are tiny, so for big groups fullscreen helps, or use the hat, which takes any number of names.
Can I catch more than one fish?
Yes. Set Winners in Settings: the fish are caught one after another in winning order and hang on a line along the top. When you ask for many winners, the first few catches are shown in full and the rest are listed, so you are not waiting for every reel-in.
Is it suitable for young children?
Very. Little ones love watching the bobber dip and guessing which fish will bite, and there is nothing to read except the names. Tap the pond to cast, and use fullscreen so the whole group can see.
Can a fish show a photo?
Yes. Add photos under Photos (they stay on your device) or start a name with an emoji, and it appears on that fish's tag.