Printable Scholar
Home/Reading/Decodable Readers/Level 5/Bret's Fishing Trip

Bret's Fishing Trip

Compound Words 2nd Phase 5
Bret's Fishing Trip
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 1
1Bret and Don walked down to the river on a bright, sunny morning. They went past a wooden bridge and a big rock on the path. Bret had a big backpack on his back. "I hope we catch a huge catfish today," Bret said.
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 2
2"I would like to catch a little sunfish," said Don. "We can stay out and fish until sunset." Bret tied their little boat to a big tree by the bank. He did not tie the rope tight. Don wiped some dust and a sticky cobweb off the seat.
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 3
3Then they got inside the boat. It was a very small boat, almost the size of a bathtub. But it was just right for them. Don tossed his fishing line into the deep water. Bret opened his bag.
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 4
4"Do you want a snack while we wait?" he said. "I have some popcorn and a hotdog." He also had a sweet pink cupcake for each of them. The two friends munched on their food and watched the water, hoping for a bite. Suddenly, the wind picked up.
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 5
5The boat gave a sharp jerk, and the rope slipped right off the tree! "Oh no," yelled Don. "The rope came off! We are drifting away!" The boat began to glide down the fast river. They did not have a pole or a stick to push back to the bank.
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 6
6Their friend Thad was on a high hill by the river. He heard Don yell. Thad could look down from the hilltop. He could see the little boat drifting fast. "Hold on tight!" Thad yelled to his friends. "I will help you!"
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 7
7Thad ran fast down to the edge of the water. He was very quick. He got a long, thick branch. He held it out to the boat. Bret and Don grabbed the branch. Thad gave it a strong pull. The drifting boat came to a stop at the bank.
Bret's Fishing Trip, page 8
8Bret and Don hopped onto the bank. They pulled their boat onto the wet mud. "Thank you so much, Thad," said Bret. "You saved us!" Thad smiled and helped them pack up their things. They did not catch a fish that day, but they were happy to be safe on land.
Circle or highlight all the compound words in the story above. How many did you find?

Comprehension Questions

After reading, ask these questions to check understanding:

  1. Where did Bret and Don walk in the morning?
  2. Why did Bret and Don’s boat drift away?
  3. What did Thad use to pull the boat in?
Keep practicing
Practice Compound Words with 4 more free worksheets

The words from this story, on printable practice sheets:

Word sortPhrasing cardsRapid naming chartWord search
Get the Compound Words worksheets →
Download Mini-Book
Full-color picture book • Print, cut & staple • No signup required
Read-aloud version (one page per sheet, for projecting)
Bret's Fishing Trip illustrated mini-book cover
Cover + 8 illustrated pages

Reader Details

Phonics Skill Compound Words
Grade Level 2nd
Phase Phase 5
Worksheets Compound Words Worksheets

Target Words

sunset backpack cupcake bathtub cobweb sandbox hilltop laptop hotdog pigpen sunfish catfish

Sight Words

the a and to was is it she he they said have with you are of for her there one

More Compound Words Readers

Jane's Sunset Hike illustration
Jane's Sunset Hike
 Pip's Birthday Pancakes illustration
Pip's Birthday Pancakes
← Pip's Birthday Pancakes Pip and the Magnet →

About This Decodable Reader

“Bret's Fishing Trip” is a free printable decodable reader designed for 2nd students practicing compound words phonics patterns. This mini-book uses phonetically controlled vocabulary so beginning readers can successfully sound out nearly every word in the story, building confidence and reinforcing the specific phonics skills they're learning.

The free PDF is a full-color illustrated mini-book: a cover, eight picture pages with one or two lines of story text each, and a back page listing the compound words words, high-frequency words, and discussion questions. Print the five sheets, cut each one in half along the dashed line, and staple — your child has a real little book to hold. A read-aloud version with one large page per sheet is also included for projecting to the whole class.

This reader is part of our collection of 193 free decodable readers organized by phonics skill and aligned with the Science of Reading. For additional practice with compound words patterns, try our compound words phonics worksheets which include word sorts, phrasing practice cards, and rapid naming charts.