Introducing kids to fishing (long read)

[TreednNC]

So my sons (my fiance's kids technically, from previous marriage) are from New Mexico and never saw a lake until they moved here. Now a little history on me.

I didnt start fishing with my dad until I was 8 or 9. I was blessed to be able to fish a part of the lake seperated from the main lake because dad worked for the power company. While fishing wasnt always better there then the main lake, there was no boat traffic, etc. We always caught fish. My dad was a born a again fisherman so to speak, we were both new to fishing really, and had a decent place to go, although we fished the main lake as well. Most of the tactics were learned here and there, not so much from my dad, as I hate to say, he learned a lot from me as well, which is odd as a father/son team. He stuck to conventional methods a lot and I experimented, and he'd follow suit if he saw fit. I was fortunate never the less, to have a dad that loved to take me fishing, and give me a small allowance (I thought a LOT back then) to buy a few things here and there along the way. Now I primarily fish with my buddies or by myself, as my dad doesnt generally want to go unless he knows theyre biting. We started fishing for crappie, and jugfishing for catfish, then moving on to rod and reel catfish and stripers and the such, and pretty much 'modernized' if you will. I wasnt started with the traditional bobber and bream or bobber and minnow method really. Mostly jigs and jigheads and minnows, casting, or tightlining near a concrete wall where shad stacked up.

Back to my point. My sons are 3 & 5. Soon to be 4 and 6. I would love to get them started fishing in the spring. They keep wanting to go when I go in the winter, but to be honest, even I am scraping for fish in the winter. I want to take them in the spring, and start them traditionally with bobbers, worms, and bream, and possibly bobbers and minnows during the crappie spawn. and simple equipment. Ive got some telescoping poles I thought about using, but then again, just thought about buying them a zebco combo or something simple that way, instead of the 'complicated' stuff I use, because they'll want to do it themselves, thats just how they are. I also want to teach them the whole process, from baiting hooks, to teaching them that we can eat what we catch. Full circle so to speak. Although I dont think we'll have any problem with eating, as they love to eat "Bambi" lol. I want the first impression to be a good one. I know I can slam dunk some bream come warmer weather, and crappie as well, I just dont want to give them the bad impression during the winter, when even dear ole dad scrapes for a few keepers.

How did you guys do it? The ones that got their children successfully hooked on fishing anyway lol

[CatFan]

Find a lake loaded with something that wants to bite. Size really doesn't matter. I'd try to avoid the boat the first few times since the kids may not stay interested for more than an hour. Rocks, frogs, cattails, mud and water are just as interesting as fish. Zebco 33s just don't work as well as they used to, and kids struggle keeping tension on the line when they reel. Cane poles or the telescopics are the best bets. Mash the barbs down on their hooks to make removal easier from you, them and the fish. Use three poles, so they can keep fishing while you untangle whatever they get tangled. If you do have time to fish, hand the pole to them when you hook something so they can catch it. When you take them in the boat, boat riding, snacks and drinks will be the main draws. Don't forget bug spray and sunscreen, since they won't be quite as tolerant as you.

[crappiecrazy]

Find a lake loaded with something that wants to bite. Size really doesn't matter. I'd try to avoid the boat the first few times since the kids may not stay interested for more than an hour. Rocks, frogs, cattails, mud and water are just as interesting as fish. Zebco 33s just don't work as well as they used to, and kids struggle keeping tension on the line when they reel. Cane poles or the telescopics are the best bets. Mash the barbs down on their hooks to make removal easier from you, them and the fish. Use three poles, so they can keep fishing while you untangle whatever they get tangled. If you do have time to fish, hand the pole to them when you hook something so they can catch it. When you take them in the boat, boat riding, snacks and drinks will be the main draws. Don't forget bug spray and sunscreen, since they won't be quite as tolerant as you.

Wow, what good advice! I like the "mash the barb" suggestion

[deathb4disco]

I agree with CatFan. I would not even consider a Zebco combo for kids that young. You've got the right idea with the telescopic pole, float and bait. Last year, Jack Wells of BnM poles contributed to an article in Crappie World about starting kids fishing. He also tried the Zebco combo route, and it was a DISASTER. So, he went back to a plain ol' canepole -- much better. That article should be required reading for anybody wanting to start kids fishing.

Whenever I take kids out that young, I use a 10-12' pole, light line, float and small hooks. (Get some of the Thill Mini Stealth or Mini Shy Bite floats.) The last time I did this was with the daughters of a friend of mine (4 and 6, respectively.) In about an hour and a half, I conservatively estimated the girls had caught about 50 bluegills. That's another thing -- don't plan on spending all day on the water. Kids have a short attention span, so keep the trip to a few hours at most.

[STUMP HUNTER]

I have three daughters that are now 29, 23 and 17. I didn't start none of them in a boat.
I would find bream beds that were close to the road with a short walk to carry them to fish. I would make a big deal out of their trip. Wake them up around sunup, let them help load the truck. We would stop off and have breakfast, go by the bait store and get the bait. I would carry something for them to drink and eat and we would fish for 1/2 a day.
It was so fun watching them catch their first fish. All three of them ran up the bank instead of reeling the fish in.
All of them love to fish and they all remember that first fishing trip with Dad.

[deathb4disco]

Last week, I was in Colorado for ski trip. I also wanted to fish, so I hired a trout guide for a day. He told me that the week before, he had taken out a guy and his daughter (8 or 9 years old.) I think it was her first time ever. Anyway, air temps were around 5 degrees, water was in the low 30's, and they were fly fishing. After about an hour, the little girl said, "Is it always like this?". Then, she went and sat in the car the rest of the day. She may never fish again.

[Fatman]

NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS!!!

Cardinal Rule #1 You don't get to fish at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ingrain it and kick yourself if you break it!!!!!!!!!!!

You are there to assist, show, teach, explain, stop fights (yeah it can happen), make sure they don't fall in, or try and eat the bait etc. etc.
There is nothing worse you could do than fishing while teaching and catch something and they don't!!!!!! Not good, so no fishing.

As everyone else said small excursions somewhere they're gonna catch fish. If you have the older Zebco equipment by all means use it (I had a bunch of 202's and 404's but my kids outgrew them) BUT!!!!!!!! practice with them in the backyard first and teach them how to be safety consicious, kids are smarter than we give them credit for. Show them how to cast and even if they put it in a tree laugh and say Dont' worry it happens!!

You can all laugh at me for this next part!! YES I was a new Dad once and WE ALL MAKE BOO BOO"S!!!! My son when he as 4 would play with crayfish, minnows, leach's crickets but man you put a nightcrawler near the boy and he would run SCREAMING FOR HIS MAMA!!!!! So while the Mom was out shopping one day, Dad being Mister Fisherman figured the best way to get the boy over his fear of nightcrawlers was to sit him down on the sofa, told him to put his hand out and put the biggest, fatest, squiggliest nightcrawler in his hand, closed it into a fist and made him hold it. WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The wife got home and he had tears flowing and she asked what was wrong, well ol Dad was getting a cup of coffee and the boy opened his hand, dropped the worm and RAN for MOM!!!!!! My punishment for this little incident was escorting/driving my daughter and six of her friends to a Care Bear movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Guys and Moms take it easy, make it fun, short trips, snacks and even if it's only an hour and they want to leave LEAVE!! When you get home have them help put stuff away. The more interested they stay the more change of getting them hooked on fishing and you'll have a fishign buddy for years to come (till they leave and you have to go by yourself again).

Fatman

Fatman

[TreednNC]

Thanks guys. Great advice. I think Ill go the telescoping route the first time so there is no reeling involved. I have places where I can catch 50 bream (bluegills, an assorted sunfish) in an hour no problem. May even go the route of spending a morning catching crickets and grasshoppers in the yard for bait.

[Big Willie]

Alot of good ideas above, try to keep the trips short, bring food snacks little bottles of juice or soda. Most kids love to look at the fish in cooler after they are caught so I try to make it easy for that to happen. I also think it is important that the fish don't fin them I always just held them and let them put fingers in the mouthp- lips, you don't want a bad first impression. also i would rig up a couple of extra rods in case of break offs saves a lot of down timw

[bassboy1]

Here's my advice. I was a kid more recently than most of y'all, so the memories are more vivid. I would go the Zebco route. Get each of them their own, and make a big deal about it. The ownership of that brand new shiny spincast rod in the living room the night before a trip gets you ahead of the game already. The ability to have the freedom to cast and reel is a plus for them as well. Gives them independence, which while it isn't good for a lot of every day situations, does help here. Plus, they won't get bored as quick if they can cast and reel as well. 'Course, it took me my first 6 trips before we actually caught something, yet I never did lose patience, so maybe I am odd....:p:D