Taking My Son....debating On....

[MT2]

I should be in bed right now but I dont sleep much these days. In about 6 hours Im taking my 6 year old to a farm pond that has alot of skinny 14" bass in it. Reason they are skinny is for another post I plan on making tomorrow after I get home with some pictures(I hope anyways). Im a little worried about one of these fish scaring my son and him dropping his rod they are diffently big enough to pull his rod in. So, do you think it would be just as fun for him if I basically just set the hook and handed over to him? Let him get a better feel for these fish before breaking out his Zebco 33. He has caught fish on senko's in the past but they was really short fish 6-8" and he was complaining they was to hard to reel.

[Bassn Blvd]

My kid on his 4th birthday. He was going to hold the fish or have to wear a pink skirt, haha. He freaked out saying "the bass ate my thumb" because its mouth gave him bass finger, lmao.

[QUIENYO]

Same thing happened with my five year old last year. The first one or two the we caught he lipped, no problem. The third one was a bit larger and the "teeth" scared him. He still won't lip them, but he wants to throw the smaller ones back. As far as reeling them in, he gives me the rod sometimes when he thinks the LMB is too big, but most of the time he reels em in and I net them.

I'd say if you don't think he's ready to bring em in on his rod, go with your plan B. No sense in losing a rod.

Good luck, can't wait for the photos.

[Nitrofreak]

I have 2 daughters, one started at a very young age, the first thing I did was to let them know what they can expect so nothing comes as a surprise, my oldest daughter caught her first fish on a camping trip in June of 1990 she was 3 at the time the fish was a 1.72 sun fish, her hands were too little to remove the hook, but she held the fish for a pic and released it, her second fish that day was a 8.66 lb carp, which she never touched LOL.

My youngest daughter did not catch the bug until she was a teenager, her first fish was a 27 inch 5.22 lb Striper, she too held the fish only to release it, but still held the fish, not too bad for their first time of ever holding a fish.

The way I tought them both was to be behind them and have my hands on theirs as they learned, no matter what you do, they will always have that moment of insecurity, the best you can do is just be there for them, coach them as they learn, I always let them do the work but my hands were on theirs until they relaxed and they could fight the fish on their own.

My opinion is to let your children do all they can for themselves, with a senko the hook will all but set itself, if your worried about the rod getting away then teather the rod with some fishing line to your belt loop.

Good luck and be safe !!!

[B@ssCrzy]

You know your son better than any of us, but what worked for me was just to ask my son what he wanted to do. I did not force him to do anything as I wanted to make sure he enjoyed our time. Some of it depends on his mood. Sometimes he likes to hold the small ones, and not so much the big ones. Although as you can see in my picture to the left there are days when he does not care. As far as him being scared of "fighting" the fish you might try to set the bail pretty loose. It may take a while to fight the fish, but it will also make it easier on him and he may enjoy it more. My motto when fishing with my son is make sure it is fun for him. If it becomes something that is not fun then I need to change something to make it fun. Good luck.

[MarkH024]

I just had twins in May this year! Identical boys if you can imagine that. I can not WAIT for these moments. I love watching them grow just in the short months of having them but I want them to be at the "fishing" age already. I know, I know, "just wait and you'll be eating your words". I've heard it a 1000 times already.

[shootermcbob]

Enjoy them every step of the way...soon they will going to college. My daughter is almost 12, and it seems like YESTERDAY when she was born. Time goes by so fast.

[islandbass]

I have a son about his age who likes to touch them but not lip them and as mentioned, you know your son the best.

As for you being wary of him losing his rod, I devised a leash system made with things found around the home for such a contingent for my daughter when she was your son's age. She already was using a bc reel, a curado, and the thought of her accidentally letting go on a cast or when the fish tugged definitely crossed my mind. I can pm you Picts on how to make it.

[clayton86]

My son went fishing with me 2 days ago he caught a few sunfish. He wont lip fish either he will hold em all day long doesn't mind getting poked by the spines. He loves throwing them back in. My oldest turned 3 in may this is hes second summer fishing he just got a new "dock demon" spinning combo from Walmart and his own mini box with hooks and split shots in it. My youngest just turned 1 exactly a week ago he wont fish till next year though I was spooling my new revo's this morning and he grabbed the other combo and ran off with it the little **** lol.

[slonezp]

My kid on his 4th birthday. He was going to hold the fish or have to wear a pink skirt, haha. He freaked out saying "the bass ate my thumb" because its mouth gave him bass finger, lmao.

If he had opted for the pink skirt would you still brag about it here

[slonezp]

The kids seem to enjoy it, and believe it or not the girls seem to be into holding fish more than the boys. My neice loves everything about fishing except baiting the hook. My nephew wants nothing to do with it.

[MT2]

We went, but nothing to report. One of those mornings, were very active and the boy forgot to go to the rest room and was afraid to do it behind a tree. I was hoping to catch some as today was the last day before I transition back to a weekend Dad as it's my last day with him for the summer. Have to just try it on the weekends now.

[Bass Slayer 72]

I start out the youngsters with a youth pole, the kind you can get from Walmart or sporting store with a hollow handle, that way when it goes in the lake you have time to get it before it sinks; after a few seasons of them catching fish, they can upgrade to a better rod n reel, but I like to save that for a reward for not dropping the pole in or snagging everyone in the boat, anchor line, fish basket, ect….. I have seen Styrofoam float straps that you can put around the base of the pole to make it float if dropped, I’ve never tried them, but I bet it would work.

[topdog5050]

Great to see the kids going fishing.......Sweet!

[Sam]

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries allows the purchase of a “lifetime freshwater fishing license” for children from birth to age two. The cost is $125.

I purchased one for my grandson and one for my granddaughter.

You may want to check with your state game and fisheries to find out if they offer the same program.

Can’t wait to take them fishing in a few years.

[hooah212002]

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries allows the purchase of a “lifetime freshwater fishing license” for children from birth to age two. The cost is $125.

Wait, so does that mean if you purchase it when they are 2 or younger, they never have to buy one again for Virginia? Or do you all require fishing licenses no matter the age and it cost $125 for 2 years?

[Sam]

Wait, so does that mean if you purchase it when they are 2 or younger, they never have to buy one again for Virginia? Or do you all require fishing licenses no matter the age and it cost $125 for 2 years?

Yep!

Great deal.

For freshwater, only.

If you get one ask for the Certificate so you can have it framed and hung in the kid's room.