New to bass fishing with young kids, tips, what rig etc?

[snake95]

You have super advice here, so just a few other thoughts.  I get the issue of not being able to get bait quickly, and for that reason I gravitated to lures even for the little guys pretty quickly.  I teach kids 5 and over to use plastic worms.

 

Gulp for me has been a lifesaver and it all works well, sometimes better than live: the nightcrawlers, minnows, and worms.

All you need is a baitholder hook and you are good to go.  (Or any of the other zillions of hooks mentioned).

 

I like the thill bobbers from Walmart.  

 

One tip about hook size: once my kids caught a few bass, I quickly realized that the small (6,8, etc) hooks that are so effective for hooking panfish and small bass are also deadly to bass when fishing with small kids.  They often get gut hooked or gill-hooked and you have a challenge on your hands to keep the bass alive.  I moved the kids to 1/0 and 2/0 circle or other round hooks and found that while hookup ratios dropped for the little kids, bass lifespan went way up.  I found it was a completely worthwhile tradeoff to make.

[Hog Basser]

Don't forget since you're new to all of this, even if you don't plan to fish yourself, buy a license!  If you just cast it out for the kids, they will nail you for not having a license.  Get it while you're buying the gear at the store. 

[bitsandbass]

HA good point thanks!

On 5/9/2017 at 1:04 PM, snake95 said:

You have super advice here, so just a few other thoughts.  I get the issue of not being able to get bait quickly, and for that reason I gravitated to lures even for the little guys pretty quickly.  I teach kids 5 and over to use plastic worms.

 

Gulp for me has been a lifesaver and it all works well, sometimes better than live: the nightcrawlers, minnows, and worms.

All you need is a baitholder hook and you are good to go.  (Or any of the other zillions of hooks mentioned).

 

I like the thill bobbers from Walmart.  

 

One tip about hook size: once my kids caught a few bass, I quickly realized that the small (6,8, etc) hooks that are so effective for hooking panfish and small bass are also deadly to bass when fishing with small kids.  They often get gut hooked or gill-hooked and you have a challenge on your hands to keep the bass alive.  I moved the kids to 1/0 and 2/0 circle or other round hooks and found that while hookup ratios dropped for the little kids, bass lifespan went way up.  I found it was a completely worthwhile tradeoff to make.

 

Im planning to use:

 

1) #8 inline circles for trout if I can find who makes these!?  Otherwise Im just going to get some #6 Gamakatsus inline circles

2) 1/0 Gamakatsu inline circles for bass

3) #12 hooks of whatever brand to try catch some shiners on the side while the kids fish (any recommendation for brand?)

 

Its freshwater and its trout/bass! Gamakatsus seem like an overkill but I cant really find alternatives easily (need to scroll through pages and pages on the web).  If anyone has recommendations for manufactures, cheaper hooks etc, please let me know. 

[Jaderose]

I'll give my advice....whatever you decide to give your kids to fish is up to you....but.....1)Do NOT plan to fish yourself.  TRUST ME!!!!  It will only frustrate and irritate you.  It is about them when they are with you.  2.)  Do NOT get discouraged if they want to leave after 20 minutes.  Kids do not have the patience to sit for hours not catching fish if the bite isn't on.  Even if it it is, they get bored after an hour.  Welcome to fishing.  Have fun with your kids but explore this great sport on your own, too.

[snake95]

X2 ^^

 

@Jaderose probably just gave you the best advice on here.  I've been hard at it for 3 years fishing with kids.  The first year was very frustrating when I tried to make it about me and me catching fish.   Here's the thing: if you hang in there and work to put them on the fish and don't get discouraged, it will pay dividends in the long run, big time.  My kids now love to fish and once over 6 they've become very independent.  As a testament to that, at age 7 last year by son fished on his own to catch the winner in a pond tourney and after landing that fish, a sports photographer caught the action as he worked a whopper plopper (topwater lure) by himself and fought a wildly jumping bass. It was awesome.  Make it about them and their fish when you are together and then take some time for yourself later.

[Pro Logcatcher]

Use the bluegill for catfish or 8 lb largemouths! That'll get them hooked on fishing for sure

[Hog Basser]

15 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I'll give my advice....whatever you decide to give your kids to fish is up to you....but.....1)Do NOT plan to fish yourself.  TRUST ME!!!!  It will only frustrate and irritate you.  It is about them when they are with you.  2.)  Do NOT get discouraged if they want to leave after 20 minutes.  Kids do not have the patience to sit for hours not catching fish if the bite isn't on.  Even if it it is, they get bored after an hour.  Welcome to fishing.  Have fun with your kids but explore this great sport on your own, too.

I'll second this as well.  When I take my kids fishing, all I have time for is re-baiting hooks and removing fish.  You just can't fish yourself.  Some days they will fish longer than others, don't force them to stay longer, let them decide and make it fun. 

[the rod tosser]

On ‎5‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 6:14 PM, Jaderose said:

I'll give my advice....whatever you decide to give your kids to fish is up to you....but.....1)Do NOT plan to fish yourself.  TRUST ME!!!!  It will only frustrate and irritate you.  It is about them when they are with you.  2.)  Do NOT get discouraged if they want to leave after 20 minutes.  Kids do not have the patience to sit for hours not catching fish if the bite isn't on.  Even if it it is, they get bored after an hour.  Welcome to fishing.  Have fun with your kids but explore this great sport on your own, too.

This is the most valuable advice that anyone can give you .  It is hard to help a kid learn to love fishing if you are constantly frustrated by there needs. or getting angry with them.  It ruins both of your enjoyment . Another good tip is try to find a place with a restroom near by .Take time to enjoy your time together after all this is really the main goal.   I have chased frogs, skipped rocks ,feed fish, watched eagles catch fish .