How old?

[NHBull]

Growing up I can't remember a time I didn't  have a pole in my hand, but for one reason or another, I didn't pass that to my kids.

Now that I have grandkids, it's something I am obsessing about.

This Summer I just want them on the boat.

How young is to young to drop a line and what are kids using?

Thanks, Bubba

[Darren.]

4 minutes ago, NHBull said:

Growing up I can't remember a time I didn't  have a pole in my hand, but for one reason or another, I didn't pass that to my kids.

Now that I have grandkids, it's something I am obsessing about.

This Summer I just want them on the boat.

How young is to young to drop a line and what are kids using?

Thanks, Bubba

I got my boys started around 3 or 4, I think.

 

Floats (bobber) worms got results 98% of the time

be it bluegill, perch, white bass, largies, catfish, crappie.

 

That's a safe bet to start, IMHO.

[Fishingmickey]

Our family used to sailboat race on the weekends. I was too small to crew so I was stuck on shore. I think I was five or so when I started with a hand line and popcorn jerking dock bluegills. Mom said it was the best baby sitter ever. a ten cent bag of popcorn and me wearing my life jacket. Simpler times for sure.

Fishingmickey

[RPreeb]

I really don't know how old I was the first time I had a pole in my hands, but I do know that there were several bamboo cane poles at our Wisconsin cabin, and I spent my first 17 summers there.  Some of my early memories are of standing on the end of the dock in front of my uncle's cabin (it was the only dock for our family's 3 cabins), catching sunfish on a 9 or 10 foot pole with bobber, sinker, hook and worms.  The fun included digging our own worms out back of the cabins.

 

I'd say that if they show an interest and can at least handle a Zebco, then they are old enough to fish.  Worm fishing for sunfish is usually active enough to hold their interest, at least it always was for us.  If they are too young for that they can certainly come out on the boat and spend some togetherness time with "Grandpa".  Just don't push it too hard, or make an outing so long that they get bored.  Always try to leave them wanting more so that they continue to ask to go.

[slonezp]

They don't make Snoopy and Barbie combos for no reason. 

[lo n slo]

be patient grasshopper ☝️

[Catt]

3 or 4 is fine for getting them started

 

Don't be discouraged if they don't stay with it!

[papajoe222]

It's really never too young, to spark a child"s interest in anything. I've introduced many youngsters from 3-13yr. oldsand the majority of them, though now adults, still enjoy the sport.  The most difficult obstacle is their short attention span. Regardless of their age, you need to grab their interest as quick as possible. You do the fishing at first and let them throw rocks, play at the water's edge, or sit behind the steering wheel of the boat until you hook a fish. Hand them the rod and let them enjoy the fight while helping or showing them how to reel it in. Show your excitement as they will pick up on it. Older children will progress to actually doing the fishing much quicker, but regardless, continue doing the hooking of fish until the little wanna be asks; Let Me Do It. The big mistake at this juncture is them not catching a fish NOW, not two or three minutes after you help them toss the bait out.  For that reason I recommend targeting sunfish, or active crappie when starting them out.

The little guy in my avitar is a 9yr. old I started out at 3yrs.

[kingmotorboat]

I started when I was two. My grandpa knew every great white perch area on calcasieu river, even fished a few any fish tournaments actually placed 3rd at 9 years old with a 2 pound white perch. As I grew older about 13 I started bass fishing with my dad. I wasn't to in depth with it at that time so at 16 I stopped. I took a 11 year break. Me and my family were on rocky terms through most of my 20's. Then at 27 I started bass fishing again. My dad came over noticed a couple of rods and reels so he decided he was going to start fishing as well, bass fishing has literally restored my relationship with my family so when people ask why I'm so die hard about it, it's hard to explain but there's a big reason

[Backroad Angler]

I don't think you can be too young or too old to start fishing, I know people that started when they were 2 or 3, I on the other hand only started not even a year ago, I'm 19 

[kingmotorboat]

2 minutes ago, JoshFromBolo said:

I don't think you can be too young or too old to start fishing, I know people that started when they were 2 or 3, I on the other hand only started not even a year ago, I'm 19 

Welcome to the most expensive habit in the world. Is a 200 dollar combo necessary? No. But oh man is it nice

[bobbyg]

I have 5 kids, and each one started at a different age. I waited until they showed interest before I started with each one. So far 3 of 4 love it, one does not. The fifth is only one, so not happening yet.

[Backroad Angler]

7 minutes ago, kingmotorboat said:

Welcome to the most expensive habit in the world. Is a 200 dollar combo necessary? No. But oh man is it nice

Yeah I already hit that point, impulse buying is a burden :(. 4 months in, I bought a 285 dollar combo.... and I'm fixing to blow some more money thanks to tax returns

[kingmotorboat]

1 minute ago, JoshFromBolo said:

Yeah I already hit that point, impulse buying is a burden :(. 4 months in, I bought a 285 dollar combo.... and I'm fixing to blow some more money thanks to tax returns

Priorities, you're doing it right

[Backroad Angler]

5 minutes ago, kingmotorboat said:

Priorities, you're doing it right

Yes sir, won't be satisfied until I hit 100 

[WRB]

Kids are usually coordinated enough and have long enough attention span to fish at age 5 to 6 years old. Taking 3 to 4 year olds along for short fun outings of an hour or so to share time with you is ok, just don’t have expectations they can catch fish on there own.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

My oldest daughter was 4 when she went on her first fishing trip.  My youngest daughter was 5.  They didn't catch anything, but they had fun.

[mattkenzer]

I started my sons on small fish that i was certain would be biting .... perch, chub, brook trout.

 

From shore .... bring a bucket so you can let the fish swim it.

From boat .... place fish in live well or bucket.

 

When the bite slows down, they entertain themselves watching the fish swim.

They also get to catch them and put them back in the water.

 

This is bringing back great memories.

My boys are now 18 and 21, but still cant out fish dad. .... well maybe some days.

 

And yes, keeping them in the bucket for the kids to play with may have broke a law or two.

[NorthwestBasser]

Started my daughter fishing when she was 4, she is about to be 7...she some how figured out how to get on you tube on an old phone I gave her play games on wifi only. Heard a man's voice in her room so naturally I went to check it out, found her sitting in her chair watching episodes of Big Bass Dreams with Oliver Ngy. Such a proud moment for me. Tears of joy, so I showed her how to cast them to the big TV in the family room. She loves to fish and be on the water with me and her mom!

[Czorn]

My son started at 2, he's big for his age. He is now 4 and all he wants to do is fish and shoot his bow. My step son is 8 and is using my baitcasters and figuring things out on his own. When we get out on the water now I always ask him what we should start out with. No matter what he says, that's what we do. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

i was 3 when i first started, my parents took me to a kids fishing derby. i won my age group. 

[the reel ess]

My daughter caught 3 white perch and a crappie when she was 3. But her attention span was so short, she was finished right them. Her fishing career was over by about 10.

6 hours ago, Czorn said:

My son started at 2, he's big for his age. He is now 4 and all he wants to do is fish and shoot his bow. My step son is 8 and is using my baitcasters and figuring things out on his own. When we get out on the water now I always ask him what we should start out with. No matter what he says, that's what we do. 

Good idea. I had surpassed my dad's desire to fish by age 12. So after that, he would let me run the trolling motor and he would sit back and enjoy. I was allowed to take the boat out on the lake by myself by 14 as long as he knew about where I would go.

[blongfishing]

I grew up in a fishing family so fishing was just part of my life. I don’t remember a time I wasn’t fishing. My grandpa was a striper guide so his main goal was to teach me how to fish. I started catching bluegill at about 18 months old, as soon as I could hold a rod. Later on I moved up to catching carp. My grandpa fed carp that hung around his dock and they came in by the hundreds if you threw a little dog food in the water. After that I just went striper fishing with him and my uncle who is still a guide. Wasn’t until I was 11 or so until I discovered bass fishing on my own and taught myself everything I know. 

 

Teach em young! Fishing kept me out of a lot of trouble and it’s been a great pass time over the years and now has evolved to something even bigger.

[NYWayfarer]

I took my son for his first fishing trip when he was 3

 

At that age it's more you hook the fish and let them reel it in. Be prepared to set up and close up shop real fast because of the attention span at that age. Bring things that can keep them occupied (coloring books, shovel and pail, etc) and they might last longer.

 

Fishing requires patience, coordination and awareness of ones surroundings. These are not things most toddlers have.

[SWVABass]

I started taking my son to the lake at almost 3, and helping him fish once he was 3. My daughter is 2 fixing to be 3 and already loves to fish.... both of them last about 30 mins then it’s time to bug hunt and look for dinosaur bones on the beach. I love it!