How old?

[DINK WHISPERER]

It just depends on the individual child imo. Some are just not going to be into it no matter what. I myself started around 4 yrs old for bluegill. My son was late to show interest in it. He started around 7 as my full time partner. Just get them out there and take it day by day, don't force anything. And always make it as fun as possible for them. Good luck

[bigbill]

My son was 4yo when he caught his first trout.

 

my older brother took me fishing when I was six years old.

[Hog Basser]

My sons are 5 and 3 and have been fishing for a few years now.  I would guess they were each about 18 months when they first held a pole.  Attention span is key.  Started them out on dock demons (short poles) for bluegill with worms.  Now the older one just wants lures to cast out and retrieve and the younger one is obsessed with catfish since he caught a 2 pounder off the dock with some of his mom's ham last summer (when he was just shy of 3 yrs. old).  Between them and my friends' kids, I stay really busy for about 30 minutes baiting hooks and removing bluegill, then they move on to swimming or something else.  Of course they might come back to fishing 2-3 times during the day while we're hanging out on the dock.  

[geo g]

My son and daughter both started at about 5 years old with a short push button zebco set up.  Both have fond memories of those days with a bobber, small hook , and worms, maggots, and crickets.  We were targeting fish of any kind and not just bass.  We kept the trips short, loaded with snacks, their favorite juice drinks, and lots of praise.  It was fun for all.  They are 38 & 33 now, it seems like yesterday!

[Frisbie385]

Wish me luck. We are having our first this June and hopefully he takes up fishing like I have. I am thinking a nice Lews Hyper Mag Speed Spool and Dobyns Champion Extreme for his first birthday............... I will just hang on to it till he is able to throw a bait caster!

[Paul Roberts]

The relationship with you and others along is primary. The rest comes on a need to know basis. They will be best served learning with you than from you. They will care more that you care, than care that you know. Ultimately, fishing should be introduced, supported, and allowed to become their own.

[Hog Basser]

Took my two again this last Saturday to a pond while mom was working.  We didn't catch anything, but they had a blast trying and stayed with it much longer than in the past.  They made me change their lures 3 times!  Few more years and I will have them tying their own.  

[islandbass]

You might want to consider a dock or the shore first, until you see what their attention level is like.  Imagine setting up and preparing all that and then ten minutes into the boating activity, they're ready to go home (really young uns). 

 

Build from there.

[FishDewd]

Well I remember catching my first fish when I was somewhere between 3 and 4 years old. It was a catfish from the family pond, a healthy 2.5 pounder or so. I still have the picture my mom took and dad and me getting ready to prepare it for dinner, I was just a little dink back then! Today I went out on a fishing trip and saw a really small girl fishing with her little pink Barbie pole and she seemed to be having a blast with dad. He really did a good job with her keeping it fun, I was very happy to see that. She even managed to catch a little baby fish... I think it was possibly a drum? That was pretty cool to see, brought back some memories. Minus the Barbie pole of course...  I was using the same 5' ugly stick with a zebco 33 that I still have to this day!

[BuzzHudson19c]

Some of my earliest memories are fishing with my father. Couldn't have been older than four at the time. I remember when the bite was slow, we would walk the shore flipping rocks to find crayfish.

 

Fingers crossed my daughter will enjoy fishing with me when she is old enough.

[Rick Howard]

My old man stared me fishing when I was 2 using floats and worms on a spinning setup.  He had s good approach. Never kept me out too long in the beginning.  He knew when I was bored and brought me in then.  It wasn’t long before we spent all day fishing because I wouldn’t let him go home   

[Bluebasser86]

I started taking my boy when he was 2, but last year when he was 3 he was probably more ready. I'd say it varies a lot by the child most likely. The old bobber and nightcrawler is probably the most surefire way to get them into some action. I make mine fish a wacky rig and he does just fine. 

[flyingmonkie]

I have two little girlies that I've been exposing to fishing since they were old enough to walk.  I've tried to keep it exciting though - 15 minutes at a time, somewhere that I know I can catch a quick fish.  I'll fish while they throw crud in the water.  I'll hook one and then let them take turns reeling it in, and then we all take a selfie.   They also love running jug-lines, catching bream in throw-nets, and hunting for crawfish under rocks.

 

My oldest officially caught her first fish at the age of 4.  Worm on a bobber in a creak.  I'm thinking this summer (she'll be 5) will be our first legit fishing trip together.

[Ratherbfishing]

How old (or young) is directly proportionate to how much patience YOU have and how much YOU actually want to fish yourself.

[Sifuedition]

When I was five, I hooked an 8 lb catfish on a Snoopy pole while fishing for perch. That reel never stood a chance. Dad actually had to pull it in by hand. I've been hooked ever since. I'm sure I fished before that, but, alas, my memory just doesn't go back that far. I'm not sure how long my attention span was before that catfish, but, it was certainly impressive for a 5, 6, 40 year old after that, lol.

[austinF]

On 2018/2/27 at 10:59 AM, kingmotorboat said:

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

Agree but it's more specific to say it "one of the most expensive habit".

[Will1248]

Coming from a recent kid (21 its not as fun as they said), who lived next to a pond, a professional babysitter often times next to a lake and as an elder child in a house with two very young twins. 

 

When they can walk and understand basic speech so 3-4 is the best, shoot even 2 if they are a stud. A zebco underspin with barbless straight circle hooks and powerbait and even if they do not know what is happening they will love it.