How to get young people fishing?

[CrankFate]

2 hours ago, The Dread Pirate Fisherman said:

I suppose it's how you put it in your OP. "Woman don't have patience for that" referring to the opposite sex in that way doesn't lend to attracting them to the sport. No harm no fowl just saying. 

Because every time I see a woman fishing, they get mad, they aske me for help. They get mad, the kids get upset and then they quit. I have seen this much more often than I have seen women fishing for the sake of fishing. I can’t help that that’s been my experience.

[The Dread Pirate Fisherman]

1 hour ago, CrankFate said:

Because every time I see a woman fishing, they get mad, they aske me for help. They get mad, the kids get upset and then they quit. I have seen this much more often than I have seen women fishing for the sake of fishing. I can’t help that that’s been my experience.

That's your experience which is sad because I happen to know woman that live to fish for the sake of fishing and honing their fishing skills.   

[Jleebesaw]

Man I see kids fishing all the time. Maybe it's just this part of the world, northern new york, but they are fishing all over the place. I see them in the same ponds and river spots I used when I was a kid. I see groups of kids ride by on their bikes with backpacks and fishing poles a lot. Maybe it's just because I live on the river in my town so I see it more, but I see lots of them. There are 2 or 3 kids tournaments in waddington ny every summer that draw hundreds of kids. Waddington is a great fishing town with lots of free access to the st lawrence river, so I'm sure that helps. Just about every ice fishing derby around here have separate prizes for kids too. I don't know, man, I see a lot of youth participation. 

     

[Sifuedition]

Lot of good replies.

 

For me, it was perch that started it. Typical kid with no attention span, but, you get into the perch and it would definitely keep me going for a while. Then one day when I was five, that perch just kept pulling more and more line even though I was reeling like a mad man. My snoopy closed-face didn't have a chance against the 8 lbs catfish that decided it wanted a worm, too. Dad had to hand pull it in. That was the moment I was hooked for life.

 

The keys as I see it:

Get the parents at least into taking them

Get at least one of their friends going with them

Keep them busy with easy to catch, schooling fish; perch, white bass, crappie

Let them reel in a bigger fish. Hook one for them while they are busy with perch, if you have to

Until they have the bug, keep the trip fun, even if it's not fishing. Stop for donuts or something on the way. Let them catch worms, grasshoppers, etc to "help" with the fishing if they get bored. Let them swim or something if worms/bait is not something they are ok with.

[BassNJake]

I think its funny when adults blame the kids for constantly being on their phones or playing video games.

Who gave them the phones? Who introduced them to video games? Who lets them be on them for hours on end?

 

Issues with kids are almost always related to the parenting.

 

When I was a kid, I was always outside, running all over the neighborhood from sun up to sundown.

I'd duct tape my 2 piece rod to my BMX and ride it 30 minutes down the back roads to get to the quarry or the river to fish.

That was a lot safer practice 40 years ago.

 

I always try to make it about time together while fishing.

I have been known to stop along the shoreline and bomb rocks into the water with my son.

We have pulled up on a random bank and went exploring along the shoreline for anything of interest.

I always have garbage bags with me so my kids learned that litter will always be an issue but as individuals we can make a difference.

 

 

 

[TriCityBassin']

Here is my comment.

I grew up in the inner city of Richmond VA.  Concrete has no fish even though the james river was 10 minutes away, it was not "accessible".

I would suggest that anyone who is interested in continuing our sport set up events that get children who do not have access and are probably (Like I was) children of single parents or parents who can do nothing other than work on the water.

It can be bank fishing or even just creek exploration.

 

My perspective is very different than most fisherman I know.  Most grew up in rural areas with easy access or ponds.  I don't really think this is a perspective most people have considered.  We focus on the kids in our life/family.  We need to light the match for 20 kids, not just 2/3.

 

Just my 2 cents, good post.

[Rip_lipz]

I am 24 and during the summer I am on my boat more than at home. My dad fished very seldom when I was very young, mostly ocean, off the bridges in Panama, Florida. I highly doubt I could ever get him on the boat to fish with me now. I taught my self how to fish and use a boat. I think its just in the blood. My brothers are 16 and they like fishing but I would never be able to get them up at 4am on a Saturday. We also grew up camping and racing motocross, so I have always been outside on the weekends. I completely agree that my generation is glued to our phones. I mean the first thing I bought when I came home from boot camp was a XBOX One and a new baitcaster. But, the electronics don't keep me from have a great day on the water. 

[Gundog]

Just an update on the question I asked everyone on the forum. I passed along the ideas brought up by everyone who replied and my friend was quick to put the suggestions to his supervisors. They liked the responses and are looking into including parents into the program for teaching kids to fish. Also not concentrating only on trout but more on sunfish which are prominent and easy to catch in our area was a hit with the powers that be. All the ideas were received well and I hope some changes come in the near future to protect the sport we all love. Thanks to everyone for your ideas.