Introducing fishing to a kid

[Ravox]

My friend kids wants to learn fishing, and i want to introduce them to the art, now i really want them to catch some fish so they don't get too annoyed,  i know that bass could be hard for them at the beginning specially now (summer), I'm thinking about panshish or catching anything on the lake, what kind of bait i can use to achieve that? (we do not want to use live bait)

[MN Fisher]

Inline spinners - Mepps #1 and #2, Aglias or Comets.

1/16oz-1/8oz ball jigs with small plastics (1"-2" Mr. Twisters) under slip-bobbers.

 

[813basstard]

Step 1: Have beer close by.

Step 2: Don’t think for one second that you’ll make a cast.

Step 3: Learn how to untie the greatest accidental knots known to man.

Step 4: Have beer closer by. 
Step 5: If you happen to catch a fish by chance, they will want to keep it. 
Step 6: Make sure they each have their own rod. If not, a cage fight will break out. 
Step 7: Make sure they both catch fish. If not, refer back to said cage fight.

Step 8: Don’t  even bother about closing the beer cooler. The pace has picked up to break neck speed.

 

Good luck!

[TOXIC]

Kids on my guide trips were the absolute hardest but could also be the most rewarding.  Big consideration is their age and if they can cast.  But…..generally, I always rigged kids up with push button casting rigs with a slip bobber and a small grub or tube on a 1/16oz jig head. The float gives them something to concentrate on and will catch everything from panfish to crappie and bass.  

[DaubsNU1]

2 minutes ago, 813basstard said:

Step 1: Have beer close by.

Step 2: Don’t think for one second that you’ll make a cast.

Step 3: Learn how to untie the greatest accidental knots known to man.

Step 4: Have beer closer by. 
Step 5: If you happen to catch a fish by chance, they will want to keep it. 
Step 6: Make sure they each have their own rod. If not, a cage fight will break out. 
Step 7: Make sure they both catch fish. If not, refer back to said cage fight.

Step 8: Don’t  even bother about closing the beer cooler. The pace has picked up to break neck speed.

 

Good luck!

 

^^ This. Is. GOLD! ^^

 

Took my daughters to a small local pond...each had their own rod.

 

Rigged them up with a bobber, split-shot, and small hook.

 

I sat on a lawn chair between them...a can of corn at my feet...

 

I could barely keep up with them...bait hook...remove bluegill...bait hook...repeat!

 

Side notes: 

- Make sure it's not too hot, or too cold

- Watch the time carefully...don't want them to get bored

- Bring snacks

 

 

[the reel ess]

Cricket under a bobber. When/if they get their fill of it, it's time to stop. Stay away from them when they cast.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

1 hour ago, 813basstard said:

Step 1: Have beer close by.

Step 2: Don’t think for one second that you’ll make a cast.

Step 3: Learn how to untie the greatest accidental knots known to man.

Step 4: Have beer closer by. 
Step 5: If you happen to catch a fish by chance, they will want to keep it. 
Step 6: Make sure they each have their own rod. If not, a cage fight will break out. 
Step 7: Make sure they both catch fish. If not, refer back to said cage fight.

Step 8: Don’t  even bother about closing the beer cooler. The pace has picked up to break neck speed.

 

Good luck!

It must be a blast for the kids to fish with you.  Not only do they get to fish they get to learn how to drive home.

[Bankc]

How old are we talking here?  And when you say you don't want to use live bait, do you mean you don't want to mess with worms or minnows or something that's currently living, or do you want to stick to artificial lures?  Because it's easier to teach kids to fish using a hook and boober than it is a T-rig or marabou jig.  And you can always throw something like dough, hominy, powerbait, etc. on a hook and catch fish pretty easily.  

 

I know a couple of adults who want to go fishing with me, and I can't get them to do anything but cast a line once and watch a bobber.  Anything more than that, and they get anxious and frustrated and want to quit.  And we're talking full grown adults.  Kids are even worse.  Sometimes you'll find one that shows an interest, but most people's idea of fishing is just sitting still, and then reeling in a big fish every 5-10 minutes.

[papajoe222]

Berkley Gulp worms. You can start them out suspending them under a bobber, plus watching the bobber will hold their attention for a short time. Target bluegill and perch, if they are present  When it comes time for them to do a little cast and retrieve, a split shot rig with the same bait should get the into a bass or two.  I suggest circle hooks for either situation. The last thing you want to deal with is a bleeding, gut hooked fish.  The added benefit is you don’t need to remind them to set the hook. Just reel. 

[a1712]

He gets a bit worked up.

[BrianMDTX]

I’m almost 61. When I became an adult, my father told me one of the things he most regretted was teaching my brother and me how to fish…while he tried to fish. I took that to heart. When I first taught my daughters to fish, I brought two spincast rigs for them and nothing for me. They want to cast, reel and do things themselves. And they are going to get snagged in trees, rocks…maybe low-flying aircraft. But having some cranky dude spewing $&%#! under his breath because just as he’s starting to work a T rig or cranking in a spinnerbait he hears “Dad! I’m stuck again!”, or “Dad! Is this a bite? Lemme reel it in and check!” is not the way to go. 
 

I forgive you, Dad. You certainly taught me to tie a great IC knot and definitely taught me to respect nature, the law and my fellow man. And in your own way, showed me how to be a good dad. 

[ironbjorn]

6' ML/F spinning rod with a size 1000 spinning reel. 8lb monofilament line. 4" Senkos Wacky Rigged on a #1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook and the Ned Rig (Finesse TRD on a 1/15oz or 1/20oz ShroomZ head). Virtually impossible to not catch bass and nobody can fish them "wrong."

[BrianMDTX]

15 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Virtually impossible to not catch bass and nobody can fish them "wrong."

I must be in minority when it comes to Ned rigs lol. 

[Heron]

I’m going to recommend against using a hook and bobber.

 

a cast and retrieve will keep the child’s attention engaged far better.  Because even if they’re not catching, they are still working the swimming of their lure, and the look of their presentation.

 

THE KEY....IS LOCATION.

Take the child to a pond that has an over abundance of fish, this will keep the action fast, with a catch on every other cast or so.  Do your due dilligence and planning to scout out and locate a place like this, and the child’s fishing experience will be great.

I started my little boy when he was 3yrs old on a 2” curly grub on a 1/16ox ball head. Depending on the pond he. Caught an abundance of small bass and good panfish every time.

 

That was the best way to go.

[MGF]

I've done a lot of fishing with kids under widely varying situations so I'd say that it depends on the kid and the goals. 

 

My daughter put us all up in a cabin near a lake for my 60th birthday. I took my grandson (12 years old) out specifically to bass fish. He was already using spinning tackle and had already done some panfishing...his casting was still pretty rough. I set him up with a wacky rigged stick bait and he caught some fish. I took the younger grandson and his mom (my daughter) out for crappies. The first evening we caught a bunch and turned them all lose. Then they decided that we should have a "fish fry". The second night we caught and kept enough to feed the bunch of us with a little left over

 

I was a single custodial parent from the time my kids were 5 and 6 to 12 and 13. All of my fishing was done with at least one of them with me. Additionally we didn't have much money so weekends were spent together and usually around a lake or river and/or the woods. You can get in some fishing when you have kids with you but you have to be flexible. 

 

When it was the three of us I'd set them up to fish and get in what fishing I could until they let me know that it was time to go climb trees or something.

 

When it was just my son and I we fished for real from the time he was just a little guy. Sure he got tangled and snagged but we learn by doing...as long as the interest in there. Once when he was really young I took him and my car top boat for a weekend of fishing Mississippi river pool 13 (one of my favorite places on earth). I could get the boat on/off the car alone but he was too small to help me get it to and from the water. I just hung around the ramp with my stuff spread on the ground and waited for somebody willing to give me a hand. LOL We caught a lot of bass that weekend.

 

My granddaughters are better suited to a float and live bait.

[Ski]

 I would say Pan fish as there is magic in watching a cork go under, they are generally easy to find and cooperative. A child needs to keep interested, if it becomes boring they lose interest quickly.

 

[Ravox]

My only concern targeting panfish here in Florida with small hooks and gulp worms is gut hooking a bass or getting a turtle , those turtles here run after any bait we throw on lakes