Helping kids fish?

[Munkin]

Little backstory on me, I grew up poor and always wanted to buy the stuff I saw on the Bassmasters at 12 but could not afford it. A local gentleman that was really into fishing use to give us kids in the neighborhood lures and even when I had money I tried to pay him but he never accepted. His answer was don't pay me, when you become an adult do for kids like I have done for you? This always stuck with me so now I try to give back to any kids I come across. The Army was both good and bad to me but taught me many lessons and gave me opportunities to better my life. Now there isn't anything Bass related I can't buy at least two of if I want. Where am I going with this well anytime I am fishing and see kids struggling to catch fish I step in like tonight, There were two boys trying to catch so fish at a local creek with no luck and their father was not much of a fisherman. I had been catching little SM non-stop when they arrived so I figured I would help. They were hitting that 2.5" Zman bait that looks like a beaver nonstop so I casted it out and after I hooked them I ask them to watch my rod for bites. Pretended like I was checking my phone or tackle bag while they catch these monster 10" SM. Not sure which one of us was happier but when I left I gave them the only pack of baits I had and the jigheads to go with it. I do this all the time and have actually cut the only bait I have that is working off to give it to some kid struggling to catch fish. For me I like paying it forward and I think it brings me good Karma while fishing.

 

Allen

[islandbass]

That is excellent and kudos to you for doing that. I am pleased to tell you I do the same. I was in a similar situation and helped a dad get his kids onto some panfish. Long story short, his gratitude was felt in his hand shake and seen in his eyes as we both watched his kids catch fish. 
 

I will admit that for me, seeing kids or other get into fish because I helped them is an even better feeling than if I caught them. Heck, when my kids were young and went fishing with me, I always wanted them to catch more than me. 

[Munkin]

Since I have a few "Spare" lures I have been donating to Jr Bassmaster clubs the past couple of years. Currently I donate stuff to 2 Maryland teams, 1 West Virginia, 1 Pennsylvania, and an Illinois team. The local Maryland kids make out as they help me out at some of the shows locally. One kid in particular reminded me of myself when I was his age so I asked him what baits he would buy if he had a lot of money? His father seemed a little embarrassed that he couldn't buy his son whatever he wanted so I told a 12 year old to lie about the value of the Megabass Visions I gave him. 

 

Allen 

[MidwestBassAttack]

I love hearing stories like this. Kudos to you…if only we had more out there like you! I love doing the same when I see kids eager to learn the sport. Love seeing them out without their faces buried in a tablet or phone.

 

I was out once and happened across a kid of about 10-12. He was all decked out in Favorite Fishing apparel. I noticed he had the Abu Black Max (seems we all cut our teeth on this) and a no name Walmart rod. Super good kid and very respectful. As he bid his farewells moving down the bank, I gifted him a Favorite Phantom Rigged rod. He was ecstatic and it was great seeing his reaction. 
 

Fast forward about a year later, I ran into him again….still using the rod I gave him. 
 

Remember, be kind out there folks…you never know just how much of an impact you might make on someone!

[Darth-Baiter]

my friend took a kid fishing.  they just trolled a jerk bait.  they only had one that would catch fish, so I pulled up alongside and rigged the kid up with my jerk bait with similar colors/pattern.  the kid got on them.  at the end of the day he tried to give it back and I said, "ah..keep it if it is okay with your mom".   (bye bye lucky Vision 110! - haha).

 

the kid has since ghosted my buddy.  no thanks, no word..  kid did thank me for the lure.  I think mommy got wise to my buddies motives..

 

cool kid.  he would S-talk like an adult.  (without profanity of course)

 

too add - true story.

I was coming in with my kayak.  I see a bass in the weeds.  I was gonna cast at it but I see a kid on the nearby dock and decided to save the bass for him.  looked like a 8-10 year old kid.  I get on land and walk on to the dock.  I see the kid casting a nice rig.  full matching, SLX DC with matching rod.  I complimented him, on his casting and he side-eyes me and replies, "pfffttt..what kinda idiot can't cast a bait caster?!"  I flip a u-turn and head back to put my kayak away.  his dad sees me, and says, "yea..he is a bit of a.....forgot how to use English..he gets that from his mom's side".  I silently moved on with my life.  

 

my friend comes in and asks..I said, "that kid is venomous"..hahahhaha..

[volzfan59]

We used to take kids from a group home fishing. These kids were adjudicated to the care of the TN Department of Children's Service. They were low level criminals, but not to the point of being sent to reform schools. 

 

We were pretty much bream fishing, some times wading for trout. Any way, it was always so much fun to see some foul mouthed inner-city thug catch their first fish, usually a little bluegill and revert to a little excited kid. Most were scared of worms and crickets.

[GaryH]

Great to hear all you guys giving for others. Great job. I personally keep at least 4 freezer bags on my boat filled with a assortment of baits for kids or sometimes adults. I’ll toss them the bag and watch their face light up. No matter how the fishing was those days I leave with a good feeling. 

[PourMyOwn]

I'm a HS teacher and my students know I make baits. My school is small (less than 300) and fairly rural. There's about 10 hard-core anglers who talk fishing with me all the time. It's pretty great.

[WRB]

Been teaching kids to fish since I was a kid. Being raised on a lake and my older brothers constant companion when he was 15 and worked at the boat landing, I was his helper.

Red, my brothers boss taught me to bass fish using bait casting tackle. Red also taught me how to make up trout lake rigs using 3 lb mono line with gold Mustad size 16 treble hooks. I would make up rigs on a square paper card to sell at the landing tackle shake. Show boat renters how to rig the leader and use Velvetta cheese for bait.

Moving down the hill to the city taught all my childhood neighbor friends how to tie knots and bass fish at the local rock quarry pond. It’s been a life long journey teaching fishing to kids.

When my son joined Indian Guides at 6,  I taught nearly 100 kids how to tie fishing knots and bass fish using a split shot rig with reapers at the lakes we camp at. 

Been paying it foreword for decades and still trying via this forum site openly and honestly.

We all need to teach kids to tie knot and fish every chance we get.

Tom

[slonezp]

I volunteer one day a year with @cadman and some other folks teaching kids from 5-15 how to fish. We spend most of our time untangling lines, baiting hooks and unhooking fish. Unfortunately it was canceled this year because of the Highland Park IL 4th of July parade shooting. The bulk of the event introduces kids to hunting and unfortunately, because of the shooting, the organizers decided to cancel it for this year. 

My feeling is, if we can get kids hooked on the outdoors, maybe it will keep them away from gangs and drugs. 

 

[Catt]

[cadman]

On 10/22/2022 at 8:18 PM, slonezp said:

I volunteer one day a year with @cadman and some other folks teaching kids from 5-15 how to fish. We spend most of our time untangling lines, baiting hooks and unhooking fish. Unfortunately it was canceled this year because of the Highland Park IL 4th of July parade shooting. The bulk of the event introduces kids to hunting and unfortunately, because of the shooting, the organizers decided to cancel it for this year. 

My feeling is, if we can get kids hooked on the outdoors, maybe it will keep them away from gangs and drugs. 

 

 My wife and I enjoy doing the yearly 1 day event with @slonezp. I like to teach the kids how to cast and properly hold a fishing rod. It's just nice to see how anxious they are to learn. Also many of them don't have anyone to take them or teach them, so it's a good opportunity for them to get outdoors and experience something new.  Every year I personally take out one young child and one adult  on the water fishing. They both seem to like the new experience, especially the kids

[Bluebasser86]

I'd much rather take a kid fishing that I know is going to need a lot more of my attention but appreciate the experience more than most adults who just want a free ride in a boat or to learn my spots so they can take all their buddies back there next week. 

[Catt]

Y'all wanna find out how good ya ain't?

 

Take a kid fishing!

 

They will catch em doing everything we preach here not to do.