What would you buy your kid's for Christmas?

[MyKeyBe]

Well my kids have finally come around. We went fishing/4x4ing on the last nice Sunday of the year (11-26) and they have wanted to go again ever since. We had our first snow on Tuesday and when the wife and I picked them up from school the first thing they asked was "Can we go fishing?" Yesss! The kids are finally hyped up about fishing.

They want some new spin casts for Christmas and that is no problem. The problem is the bait monkey already has his claws in me and I am wondering what I should buy them for tackle?

I am thinking a small tackle box, some hooks, some sinkers, some bobber's and some....

"Ow, Monkey! Get your claws outta me, they are kids and do not need a G-Loomis! "

Maybe some grubs and ball head jigs, spinnerbaits, a lipless crankbait, some jerk worms (ie. senko's), a buzz bait, and maybe some horny toads because the local Wal-Mart has the black toads for a buck a bag.

What would/did you stock your kids first tackle box with?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

PM sent  

[roadwarrior]

Hooks, sinkers and bobbers so that  they can ALWAYS catch some fish and keep them interested. If the kids are ready to try a few lures, keep it simple:

Original Rapala, Zara Puppy (black & chrome), spinner bait, Norman Fat Boy, Bomber Square A and a couple of Rat-L-Traps. These are all user friendly, catch fish and won't get hung up too much. Maybe buzzbaits and frogs, but that seems like a step up. You can help them with soft plastics some times, but I think that those lures should probably be put off awhile until they have had some success with artificials that are easier to fish.

Most of "Can we go fishing?" is "Can we do something fun and be with you, Dad?"

[lavelanet]

I have a 3 year old daughter who likes to go fishing with me.  So this summer I bought her one of those disney princess rods for $10 that  you see in every store from kmart to dicks.  And it broke on her before the summer was over.  one cast the whole thing came apart in her hand and the whold internals of the reel went flying in the water.  She loved that rod (because it wa sa princes rod) and was very upset so we went to dicks and got a new one but not one of those again we got a combo unit that was multi-colored which she liked but which could have either the reel or rod relaced if needed as she grows.  The nice thing about the princess rod was that it was so short but the bottom half of the pastic reel was molded into the rod so that you couldn't just buy another reel and put it on the little thing.

I write this story so that both you and anyone who reads this knows that they are infact the junk you think they are.

She's very happy with her new "Big girl" rod now. it was a zebco I think.

[MyKeyBe]

I write this story so that both you and anyone who reads this knows that they are infact the junk you think they are.

She's very happy with her new "Big girl" rod now. it was a zebco I think.

;D

The kids have a Taz and a Tweety rod already, just never used them much.

Now that they see dad using a big boy rod, they never want to use them again!

On a side note I have used their rods more than once while camping and caught quite a few fish on them. It always made me laugh when I would walk up to a pond with the Tweety rod and all the other people fishing there would give me one of these: :-? :-/ : Then I would catch a decent bass and they would give me one of these:

So far the kids will each be getting a tackle box, lots of hooks, bobbers, a spinner bait, a buzz bait, a rattling rap, ball head jigs, curly tail grubs, and critter spins. Not to bad of a start and I only spent around $21.00 so far on each child. $42.00 for the start of a life time of memory's, that's money well spent.

[Vyron]

I consider my self a kid ,so I ll buy some japanese tackle for me, u know imakatsu ,megabass etc.

[stumpanic]

I have 3 sons from 17 to 9 and I started each one off with an ultralight spincaster and an ultralight uglystick rod. I bought each of them a starter component type tackle system (bag type) with in-line spinners, beetle spins and rapala minnows floating and sinking for pan type fishing. All three have since invested in their own tackle and equipment and we have even started building our own baits togather. All 3 have started outfishing me. I think its the time spent and the fact that starting out with good quality equipment helps to improve their skill to the point where they can catch fish consistently has made them come to love this sport.

My 11 year old has invested more than $200.00 of his own money into some really nice rods and reels and is asking for his 1st baitcaster for Christmas this year.

[Chris at Tech]

Rooster tails.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Fishing a popper is pretty simple to teach, and rather effective on numerous types of fish. Live bait is a pretty safe bet though, so good job on the hooks and bobbers.

[Fisher of Men]

Just some ideas for a few extra items:

Little Georges(hammered chrome)- one treble hook, heavy, and easy to cast.

H&H spinnerbaits- cheap, small hooks, and easy to cast.

Beetlespins (white. or chart./green)

These are real simple baits for kids to use.  Their also cheap, so if they get hung up and lose them, your not out much $$$.  You also don't get upset when they lose them.

[The_Bass_Whisperer]

The basics hooks and bobbers snells ect. Then inglude a Fish ID guide for whare ever you fish at (I get mine from Texas parks and wildlife; FREE). Of course... Band-Aids...Lots and lots of Band-Aids, 'cause you know when you turn your back, they'll be a-playing with those brand new sharp hooks, and as shure as you-know-what they are going to stick them selvs :'( and that is alwayse fun . That is all just good memories, going on your first fishing trip with dad. some of my best memories and scars from early childhood. Good Luck! Hey, if they have already started with some lure start them with some all-purpose and easy stuff, that they shuld catch something with. ;D

With the rods go to Acadamey or sumit, go to the rods and there shuld be a rod and real combo that looks like a "big boy one" look till you find one there there.

[MyKeyBe]

Thanks for the replies!

I really like the idea of an I.D. guide.

The rods are bought. Oldest boy (10) gets a brand spanking new Ugly Spin reel and a Shakesphere Excursion 5'6" 2 piece, medium action rod.

Should make a good starter combo and only set dad back another $22.00. ;D

My youngest (8) will be the proud new owner of Spider Man spincast combo. :

Against my better judgement, the wife swears he would be heartbroken if he got anything else.

I guess it is a step up from the Taz rod/reel set up.

Spinnerbaits and beetle/critter spins are covered.

Do you think Little George/Cleo's would be effective from the shore? I always thougt they where more of a deep water, jigged vertically off a boat type bait.

Should I buy myself some also?

I think poppers will make a great step up at Easter present.

"Oww! Hey Dad! Look what the Easter bunny left me! Got any pliers and band-aids?"

Ahh, the memories.

The live bait ideas seem good but that's the thing. Every time I took the kiddios fishing before the last trip they used live bait and got bored after X amount of time. 15 minutes to an hour and they where all "Forget fishing, let's throw some rocks in the water!"

The last time we went fishing I had no live bait so one kid got a rattle trap and one got a grub.

We fished for probably 2.5-3 hours and the kids where upset when we had to leave. We didn't catch a thing the whole time. I think the whole cast it out and reel it in kept them from getting bored.

Maybe they have A.D.D. and I should buy them downers for Christmas?!.

[Bass XL]

beetle spins