Tips for fishing with kid.

[stroz]

I fish with my two boys 5 and 7 all the time.  You guys always seem to have great advice any good tips for getting the boys on more fish and losing less lures? I plan on trying out plastic alot this year seems like t-rigging anything weedless for them should save a bunch of $$$ but all I really care about is getting them on some fish also we don't own a boat so it's mostly shore fishing for us. thanks in advance for your input.

                                                                                         Stroz

[phisher_d]

Strike King Mini King spinnerbaits. These baits will catch a lot of bass, they are practically weedless, and you don't have to worry about losing them because they are very inexpensive.

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=15608&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=58845&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

Hope this helps

[stroz]

cool good to hear Santa brought a few strikeking minis in there stockins this year  hes always thinking

                                                                                        thanks

                                                                                               Stroz

[fishinlunatic]

I fish with my 5 year old son as much as I can. One thing I've learned is it really doesnt matter what you catch just as long as he is catching something.  He wants to fish for bass, but his patience(and mine) leave quickly, so by the end of the day I put a bobber and a worm on and let him catch bream. Its makes his day! I make it as positive as an experience as I can. As far as lures go-anything weedless!!!!  t-rig plastics,flukes,and tubes. Remember your sowing the seeds for a future fisherman, so patience is the key. Your kids will remember your adventures on the lake forever!

[lee ellis]

i am fifteen and from experience from my dad taking me fishing, it is all about catching fish.  even if your catching fish, if ur kid wants to go, dont force him to stay or else he wont want to go back.  it is all about the first impression they get introduced to in fishing.  i recommend local golf courses when they r closed to go fish w/a kid.

[New Bass Man]

Make sure they have a good time.  This may mean you can't fish like you want.  Your reward will be a lasting legacy the kids will remember forever.

[Whopper Stopper]

Your kids are so lucky to have someone to take them fishing. When I was a kid I didn't have anyone to take me. I would get on my bike and fish off of a bridge over a creek.

I would invest in a minnow trap, or cast net. Then put some circle hooks under a bobber, and sit the kids away from trees. This is a very cheap and effective way to catch bass. They just cast it out and let it sit, and wait for their bobber to go under.  With circle hooks they don't have to worry about setting the hook.

[stroz]

thanks for all the suggestions.  all my kids want to do is catch fish bass, pickeral ,perch usually we fish for the first hour then they explore while I keep fishing till there interests perks back up.When I was little my dad bought all the fishing stuff and would drop us off at the pond or we'd ride our bikes. thats why I like fishing with my boys so much. thanks again

                                                                                     Stroz

[MadGator]

A few weeks ago I was watching Hank Parker and he had a segment about fishing with your kids.  He pretty much said when fishing with your kids, just put down YOUR rod and reel and help them catch some fish.  Thinking about that statement, for me putting down my rod and reel while others are fishing is a tall order, but the joy you are going to get out of seeing your kids excitement will most likely far outweight putting down your gear for a couple hours.  I think it would also help to have another adult or teen with you.  That way you can alternate who is fishing and who is helping.  I remember walleye fishing with my dad, two brothers, and grandpa, my poor dad was barely able to wet a line, between removing fish, baiting hooks, and untangling line.  However, to this day myself and both brothers are dedicated anglers.  We all love fishing, if it were not for my father and grandfathers infinite patience that may not have happened.  

[j-bass]

When I was just a wee tyke, my pops would sit me down with a cane pole and a bucket of grass shrimp and minnows.  I'd catch sunnies and rock bass all day.  not bass, but as a kid I enjoyed it.

[srv1990]

I'll echo the comments of the others.  The few times that I've taken my daugther (7) and son (5) fishing they are happy as long as something live makes its way onto the end of their line.  If they're having fun, I'm having fun, but remember:  Patience, young Jedi, is the key.  Besides, there will come a day when I'll need THEM to take ME fishing!!!

[JTL]

As you can tell by that statement at the bottom of my avatar, "I love to take my 8yr old son fishing"

I've been doing it now for 3-4 yrs, the thing with taking a kid fishing is to keep their interest, I started taking him places where he could catch Bluegill & Crappie pretty easily. Once I started doing that he was hooked, once that was going good I started taking him camping and fishing, then he got used to camping, he is the ultimate boy now, loves to go camping and fishing...

(during that time he wanted to join the Cub Scouts, so we did that, and he really likes it)

I have a huge camping and fishing trip planned for the Memorial Day weekend for him and some of his Cub Scout buddies (about 6 of them), since it's going to be a 3 day weekend I have lots of activities planned for the boys, ought to be a wonderful weekend...

When it comes to kids you have to keep them interested, once you have their interest they will take it from there... they are the future of our sport, so teach them well and have a good time, thats all that matters...

[roadwarrior]

Make it easy.

I don't think bass fishing is the way to go. Maybe after they have fished a while and then only occasionally would I target bass. Bluegill, crappie, sometimes little catfish, white bass when they school for spawn and my absolute favorite, stocker trout. The "easy" fishing gets young people involved.

My other suggestion is to fish for short periods of time, never any longer than the kids want to. Take plenty of food, treats and pops. Make it about having fun, not just fishing.

Equipment? That's a no brainer, spincasting gear is the only way to go. Lures? No, live bait or in the case of trout, Power Bait or corn. KEEP IT SIMPLE!

[Fisher of Men]

Ditto to most of everyone's comments!! I agree with bait fishing for whatever bites (brem, crappie, etc.) I take my 7 year old daughter with me and she's really good with one of those mini-strike king spinners. A cheaper alternative is an H&H or a Beetlespin (I caught hundreds on those as a boy). I'd stay away from treble hook lures until their really good at casting. A fisher at this stage needs to chunk and wind, so I'd stay away from t-rig worms and jigs for awhile.

Provide them with the opportunities that their skill level and interests will allow.

If you have sand (white) bass on a nearby lake, try to get in on them when they're surface feeding.  That always excited me as a kid (still does).

[Wormy]

Wait till they get older. My daughter will be 13 this September and she is already trying to take over the front of the boat. She is a very competitive angler when it comes to just the two of us. I think the most import thing is to have a good time. That is OUR time together and a lot of kids don't get that type of attention.

[roadwarrior]

"The most important thing is to have a good time".

Well said.  

Thank you.

[Danno]

I fish with my daughters (5 and 8).  Only advice I can give is they can get bored quick if they ain't bittin'.  I just bought a Bass Hunter (small boat, fits in the back of the truck) this afternoon just for fishin with the girls.  We have 5 or so small ponds with 10min of the house that we can fish.  Beats the heck out of driving 1.5 hours to the big lake and them get bored after an hour.

I completey agree with the comment above about put your rod down.  I spend so much time laughing and helping them I don't even try to fish.  They fish for panfish with crickets on bobbers, and everytime the youngest one's bobber disappears, the sets the hook like she's seen me do and tells me "Dad, this ones a TOAD".  Priceless.