�Fishing is boring!�

[Pete Mathews]

This is what my 7 year old son says every time I talk to him about going fishing. He's had big bass on his line that practically pulled him off the boat. I have had him on the water since he's been 3. However, if he isn't catch'n something on every cast, he's bored.

Any fathers of mothers with successfully patient little fishermen feel free to share some advice. Looking for solutions due to the fact that for babysitting reasons I have to take him out with me or my fishing time gets severely limited.

By the way, I'm new to the forum, this is my first post.

[Gatorbassman]

Welcome to the forums. I have three boys and we fish all the time. The number one rule when taking kids fishing is once they say "I'm board" you pack up and go home. In time they will be able to stay longer and longer. The second rule is it doesn't matter how big the fish is so long as it is a fish. Go fishing for the smalles bluegill if that's what it takes. Just have fun but don't push a kid into fishing let them slide into it on their own.

[FIAB]

I'm sure you know this but the main thing is to spend time with your son.  Don't make him fish if he does not want to.  Maybe he would have just as much fun riding around in the boat.....(while you scout for new places to fish).  Maybe he would like another type of fishing other than bass fishing, like catfishing.  Maybe he doesn't like the way you bass fish......Let me explain that.....

My youngest son likes to go bass fishing but does not like deep structure fishing......he likes casting to the banks.....he is just learning to cast a bait caster an wants a target to cast too.  He does not like just casting out into the middle of the lake.  So when I take him we beat the banks.......He also likes bream fishing so we will do that when he wants to.

My oldest likes bass fishing but would just as soon go catfishing.  I have found more little humps and sand bars floating the river catfishing with him than I would ever find if I were just bass fishing all the time.

I wouldn't worry too much 7 is still pretty young and holding his focus on one thing for very long could be hard.......when my boys were much younger I would take some toys in the boat with me for them to play with.  I'd let them get in the water and swim when they got hot.  I'd pull up on the bank and let them throw rocks (especially if someone tried to butt in to where we were fishing).  You may also just have to deal with shorter trips for a few years.......three hours on the water is better than no hours on the water.

Good Luck

[grimlin]

My kid has an attention span of an hummingbird. I'm lucky to get 5 minutes of fishing time with him. Lucky for me I know exactly where the bluegills bite during certain times of a year and we can catch 2-4 bluegills in those five minutes. My kid has autism....probably doesn't help my situation one bit either...but patience goes a long way with him.

I also try to choose a place that has a playground near by...because 5 minutes just ain't enough time spending with each other.After the playground we go and get some Ice cream cones before we head home.Make it a day that way as well.When it comes to kids it cannot be about you fishing...it just won't work that way unless you got a kid who 100% dedicated to fishing.

Don't be discourage.....that's what i was always told as well.

[SeanW]

Welcome to the forums. I have three boys and we fish all the time. The number one rule when taking kids fishing is once they say "I'm board" you pack up and go home. In time they will be able to stay longer and longer. The second rule is it doesn't matter how big the fish is so long as it is a fish. Go fishing for the smalles bluegill if that's what it takes. Just have fun but don't push a kid into fishing let them slide into it on their own.

+1

I find camping trips a great time to get the kids out. (mine are now grown). When they are done I can take em in. They can sleep and eat before hand. I pick em up we go fish, and when they are done we come in. If ya push em beyond they will not wanna go.

[maveric1]

I am not yet a father, but I have little cousins that I have taken fishing and it was a blast. I am serious when it comes to my fishing (you could say anal lol) but I make an exception when I take them with me. I try to make it something they enjoy even if that is boat riding or perch jerking. Just remember your dealing with a 7yr old, my life gets the same way he does when it comes to bass fishing but take her speck or red fishing an she is an animal.

Like BONE siad make it interesting to them.

[Grey Wolf]

Listen to your son's wants , if you try to force him  , he will be totally turned off.

By the way , welcome.

[JigMe]

Welcome!

It's depends on each kid, some kids like to fish and some don't. My 10 years old brother likes it, but he can't do more than 3 hours. But what I have found is that, if I can keep him entertained with other stuff then he would be fine. For example, let him play with my ps3 while I fish or give him a book. Don't force it, but find something interesting for him to do so he will stay out longer each time. And luckily for me, the lake I fish at has a play ground and ice cream standIf he is really bored, then I will take him there for an hour then go back to fishing.

[J Francho]

If you think that YOUR fishing time is limited when you take you boy out, then I suggest you completely change your attitude and expectations about the day.  Keep it short and easy.  You're not out there with him to fish, you're there to teach him how.  Make sure that there are other things that will entertain him when he's bored of fishing.  BTW, fishing is boring, he's right.  Catching is where the fun is at.

[CWB]

Like Fluke said, go for bluegills if you have to. Take him in the spring when they are spawning and try to find a "minefield" of beds and you can catch them one after the other. With my son when he was younger, he wanted to go fishing but also got bored easily. If the fished stopped biting, I would take him turtle hunting. He would sit beside me with a landing net and we would cruise through the slop looking for a turtle head sticking up. He'd usually get a few and that made him happy. The anticipation kept him interested.

[Gangley]

My son is 6 and the best thing I can recommend is toys toys toys, haha.  I will make sure that he has plenty of toys with him while we go fishing so that he can keep himself entertained if the fish aren't biting.  I have also found that although I don't prefer to fish with live bait,  if i bring live bait I have a much better chance of keeping my boy entertained.  The fish hit live bait more readily for him, and he also gets to play with some of the live bait.  I just make sure to get triple the amount that I need  ;D

[senile1]

Welcome to the BR community, Pete.  I have nothing new to add to the previous posts.

[chromedog]

My kids are both ends, my 15 year old son wants nothing to do with fishing.  He is out for 15-20 minutes on the boat and the the pole get set down and he is eating or texting or trying to sleep.  My 10 year old daughter on the other hand.  I get her set up with something she wants to use.  She has things she likes to use, sometimes frogs, sometimes jerkbaits etc..... and she will literally fish for 8 hours.  Bring her a little food and drink and she is set.  My 4 year old loves to fish, as long as it is blue gills and he is reeling them in one after another.  Once they slow down, he is looking for rocks to throw, food to eat, lol.   I just try to let them do their own thing.  If I try to force, they go the opposite direction.  They don't have to fish, just spending time with them is more than most get.  Bring them along and compromise, let them bring their cell or little handheld games or books whatever. 

[Raul]

This is what my 7 year old son says every time I talk to him about going fishing. He's had big bass on his line that practically pulled him off the boat. I have had him on the water since he's been 3. However, if he isn't catch'n something on every cast, he's bored.

Any fathers of mothers with successfully patient little fishermen feel free to share some advice. Looking for solutions due to the fact that for babysitting reasons I have to take him out with me or my fishing time gets severely limited.

By the way, I'm new to the forum, this is my first post.

You go fishing for you or you are fishing for him ?

Sounds to me like you take him with you fishing, what did you expect ?

The dude is 7 years old ( mine just turned 8 this past December ) so I do know what I 'm taking about and six years ago my nephew also went through that age.

For a 7 year old everything you feel like an acomplishment ( like catching a large fish ) matters very little if it matters at all, all they are intersested is in catching a fish on almsost evey cast and if you don 't want them to get bored that 's what you have to look for, thankfully the waters are palgued with 6-10 inch dumb as rock fish so choose the baits he is going to use to catch those fish, take him fishing in places where those dumb as rock fish live.

Don 't take him, invite him or ask him if he wants to go fishing

Patience is something that 's taught and at that age they don 't even understand the meaning so the one having to be patient with him is you.

So, when going out with a young boy fishing is not what it 's all about, even though there are tons of young dumb as rocks 6-10 inch fish there are days that even them are not cooperating, if they are not cooperating well it 's time for backup plan B: activiities for the kid other than fishing. It can be fishing too, bass ain 't biting ? ---> we fish for bluegills or tilapia, they ain 't bitng either ? ---> we throw rocks at the water, go grashopper hunting, collect mezquite pods, there 's a bunch of thing you can do with him and instead of getting bored he will be wanting to go with you because he has fun with you.

[Hot Rod]

Welcome aboard!

All of the other posts are really great advice.  Keep the trip short and take along plenty of snacks/drinks/toys/books/games is the best advice. 

I have found that when I take mine they'll fish for about 15 minutes to half-hour.  Then they are ready to do something else but may want to fish some more after the other activity. 

We usually pan fish together with live bait, catch some fish, then my daughter will sit in the back of the boat and read or play video games or even watch a DVD on a portable player after she tires of fishing.  I tell her that I'm going to bass fish for a little while she does that but that if I hook anything she can reel it in.   It works well!!!  I can't tell you how many times she has almost knocked me out of the boat trying to get the rod away from me after I holler "fish on, come and take it!".  I love it!  There is nothing better than sharing that with her.

[Sam]

I use Nightcrawlers or kernels of corn when I take kids fishing.

They don't care what they catch, as long as they catch something on almost every cast.

Took a 10-year old fishing two months ago to a local pond and he must have caught 20 Bluegills and he was thrilled.

Told him mom he "killed them" at the pond.

To say the least, his 12-year old brother was ticked off that he did so well.

Happy New Year! 

[BigEbass]

I got a 4 month old boy now....I have heard all of this advice already....I fear the little guy will never grow into the fishing buddy that I envision him to be, but I suppose you cannot force feed him - each experience has to be good, even if it is brief - if he goes along, but is forced to stay longer than he wants or fish in ways he does not like, he will never really "take hook, line, and sinker" I imagine - hang in there and perhaps he will come around.

[shimmy]

i like what Francho said. I made that mistake with my wife initially. Made each outing shorter and now she wants to stay longer. Lucky but it can happen.

There really should be support groups for this type of situation.

[J Francho]

Like Raul, I got some experience here.....my son doesn't really like to fish.

[Scorcher214]

I have the same problem with my little brother. He is 13 ad i am 17. And he HATES fishing. After school i want to go fishing for a few hours before i go home, but with him he would be a grouch and spoil it for me or call my mom and then she would tell me to drive home. I watched him catch a 27 inch pike once when i took him out fishing on the boat, and he was so excited so i know there is some hope. Hopefully during the spring (when i can catch +20 a day) he will get "hooked" I would love to spend some time with my lil bro as we do not do anything together right now.

[B-Dozer]

I have the same problem with my little brother. He is 13 ad i am 17. And he HATES fishing. After school i want to go fishing for a few hours before i go home, but with him he would be a grouch and spoil it for me or call my mom and then she would tell me to drive home. I watched him catch a 27 inch pike once when i took him out fishing on the boat, and he was so excited so i know there is some hope. Hopefully during the spring (when i can catch +20 a day) he will get "hooked" I would love to spend some time with my lil bro as we do not do anything together right now.

He's probably just wanting to show he's different than his big brother. Hang in there, bet he'll mature and be grateful you had patients with him. Bring a couple sodas or snacks next time, or tell him you'll stop at McD's. Catching some more big uns can't hurt either.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

My son (10) and daughter (9) enjoy fishing with me for 30-45 minutes now. They have spinning gear and throw wacky stick worms. Their reaction and delayed hooksets are perfect for this type of fishing. They catch 4-5 dinks and they are excited.

Before this past summer, it was a struggle. We used nightcrawlers and minnows. When they were 7-8, the best advice I can give you is to leave your fishing poles at home and just take the kid's stuff. Make them the center of your attention - taking your gear and thinking that you're going to fish is a big mistake and won't happen. Catch a few bluegills, then hunt for crawdads, cool looking sticks, and walk a trail. But the main goal should be quality time with dad - not fishing.

[Bass Junkie]

      One thing that I've found really excites kids is to let them "buy" there own lures.... Any style and color they want. They may be throwing a buzzbait during a cold front, but they will have a lot more fun, and they do an impressive job of pulling up 'lunkers'....

[BigEbass]

I have thought alot about this, and I think there are outside factors that come into play that decide the outcome...

Is it possible to do everything right and they will have a good time, but they simply will not get "hooked" and become a junky like us?  Even if they enjoy it to a degree, they may take liking to other things growing up, sports, gaming, riding bikes with friends, whatever.....their attention and desires are in constant flux between us and their friends...and honestly, I worry that my son will not take to fishing cause well,  I am not a blockbuster fisherman - aka Im not all that good  trying to work that out though. 

So, what I have been telling myself is just to spend the time in whatever way without too much care, and just let happen whatever happens....till then I am trying to furiously learn to be a better angler....I think I need to dabble a bit in live bait soon too though since Ive been reading this thread.

[Raul]

Like Raul, I got some experience here.....my son doesn't really like to fish.

Neither does mine  , Lil Raul caught over 300 bass last year. 

But, ask me how many times I went fishing for me ----> 2, all the rest of the time I went fishing for him ............ actually his mom don 't want him near me, she says I teach her kid bad manners ( like burping, cussing, farting n ' stuff like that  ;D ) and that I spoil him ...... who, me ?  :-?