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Posts: 27
| Ok, my 6 year old is insistent that he wants to try muskie fishing. He is a pretty accomplished angler, and would love for him to be able to enjoy muskie fishing with me. I'm just worried about how he would be able to handle the gear or eventually a fish on the other end of his rod.
He handles a 7' spinning rod great, over head casts with nary a problem. I'm starting to poke around at spinning combos that could handle 60lb braid that wouldn't be too big for him.
What are some of your experiences with getting kids into the sport? Any suggestions? |
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| Started my son at 6 with a bait caster tightened way down. I found he just needed to take breaks during the day. Went 4 days on Eagle and loved it. Just make sure you make it about him not you trying to get a fish...
Have fun! |
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Posts: 4266
| My daughter is 13 and it's still about fun. She brings along books to read, a Nintendo DS and more. She loves to go fishing period. We just got back from the Vermillion Outing, and she was excited to go, happy to meet all of the guys, raised a couple of big fish as did I, and she told me that she can't wait to go again.
I don't have the endurance that I used to have, so we make a great pair. Sorno joined us for part of a day, and the fun continued for all of us.
I'm glad that she's got her head in the right place because it helps me to keep my right state of mind. It's not a contest of you against the fish, it's getting out with your kid and enjoying all of the amazing things that God created for us. She muskie fished earlier, but now she asks me to go. Even now she wants to know when we are going to have a chance to go again, with the beginning of school and hockey season. I'll take her whenever she has the time.
Start them young, but don't burn them out. Let them call the shots and decide when they are ready to fish and for how long each trip.
Nothing better than fishing with your kid.
Beav |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | My dad started me out when I was 6. Spinnerbaits, 4.5" Rebels and Bomber long A's, and spinning reels seemed to do the trick, although I caught lots of pike the first few years. That's all it took to get me hooked. I remember fishing lots of rivers in northern Wisco when I was younger. The Rib River was a place you would find us quite a bit with one of his friends. Although, I think I was much more insane about fishing than many 6 year olds. Lots of reading about fishing and waking my dad up at 4am to take me fishing. 
We always had fun and although I had some shots at muskies, I didn't get my first until I was 10 (got 2 within 10 minutes). Overall, like others said, make it about having fun. There's lots to explore out there, and we explored it all. I think a good way to introduce him is to fish smaller lakes, where you can get some action. Whether it's smallies or pike, that helps keep the fun factor up. If there's muskies mixed in, spinnerbaits are easy to use, and will get bit by just about everything. Good luck! I can't wait until my girls are old enough to be able to do that. For now it's bluegills and playing in the livewell.
Edited by tuffy1 8/29/2009 6:04 AM
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Posts: 706
Location: Richland Center, WI. | My daughter was 12 when she started musky fishing. She is now 17 and still bugs Dad to go musky fishing. Match the gear to the child. 8 foot rods burning double 10's will end the fun in a hurry for a kid. Started her on topwaters and when she got the hang of the baitcaster, moved on to other lures.
Ken |
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Posts: 2893
Location: Yahara River Chain | All I can say is that if you get him/her a baitcaster, for gosh sake get it with the crank on the same side as their spinning outfir. No need to confuse the lad as much as many of you are out their by switching hands when you cast. |
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Posts: 69
Location: janesville | i started when i was about 5 and caught my first muskie after a couple trips which was a 31 1/2 and i caught it on a zebco closed face reel and cheap rod and i got it on a little firetiger bass crankbait. but after that i had a hard time catching anymore until the last 3 years. i still have a lot to learn as im going to be 17 in november. |
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Posts: 283
| My dad started me out when I was about 5 or 6 and for the first couple years I used a heavy spinning rod which was easy for me to handle until I got used to a bigger baitcaster. My dad would usually let me pick from baby raiders, top raider, or some type of small bucktail or spinnerbait that was easy for me to use while he used baits like suicks, glide baits, and anything larger or hard for me to work. I think what kept me interested and now obsessed with muskie fishing is that my dad made it fun for me in the boat by always talking and making me laugh, playing games or when the fishing was tough he would make sure that we would find a fish crip to catch pan fish until I was ready to get after the hunt again. This kept me going back in the boat with him until I caught my first fish which was three years into muskie fishing! But once I caught that first fish I was hooked for life and I didn't need anymore incentive than that to go muskie fishing with him. |
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Posts: 295
Location: Southern Ontario, Detroit River and Lake StClair | Both of my sons have been fishing with me since they were 4 or 6 years old. We started off trolling and soon as they were able (6 yrs or so) to handle gear that would cast small muskie baits they started with that. They are 13 and 16 now and my steady partners I fish with. A few things I found were......a 6' XH baitcasting rod with a decent reel spooled with 50lb+ braid is about as big as they can handle with out problems. It will cast alot of smaller baits well though. Remember not to "over gun" them. Vibrex and Mepps spinners are a good choice. As are larger Rapalas for cranks. Bring along an ultra light or light set up aswell. If they get bored fishing for "big guys" let them play around and fish some panfish while your casting, as long as they are having fun and keeping busy they will enjoy it. Bring lots of snacks and drinks. It always amazes me how much a kid will eat or drink when on the water. Above all no matter how much you want it DON'T FORCE IT ON THEM. When they are ready to go home its time to go home. Here's my youngest with his first fish at age 4, he's 13 now.
Good Fishin'
Tim
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Posts: 457
Location: Minneconia | Started taking mine at 3 during a good trolling bite, thought we were just out for a boat ride:) First time out stuck a 44 and 43 in the first half hour, I held the rod, he reeled.
Edited by Dirt Esox 8/30/2009 5:17 PM
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Posts: 280
Location: McFarland | My 10 year old is just getting into it this year and he's using a 6'6'' rod with a calcutta 400. I had the magnets cranked down to start and every trip I just loosen them just a hair. He's mostly throwing jr cowgirls and a lot of topwater (can't wait for him to get that first follow on a topwater). He also brings his Nintendo DS or PSP out with him. He usually spends like an hour fishing and then a half hour break which is fine by me...he's fishing and makes a great net man!!! |
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| Well, heck...Davy Crockett killed himself a bear when he was just three didn't he? (Or so the song goes.) Six should be old enough to land a Musky!
IMHO, I believe if you help him a little, he can do it. Obviously he'll need a smaller rod than we use---maybe a 6' rod? If you know of any lakes that tend to be action lakes with smaller fish, might be the way to go. |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | I started when i was 9 (28 today) and frankly that was too young.
I suggest getting them a bass baitcaster and have them throw bass sized baits. The size of musky gear is too much. By 13yrs I would say i was doing ok (not good).
Trolling is the safest option as it eliminates the gear. Reeling in a 15-20lbs fish is manageable for a 9 year old (low drag). Setting the hook after casting 8 hours is not. |
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Posts: 1
| Well Im 11 and got my first this year on a 8 ft MH gander mountain rod and a Garcia record.I started Musky fishing at nine. Casting all day trying for my first. But I am crazy about fishing so when given the chance to go I take it
Heres a pic of my first |
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Posts: 4
| Never too young....You could start him out with a open cface instead of a baitcster to get him going.....below are a couple of pics of my son at 11 when he scored his first 2 on the same day and on his 13th b-day when he caught his first legal 44x20
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Posts: 3926
| Here's Timmy....
(Rachel's31Walleye 5.15.07.jpg)
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Posts: 64
| Great discussion! I got the chance to take my little girl (Autumn) out this year for the first time chasing Muskies. I started her with a spinning reel and 50# braid throwing Topraiders and she just loved it. By the end of the day she was throwing a small baitcaster (calcutta 351) on a 6' 3" XH and she picked it up real quick. Sure she would take her breaks, and bust out the Barbies but she would be right back casting after a few minutes. I caught a 30 that was perfect for her to take her first pic with and then let her release it and i think after that she was hooked! We went on to catch a few more Muskies ending our day with a 50.5. That one might of spooked her a little as you can see in the pic's but ever since that day all she wants to do is fish. I say "go for it! Get your child out young, and more than likely the "Muskie Gods" will reward you for it.
Lance Z.
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