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| I can't remember when I started fishing, but I know it was well before my fifth birthday. As a father of two boys (a 2 year old and a 1 month old) I'm getting anxious to take them along in the boat with me.... but have a few questions for the experienced daddies.
1. How young can they be to SAFELY take them along in the boat FISHING? I've taken the oldest in the boat for rides... but never when I'M distracted with fishing (I can't do two things at once.... like most men).
2. How old do they have to be before you can trust them with HOOKS?
3. Got any tips to avoid "burning them out" on fishing? I'm thinking starting them exclusively on panfish to develop a genuine interest in fishing... and letting the musky bug take its own course. If there is any of me in 'em.. they'll get it...... bad.
4. Any other general tid bits NEW daddies should consider before headin' to the lake with thier youngsters?
Thanks guys!!!
jlong |
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I started my first son when he was three with bluegills, perch, and the trout farm. This year at four he has his own spin cast and can cast by himself. I’d recommend Johnson silver minnow spoons and the rapala spoons. They are somewhat safe for those casts that go strait up. These lures worked well for him. He caught his first northern casting this year. Most of the time he and mom watched bobbers off the back (played with legos) while I cast up front. The two of them out fished me this summer; I think the 5” fathead minnows were key. He reeled in a 34” pike on light gear (mom set the hook). For that matter I think he reeled all the fish in. It’s a good sign for dad up front when the family is catching musky food in the back. Actually I learned a lot about shallow water walleyes in the weeds this way. Be sure to bring plenty of toys, snacks, and such. Blankets are great for napping and building forts under the counsel. After a couple hours fishing a long boat ride between spots guarantees a nap and more time for you to fish. If possible a boat with a top and side curtains keeps the family comfortable and out of the elements. That is key for getting to stay on the water longer as well. Fish, bait, leeches, or toys in the live well can be very entertaining too. Take time to explore some beaches and islands too, every dad must teach his kids how to skip rocks. And most importantly: Patience is a virtue.
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| Dad started me in diapers...that's right when all there was was cotton + they picked them up once a week + brought them back over 40 yrs. ago. Be EVER so patient w/ them also as I'm sure you will. Always take a camera for that first fish + let them help out in any way. I showed little Sponge how to hold baits by the top + let him hold them + ask questions. I also let him cast a small plug w/ no hooks so he could practice. I f they don't take to fishing right off don't wring your hands + holler "where did I go wrong"?....they will come around. Mine turned 5 this past May + loves to fish so I can take him to small lakes in the area + he also loves to surf fish + is becoming pretty good at it. Take some snacks + let them think they are on a picnic. Good luck![:sun:] |
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| My daughter is 5 and she`s been fishing with me for the past 3 seasons. She got her own spincast rod and reel and started practicing in the backyard when she was like 2 and a half. Now she`s got 2 rods and reels, one for panfish and one for bigger stuff, and she goes out in the yard and practices still. We primarily fish panfish with her, but she`s caught walleyes and smallies too. When we go up north, she gets up, has breakfast and heads right out to the pier to fish with mom while I`m out throwing for skis. She may not have the stamina for extended trips, but she can do 3 or more hours in the boat with no problem. Even if she`s not fishing the whole time, she always finds ways to amuse herself. Having a big enough boat to move around in makes a world of difference. Not like when I was first learning....sitting in a 14' rowboat with no room to move made for some long trips for my dad.
I`ve never pushed her to go fishing, but she`s seen mom and dad doing it her whole life so it just came natural to her. Just like when she tags along with me in the woods. She`s learned to love fishing and hunting all on her own. She just likes spending time with me outside and wants to come along whenever she can. Take the kid along whenever the weather is nice enough and the lake`s not too rough. They`ll let you know when they`ve had enough. Start them whenever you want to.
They do some amusing things while they`re out there. My daughter got in a habit of kissing the fish and saying "bye". Then one day while we were out, my wife and I heard her saying "Bye fishy, bye fishy, bye fishy." and turned around to see her kissing my plastic shad tails and tossing them overboard. She plays with spikes, night-crawlers and leeches and watches the "TV" in the back of the boat.
Start taking `em along, and you`ll have a hard time getting rid of `em.
Beav |
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| Jason,
My wife and I adopted Cody when he had just turned 4 years old. We got him for good on a Friday and were out in the boat on Saterday. Lots of toys and treat in the boat to keep there attention.
The next summer he picked up on reeling and casting, but 100 bluegills a day still is more fun then 1 muskie to him. This seems to be the toughest thing for me is to not be able to cast for muskie and to watch a cork go down for Gill's.
At 9 I took him over the boarder to Canada for a short week (didn't want to burn him out)and back for a full week this past year. Tons of walleyes and pike and catching around 400 panfish off the dock at Andy Myers and realy turned him into one heck of a fisherman.
With the two boys in the boat at the same time I would consiter a referee shirt!!! |
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| I took my son out for the first time this september a week before his first birthday. We played in the boat together while my wife caught panfish. We let him hold the perch and he really seemed to like it. I also got a great picture of him holding one that sits on my desk at work now. In-between playing with fish he liked throwing my measuring stick in the water and watching me retrieve it. He's way too young to fish with, but I thought that getting him accustomed to the boat and having fun was a good idea. I'm sure this doesn't answer your question, but I think having fun in the boat is an important part of getting him to like fishing. Either way I had a great time and my wife and son seemed to enjoy it too. |
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| My son just turned 6 and this is his 2nd season.Paitents my friend because they can be trying.All my son wants to use now are spinnerbaits .He has a spincaster of his own but at times I let him use a spinning combo.I started him on panfish,perch,bullheads.I always have him identify the fish thats caught,and ask him how he knows thats what kind it is.Works on the tv shows too.GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER NOT TOO MUCH PRESSURE.:bigsmile:] |
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| I started my boys at 4, and had them on crappies and gills alot. The baitcaster came out at 7 or 8, and they were very proficient at it within days, but not alot of stamina. Carried spinning tackle and smaller baits to change off when they got tired. All of my boys had a Canada trip by nine, and a Wyoming Hunting trip at 16. Keith nailed an Antelope at 300 yards...I will NEVER forget that trip. Brian got his first muskie at 9, and was literally overcome by candy and pop freebies from the other fishermen at Thiel's(now Christian's). One of the featured photos at his wedding this summer was the polaroid Barry took that day. Great feeling, to know that was so important to him. |
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| I started when I was 7 (now 22) and I got into a boat right away that year. Small water but still. It all depends on how the kids behave at that age. I was rather calm and very much into fishing. It hasn't improved I must admit!![:bigsmile:] |
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| Jason-
I started my son off early...before he could crawl! He would sit in the bottom of the tuffy and play while I fished...Of course it was only on calm days...
Now days he is 4 and my daughter is two. Panfish is the way to go... But the trick is to catch a few right away and get them in the live well. Then out comes the minnow nets, one for each. And they proceed to try and net the fish in the live well....Hours of entertainment. They take turns reeling in the fish.
I have taken them muskie fishing too. This spring we went trolling and Kyle landed his first muskie. We caught 4 in two hours.
Usually they are good for an hour or maybe two....
Keys are as follows:
1. Fish in live well as fast as you can
2. Have "toys" which they can pester the fish in the live well with.
3. Happy meals are great, pick them up on the way and don't let them have them till you are to the spot and ready to fish....this buys you time to get the first few fish in the live well before they are done with thier meals.
4. Snacks are critical. Lunchables now has brownies that you can put frosting and sprinkles on...this is good for 20 minutes of time.
5. Blanket isn't a bad idea...not that it is cold but sometimes a little cat nap is nice and they will curl up on the floor. (bring a few lures and a muskie rod...just incase they nap!)
6. Cover the boat rules with them...in my tuffy there is no standing on the top deck. And life jackets are on at all times.
7. Never hurts to let them drive the boat around while you troll either...this is good for another 10-20 minutes!
Good luck!
Cory |
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| Corey made a good point.. Toys!. You have to keep them intersted. One day trolling this summer I put Barbie on the rod holder when the rod was inside. Made up a game that Barbie was trolling.. Worked for about 45 minutes, before she got tired of that game. Catch a bluegill and its worth at least 25 minutes in the livewell.. Thats how you can take you kids fishing.
My daughter will be reeling in some fish next year. She has that Zebco 202 down pat right now. She will be 4 next October and she will be ready just before then to fish with me. I am looking forward to it.[:bigsmile:]
She has absolutly no problems with muskies, she gets all excited and talks about fishing muskies with daddy all the time. Her and mommy got a 38" this fall.
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