Fishing with kids tips/tricks 2024
Shaggie reply :
How about some of you pros and shmos give up some of your knowledge for fishing with kids. Such as tips you've picked up along the way to make the whole experience a bit more fun so that kids can grow up in the sport and not get bored because they get skunked occasionally.
I'll go first, my brother taught me to use a smallish jig head 1/8oz or so with a live worm rather than a straight hook to prevent the fish from swallowing the hook. This has worked well on sunnys, perch, and bass.
What do you guys have to add? I'm looking for basics that may not be getting passed on to everyone.
frogflogger reply :
I've fished with lots of kids over the years - small hooks and lures or baits of course - the most important (I feel) is to be somewhere they catch something no matter the species.
Tracker22 reply :
Throw on a beetle spin or rooster tail and watch the fun.
Loads of patience is required. If my kids go, I don't plan on fishing myself. Just spend time helping them.
roadwarrior reply :
#1 Kids have to catch fish to have fun so go somewhere easy where you are sure to catch a few.
#2 Work with your children and DO NOT fish yourself. This will change down the road.
#3 Take along plenty of food, snacks and drinks.
#4 Fish as long as they want, but not a minute longer. When they are done, they're done. On the otherhand, they may just need a break so you do something else that's fun for awhile and come back.
#5 Tackle should be "easy". Worms, minnows and crickets.
the reel ess reply :
I bought my daughter a kayak and surprised her with it. She likes to go with me when it's warm. It's not her first choice, but if I inform her I'm going and give her the option of going paddling or hanging around the house with mom, she'll usually go. This usually buys me 2 hours of fishing time. If mom's going shopping, she's on that train. That buys me all day to fish. I might even go three places if they aren't biting well.
My daughter wants to paddle down a river with me but doesn't care for fishing. Last time we went together, she got close to me while I was casting a frog to some lilies. Then she started beating the floor of her kayak with her paddle. I said "What are you doing, trying to save the fish from me?" She said "No, there's a spider in my kayak." 
Florida Cracker2 reply :
Always bring a minnow dip net.
Fishes in trees reply :
Be sure you want to do it. Taking kids fishing - passing it on - that kind of stuff - all seemed perfectly OK in theory. Then I did it a couple of times. I found out that I am not mentally or emotionally suited for taking kids fishing. Neither one of us will have a good time. If I'm going to take a rookie adult fishing, that means I've lost a bet or something.
I've done a Fishing for Freedom event every fall for the last 5 years that involves taking a veteran out on Truman Lake for a day. None of those guys have any fishing skills to speak of, but they are very interested in learning, which is why they signed up for the event. Those have been positive experience, taking a rookie out fishing.
Hog Basser reply :
I take mine and my friends' kids fishing when we go to the lake to swim and ski during the summer. It's a great activity to keep the kids busy while mommies take a break. No way to fish yourself, always too busy removing fish and re-baiting hooks. I just use small bream hooks, weight and bobber and fish worms or crickets. And once they're done, they're done. We usually pull up at least 10-20 bluegill (all small) in a 30-60 minute period. Lot's of fun for them and work for you, but totally worth the memories and gets them ready to go after the bigguns in the future!
Oh yeah, and I use those short dock rods so they don't whack each other the whole time.
NorcalBassin reply :
This has been an amazing experience for me with my daughters. I first started taking them out for short 2-3 hour trips when they were 4-5 years old basically acting as their guide teaching them how and where to cast and making sure their 4" worm or grub was always in working order. We'd always finish the mini-trip by beaching the boat for a little picnic and swim time.
Fast forward a few years and now they actually ask me when we can go out again and are pretty close to independent out there. If the bite is off and they look like they're starting to get a little bored I encourage them to go for a swim off the back of the boat on the lake side (so I can keep fishing), and they come back refreshed and ready for more. Making the investment in teaching them how to fish in a fun lighthearted way has been one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done. If you have the patience to make it about the kids you'll never regret it.
the reel ess reply :
I've come to realize that not even most men like to fish as much as I do. I'll fish for hours for one bite. In fact, not getting a bite motivates me even more. I'm stupid like that.
ww2farmer reply :
I have two daughters, that will be age 7 and 11 this coming season. I learned a few valuable lessons with the 11 year old over the years that has helped me make fishing more enjoyable for the 7 (as well as the 11) year old.
#1............They have to catch fish. It don't matter if it's just dinky perch or bluegills. No fish = boredom real fast, and boredom = a short day for you
#2...........Your fishing is at the bottom of the list when the kids are out, put the bass rods away and just help them.
#3............When the first "daddy when are we going home is muttered" DO NOT keep fishing for hours on end.
#4...............Mix in something fun other than fishing. My boat is no good for tubing, or any thing, but a short ride around the lake, or anchoring in a shallow swimming area and letting them get in the water for a little bit breaks it up nice, and helps them have a good time.
#5................Secondary activities are a plus, if I ever want to sneak in a little fishing when they are out, and they are not asking to go home yet, it's usually because they have something else to do one the boat.
geo g reply :
On 2/19/2016 at 8:48 PM, roadwarrior said:#1 Kids have to catch fish to have fun so go somewhere easy where you are sure to catch a few.
#2 Work with your children and DO NOT fish yourself. This will change down the road.
#3 Take along plenty of food, snacks and drinks.
#4 Fish as long as they want, but not a minute longer. When they are done, they're done. On the otherhand, they may just need a break so you do something else that's fun for awhile and come back.
#5 Tackle should be "easy". Worms, minnows and crickets.
Roadwarrior, hit the needle on the head. If the kids are little, don't fish yourself. Let the kids tell you when fishing is over for the day. The key is to have fun.
olegs reply :
I prefer to take my kids for perch fishing.
Usually, I find a school of perch and give my kids to catch them on 2 hooks drop shot rig with live minnow.
They can catch fish non stop, and I only help them with it.
Jaderose reply :
All good stuff.....the number one rule I learned....that pretty much everybody else has said.....do NOT plan on fishing. Put them on some bluegill and remember that it ain't about you.
tbone1993 reply :
I do this all summer long and have learned from the best. Teach the kids about the equipment before you get on the water. Make knowing what each component is some sort of a game. Also buy the same poles for each child is important, generic zebco 202 combos are cheap and normally the same color. Have the children underhand cast as it will eliminate hooks flying through the air. It's not a question of if you will get hooked it is when so make sure you mash the barbs down on the hook. The simplest rig to run is a bobber , split shot, snap swivel, and snelled aberdeen hook. We use spikes aka maggots because they always catch gills. One of the best things to do is create a "magic" pole. Basically catch a gill and hand it to the child that hasn't caught one yet. Getting past the first catch relieves a lot of stress and they enjoy it more. Usually the child that gets the magic pole ends up catching the most fish when its all said and done. Sunglasses are a 100% necessity along with a throwable cushion just incase someone takes a spill. If you're running into small gills hemostats are a must for removing hooks. If the kids are older set them up with a wacky rig and tell them to hang on.
Bankbeater reply :
On 2/20/2016 at 1:30 AM, geo g said:Roadwarrior, hit the needle on the head. If the kids are little, don't fish yourself. Let the kids tell you when fishing is over for the day. The key is to have fun.
Bingo. When I would take my kids fishing, they were in charge.
Mike L reply :
What I did when they were little the first or 2nd time out was I gave them each a rod rigged a lot of the ways already memtioned. I moved away from them a little and threw whatever I thought I would catch something, anything, the fastest. When I did I kept my mouth shut, walked over ever so casually to the youngest and handed her the rod.
In about 2 seconds her face lit up, she started screaming and jumping around....Did the same with the older one the next time. After that They were asking me to take them fishin...They still do
Mike
J._Bricker reply :
I also believe Road Warrior listed the golden rules for introducing young children to fishing. It doesn't hurt to bring a bucket so they can watch "their fish" while waiting for the next bite. It's a recipe for a life long fishing partner. My daughters are in their 20's and still ask to go fishing...
N Florida Mike reply :
I can't add much to what's been said,except that I fish when I have taken my kids and g- kids out.There's a lot to be gained by this as long as you keep it about them.If they're having a hard time hooking fish you can sneakily hook one and ask them to " check your bait while you tie your boots or something.You can also have little mini- tournaments when they get bigger.My grandson nearly beat me in a bream tournament off the dock when he was 9.It was 29-28.Sorry,I'm still a little competitive. The other thing is to occasionally do a brand new type of fishing with them.That keeps them from being bored which is the main thing it seems like for kids.I'm going to post a pic of my G- daughter with her first fish caught while surf-fishing recently.She is actually pretty good at bass fishing for 10 years old.She can do everything including taking the fish off the hook and helping clean fish.
lo n slo reply :
started taking my kids when they were around 5-6 years old. my son took to it, my daughter, not so much. by the time my son was around 8 he could fish a t rig on a Zebco, detect bites and set the hook. needed help with knots and stuff but we did alot of fishing in those days. good times. we got our grandkids lifetme NC hunting/fishing licenses for their first birthday for around $180. my grandson turns 5 soon. i'd give anything for him to fall in love with it....even his little sister too.
N Florida Mike reply :
Yeah my two sons still fish.The older ones good at it but doesn't go much. My middle son would fish 24/7 if he could.( He often does because he does some commercial fishing in saltwater.)He's real good at bassin but he prefers saltwater.My dad got me started when I was 4.Now at least 4 generations of my family have fished a lot.I'm thankful for all the good memories with them.The pic is my older son with his fifth bass that day.
RichardFF reply :
I always consider very much before going fishing with kids, safety is the most important.
Flippin4Biggins reply :
I have three year old that we took with us when we're trying to kill time because he always saw me catch fish and wanted to fish so why not. Put some floaters on him just incase and one we went. Got him a ice fishing pole bc it's more sensitive then a Micky mouse pole and a year later I will say this "he'll give some 5-8year olds a run for their money". For those who think he's to young. This was our decision as parents and it was a good one. He's never caught anything other then small bass or bluegills and always at the same place but someday he'll wanna catch the big boys and I'll introduce frogging and punching to him. I always fished off this dock and I can see when I get bit. So I told him when you feel that... Set the hook and he's got it.
phantom409 reply :
My 3 main keys to fishing with kids are
1. Positive Attitude. If the adult can'take stay positive and upbeat the child will never learn those skills.
2. This is probably the most important thing for a successful day. Keep Calm and fish on. Sometimes parents seem to forget the struggles we had when we first started fishing. No matter how many tangles snags broken lines or lost lures you must remain calm.
3. I personally do not buy the little Mickey Mouse rods. I don't want the child struggling while on the water with a rod that malfunctions or brakes. Instead buy some decent ultra light combos.
Heron reply :
As others have stated...
# 1....FIRST and FOREMOST, go scout for a place with a lot of fishing action. A place that seems overpopulated with fish, such that the fish are striking at least every other cast. Why? because the same area that you fish may not be the ideal place to take the kids fishing. Kids have short attention spans, and may get bored easily.
So how do we do this? Simple, take a pack of hot dogs, and go visit various lakes, ponds, etc. in your area. Toss bits of hot dog in the water, to see which waters hold the most ravenous fish. Then return to the place you have chosen, and use your kid's gear (rod, reel, lures) to fish the area, to familiarize yourself with those waters, and figure out what set up catches fish the best.
Then, on another visit, you bring the kids, and have them fish those waters exactly the same way you previously did, with the same setup that you established...and everybody will enjoy themselves.
Once you've accomplished #1....everything else will fall into place.
Heron reply :
On 2/26/2016 at 8:47 AM, Flippin4Biggins said:I have three year old that we took with us when we're trying to kill time because he always saw me catch fish and wanted to fish so why not. Put some floaters on him just incase and one we went. Got him a ice fishing pole bc it's more sensitive then a Micky mouse pole and a year later I will say this "he'll give some 5-8year olds a run for their money". For those who think he's to young. This was our decision as parents and it was a good one. He's never caught anything other then small bass or bluegills and always at the same place but someday he'll wanna catch the big boys and I'll introduce frogging and punching to him. I always fished off this dock and I can see when I get bit. So I told him when you feel that... Set the hook and he's got it.
I started my kid off at 3yrs old too.
strikefc34 reply :
How small of kids are you talking? I started my kids fishing local ponds for bluegills. As they progressed they learned to fish a senko, topwater, and frog. Visual strikes for obvious reasons can get kids hooked. My usual fishing partner has an 11 year old that can tear them up on a jerkbait!!!
JT Bagwell reply :
I have 5 and 9 year old boys. I started them each when they were about 3 years old and that was likely a year or two to early.
Here are the 2 things that helped make our trips a lot more enjoyable. (They sucked really bad prior to this)
1. Do not buy those stupid Mickey Mouse type poles. If you already did, throw them away. They suck and will cause so much trouble for the kids and for you.
2. Do not use monofilament. Spend a little extra money and buy some 15# braided line. This will all but eliminate all of the the loops and knots the kids get in their lines. This was a game changer for us. The line is a little more expensive but it lasts a long time because you aren't constantly cutting knots out of the line.
On a side note: I MAKE my kids wear good sunglasses. I want to protect their eyes from the sun but I also want them to protect their eyes from themselves and each other. Your kid could be ruined for life if they get a hook square in the eyeball. The cost of sunglasses won't be anything compared to the cost of the medical bills. And don't get them crappy ones. They can end up doing more damage.
My kids have good polarized glasses but they can only wear them when we go fishing and any other time they are in their cases in my truck.
My 9 year old is getting pretty proficient with many different baits but the lipless crankbait is probably his favorite. While the 5 year old is the king of the Beetle Spin. I ordered them a whole case of them.
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 3/16/2016 at 11:00 AM, JT Bagwell said:I have 5 and 9 year old boys. I started them each when they were about 3 years old and that was likely a year or two to early.
Here are the 2 things that helped make our trips a lot more enjoyable. (They sucked really bad prior to this)
1. Do not buy those stupid Mickey Mouse type poles. If you already did, throw them away. They suck and will cause so much trouble for the kids and for you.
2. Do not use monofilament. Spend a little extra money and buy some 15# braided line. This will all but eliminate all of the the loops and knots the kids get in their lines. This was a game changer for us. The line is a little more expensive but it lasts a long time because you aren't constantly cutting knots out of the line.
On a side note: I MAKE my kids wear good sunglasses. I want to protect their eyes from the sun but I also want them to protect their eyes from themselves and each other. Your kid could be ruined for life if they get a hook square in the eyeball. The cost of sunglasses won't be anything compared to the cost of the medical bills. And don't get them crappy ones. They can end up doing more damage.
My kids have good polarized glasses but they can only wear them when we go fishing and any other time they are in their cases in my truck.My 9 year old is getting pretty proficient with many different baits but the lipless crankbait is probably his favorite. While the 5 year old is the king of the Beetle Spin. I ordered them a whole case of them.
What he said.
7 minutes ago, JT Bagwell said:
Fishinggeek reply :
I would say for kids a senko or fluke would be the way to go. Keeps the kids constantly reeling and casting and other then live bait in my opinion is one of the easiest ways to catch bass.
I.rar reply :
I'm working with my almost 5 year old daughter and it's been a struggle. She's got the casting technique of a spincast down but very little patience. I plan on picking up a short spin combo to broaden the bait choice. We'll see how that goes, lol
I always enjoy taking her to the park even if we don't catch anything and she likes it too.
Heron reply :
I'll be the odd one out and NOT recommend a Senko. In working with 3-5 year olds, I am always reminded that their attention span lasts for about 45 seconds. So I avoid anything that causes them to stand there, and wait, for any amount of time.
I favor teaching the child a basic cast and retrieve approach. Because It keeps them more engaged. If theyre not catching fish, at least they are still physically doing something, and not waiting for anything. Keeping the child engaged, is critical to having a positive fishing experience, and a learning experience. And that is the goal.
At 3 yrs old I started my boy off by casting a practice plug off of the patio, and turned into a game. Then took him to the pond with a 2inch curly tail grub. Cast, and retrieve. Taught him a thing or two about the right speed to retrieve at. Not too fast, not too slow. He learned how to retrieve it just right. And then pulled 10 small bass in about 45 minutes. Then the mosquitos were getting too thick so we walked home.
This is how it has been for the previous 3 years.
Heron reply :
On 3/16/2016 at 11:00 AM, JT Bagwell said:I have 5 and 9 year old boys. I started them each when they were about 3 years old and that was likely a year or two to early.
Here are the 2 things that helped make our trips a lot more enjoyable. (They sucked really bad prior to this)
1. Do not buy those stupid Mickey Mouse type poles. If you already did, throw them away. They suck and will cause so much trouble for the kids and for you.
2. Do not use monofilament. Spend a little extra money and buy some 15# braided line. This will all but eliminate all of the the loops and knots the kids get in their lines. This was a game changer for us. The line is a little more expensive but it lasts a long time because you aren't constantly cutting knots out of the line.
On a side note: I MAKE my kids wear good sunglasses. I want to protect their eyes from the sun but I also want them to protect their eyes from themselves and each other. Your kid could be ruined for life if they get a hook square in the eyeball. The cost of sunglasses won't be anything compared to the cost of the medical bills. And don't get them crappy ones. They can end up doing more damage.
My kids have good polarized glasses but they can only wear them when we go fishing and any other time they are in their cases in my truck.My 9 year old is getting pretty proficient with many different baits but the lipless crankbait is probably his favorite. While the 5 year old is the king of the Beetle Spin. I ordered them a whole case of them.
Im gonna go ahead and disagree with some of this...
1.) The Mickey Mouse type poles are fine. Yes they suck for us adults, but they are not made for us, or for our kind of fishing. For child who is 3-5 years old, I preferred that pole because it was an ideal size for a child of that age to easily handle and manipulate. They are made for little kid-fishing, and they function in that area just fine. But I wouldn't recommend it for kids any older than 5. In total, my little boy has caught 34 small bass with his little pole, and it has never failed him. So Im ok with that. He is going to be 6 soon, so its time to upgrade.
2.) No Mono? Mono works just fine. Never had any problems with it, and never had any of the loops and knots that you described. Certainly never once had to cut any line out because of it. Cant relate to why this was such a game changer for you.
3.) Eye protection is always a good thing. But, when a child only fishes for about an hour, and the size of the fish are such that they hook themselves without the need for actually setting the hook, then Id say that reduces the need for expensive sunglasses.
How do the "crappy ones" cause more damage?
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
when i take my kids fishing i dont fish its all about them saltwater i do fish though i have about 5 setups for croaker and its a waiting game ..
fishonfire reply :
I usually take them out crappie fishing first because they are usually easier to catch quite a few with very little skill involved. Then work then up to bass fishing. Now my two oldest sons 10 and 12 can fully operate the boat and are great bad fisherman. My five year old on the other hand... I bring two minnow buckets full of water. He moves them from one bucket to the other and then back again and loves it lol.
Sam reply :
1. Use live bait.
2. Use corn kernels out of the can or small white bread dough balls on small gold hooks to catch bream and bluegill. Kids don't care what kind of fish they catch, only that they catch something.
3. Remember that kids have a short attention spans before they get bored so make sure they get a bite on every cast.
4. Don't force the kids to touch the fish. If it is their first adventure fishing they need to see the fish, and then work up their confidence to touch it. Have them throw it back but be careful that they do not get stung by any scales or fins.
5. Celebrate every fish caught and keep count. Try to keep the count balanced. The kids will be keeping count especially if there are more than one and the kids are 5 and older.
6. Introduce the boat and tackle to the kids before you start to fish. Make sure they wear their PFDs on the bank, dock and in the boat. Also have sunglasses, caps, sunscreen and hand wipes for each child, plus water and snacks.
7. Make the trip as much fun as you can, even though you are going crazy not fishing and working with the kids. It is difficult to not fish but it is more rewarding to show a kid how to fish and the excitement that goes along with catching something.
8. Show them nature. Birds, bugs, snakes, fish, trees, flowers, dead bodies (if fishing the Historic James River in Richmond), piers, docks, other boats, people, etc. Give them an appreciation of nature.
Post pics of your adventure.
Have fun.
JT Bagwell reply :
On 3/17/2016 at 6:44 AM, Heron said:Im gonna go ahead and disagree with some of this...
1.) The Mickey Mouse type poles are fine. Yes they suck for us adults, but they are not made for us, or for our kind of fishing. For child who is 3-5 years old, I preferred that pole because it was an ideal size for a child of that age to easily handle and manipulate. They are made for little kid-fishing, and they function in that area just fine. But I wouldn't recommend it for kids any older than 5. In total, my little boy has caught 34 small bass with his little pole, and it has never failed him. So Im ok with that. He is going to be 6 soon, so its time to upgrade.
2.) No Mono? Mono works just fine. Never had any problems with it, and never had any of the loops and knots that you described. Certainly never once had to cut any line out because of it. Cant relate to why this was such a game changer for you.
3.) Eye protection is always a good thing. But, when a child only fishes for about an hour, and the size of the fish are such that they hook themselves without the need for actually setting the hook, then Id say that reduces the need for expensive sunglasses.
How do the "crappy ones" cause more damage?
Well I guess you are doing everything right, so I will only address your question about the sunglasses.
Using cheap sunglasses is a two fold issue. #1 - Most do not have good UV protection. So the dark lenses cause the pupil to dilate (open up) which will allow more of the sun's harmful rays in because there is no UV protection to keep the rays out. #2 The lenses are not impact rated so if by chance they do get hit in the lenses, it is much more likely that the lenses can shatter allowing the flying object (i.e. sinker, hook or whatever) into the eye along with the shattered lens material. You are probably fine since your kid only fishes for an hour. My kids fish for several hours at a time and they often catch decent sized fish.
IndianaFinesse reply :
Although it is unlikely that a kid is going to break a cheap pair of sunglasses from swinging on a fish and missing, when they are first starting out they will often cast backwards or sideways. I have had my eyes saved three times by my impact resistant sunglasses from kids casting.
JT Bagwell reply :
On 3/18/2016 at 9:44 AM, Centralinfinnesse said:Although it is unlikely that a kid is going to break a cheap pair of sunglasses from swinging on a fish and missing, when they are first starting out they will often cast backwards or sideways. I have had my eyes saved three times by my impact resistant sunglasses from kids casting.
Exactly! And as I stated, I have 2 off them casting at the same time. It is not uncommon that a 1/2 ounce lipless crankbait or a 1/4 ounce Texas rig goes flying by uncomfortably close. Usually that results in a short recess for a reminder on how bad it will hurt if someone gets hooked.
TyF reply :
Ive worked for a fishing camp for 4 summers now so I know a thing or two about taking kids out and most of the key points have been covered in this thread. first and most important make sure they catch a fish. Doesn't matter how big or what species just a fish. Second is to let them stop when they want to. For me there is not an option of going home mid day so we find other ways to make time go by like bring a net so they can catch frogs and crayfish and such. This kills some time and they have a blast. Next is I recommend going to a small stream and wading it with them. They love to go swimming every once in a while to take a break. If you do this you have to engrave in their brain not to let the reel go under water. we have lost countless reels and broken rods due to kids letting them get submerged. Make sure you take a second before actually fishing to go over the basics of handling a rod and casting with them. Fishing with kids can be extremely frustrating at times but also very rewarding.
"hamma" reply :
I started with all 3 of my daughters the same way
1) pick a day after several days of the same weather, then take them one at a time, (about 3 years old) crappie or bluegill fishing with a bobber and worms. ,....allbeit from boat or shore
2) you are there for them, dont plan on fishing at all. dont even bring a rod for you
3) explain on the way to the lake whats to be expected from them, ie: watching the bobber, setting the hook etc.
4) make sure they have a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, bathing suit on, food and drinks. and a camera for that firrst fish is a must
5) if they get the boredom thing fired up,.stop fishing and let them swim,or eat, or explore, catch crayfish,, a diversion if u will.
6) be diligent about teaching them everything they need to know, like: dont reel when the drags pulling to avoid line twist, distance from rod tip hook needs to be before casting, how to load the rod for casting, how to point the rod at the spot they want to cast to and cast with the rod ending up pointing at it again or,.... "right at it" etc. ,...you're interaction here is paramount
7) and probably the most important, point out the beauty of nature, like: the huge blue heron near the shore, the turtles sunning on the laydown, a eagle flying high, the otters and other animals on shore,.. the views from the boat lookin down the lake, sunrise or sunset, dragonflies on the lilys . the crayfish pincers sticking out of the fishes throat etc. meaning , give them something visual to add to the experience
reason being,.. these will be the days they will forever remember,.. make it as notable as you can, if the fish dont co-operate? head home, come back another day
the idea is to get them "bit",...once they finally catch one they will want another
then as they got older my girlfriend and i took the kids camping for a week on a notable lake in maine, and this time i took them out together gave them all a spinning rod with a special jerkbait i use there for smallies,..now they all want to go smallie fishing.
I beleive that the agressive smallies really "bites" the kids into wanting that thrill again, the jumping and fight they put up on light line, their beautiful coloring in clear water really amazed the girls as well,.... almost as much as that red eye
to my amazement all three of my teenaged girls werent fighting (as drama laden teen girls normally do), they were actually interacting with each other, helping each other, acting polite, thoughtful, and respectful,....... we all had the best day on the water we ever had.and i couldnt have been prouder of them all
Seeing as im seperated from their mom and only see them every other weekend, it brought a tear to my eye to see them interact in a peaceful manner.
Only downfall? now they all want their own rods and lures,...lol
Dye99 reply :
Ive got three young sons, so the older two fish with me more and more as they get older
The oldest being 9.
What I did to make it interesting when they first started was rig up a spinning rod with braid, with a water caster bobber, and then 2-3 ft of flouro leader and a little trout fly.
The braid makes it so its hard to get knots, and the fly catches bluegill all day. It also teaches them to cast, reel in, and to WATCH the line/bait.
My oldest wanted to switch to a wacky senco rig within a few days...
Insanity reply :
Im usually the one getting skunked. 
I put small baits on there rods and turn them onto the small fish first every time out. Often times resulting in the only fish caught that day or the largest by accident.
I also never leave home for a ride threw the country with out carrying there rods. So there always getting the chance to fish one on one with me not having a rod to draw my attention away from them.
avidone1 reply :
I agree with all who said to forget about fishing for yourself and focus on the child.
And yes, they need to catch fish and don't care if it's a bass or a bluegill.
It's all about the kid catching fish
greggt4736 reply :
Trolling jigs is a pretty easy way to get a kid into fishing and there's little to no casting involved. If you're on a bed of crappie it can get a kid hooked due to the large numbers they can catch.
Fisticuffs reply :
I started my little man fishing when he was 3, he's 8 now and all about fishing. Everyone is right about not planning to fish yourself, you will only end up aggravated. I always bring a butterfly net to catch frogs, turtles and salimanders. We have a lot of trout where we are, that's how I started him, he loved how pretty they were.
Netfish and Chill reply :
I've found with my little brothers that they're each suited for different things. One of them is 7 going on 8 while the other is 4 going on 5.
They both have an appetite for fishing and are like myself in that they are almost never ready to quit fishing. This means I don't have to worry about them not having fun.
I do however want them to have the most fun that they can.
Older One
The 8 year old loves bass fishing and with bass fishing comes the process of switching baits. I expedite the process by putting a snap swivel on the end of his line. He can change baits as many times as he wants and I'm not constantly having to tie, cut, and re-tie. (That's just about all I have for him he's pretty good at fishing with me!)
Younger One
The 4 year old loves fishing without constantly casting out and reeling back in. He says,"It makes my arms tired." So if we're bass fishing, I'll fix him up with a texas rigged worm or creature bait so he can slowly work it and I think it's important to build the versatility that comes with rubber fishing, so I'm getting him started early.
This little guy also has a habit of hanging huge fish and then losing them. It's happened so many times and I just set there dumfounded watching his arms work at the reel 'til his line snaps. To remedy the situation, I put heavy line on his pole. Now when he hangs big fish, his line won't snap! I'm also going to buy him a tough Zebco with steel gears so his equipment will never fail.
Not only does he hang huge fish, he also makes no noise whatsoever when he hangs one. He shows no emotion and literally makes no sounds. I'm thinking about putting a bell on the end of his rod so that I can tell when he hooks up because right now, he'll reel a fish all the way up to the boat and it'll splash and get away and I'll have been setting there with my back turned. If I have a bell on the end of his pole, I'll be able to help him get his fish in and be aware of when he hooks up.
Both of Them
If it's a particularly hard day fishing, I'll hook up on a fish and let one of them reel it in. They get to take turns for every fish I catch. I find that this lets me get some of my practice in and lets them get some action.
The truth is that different kids are better at certain things. You just have to figure out your kid when it comes to fishing and help them so that you can all have the most fun you can.
~ Mr. Netfish and Chill 
bigbill reply :
Small kids and pan fishing
Rattle bobber get jiggy with it ring that dinnerbell.
Longer shank #10 or #8 hook for night crawlers so you can unhook the fish faster. Cut the worms in lengths to match the length of the hook.
Put a very small split shot above the worm so it drops faster.
Kids want non stop action. Remove those caught fish and get back in the water. Keep them interested.
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