How old? 2024

NHBull reply :

Growing up I can't remember a time I didn't have a pole in my hand, but for one reason or another, I didn't pass that to my kids.

Now that I have grandkids, it's something I am obsessing about.

This Summer I just want them on the boat.

How young is to young to drop a line and what are kids using?

Thanks, Bubba

Darren. reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 6:25 AM, NHBull said:

Growing up I can't remember a time I didn't have a pole in my hand, but for one reason or another, I didn't pass that to my kids.

Now that I have grandkids, it's something I am obsessing about.

This Summer I just want them on the boat.

How young is to young to drop a line and what are kids using?

Thanks, Bubba

I got my boys started around 3 or 4, I think.

Floats (bobber) worms got results 98% of the time

be it bluegill, perch, white bass, largies, catfish, crappie.

That's a safe bet to start, IMHO.

Fishingmickey reply :

Our family used to sailboat race on the weekends. I was too small to crew so I was stuck on shore. I think I was five or so when I started with a hand line and popcorn jerking dock bluegills. Mom said it was the best baby sitter ever. a ten cent bag of popcorn and me wearing my life jacket. Simpler times for sure.

Fishingmickey

RPreeb reply :

I really don't know how old I was the first time I had a pole in my hands, but I do know that there were several bamboo cane poles at our Wisconsin cabin, and I spent my first 17 summers there. Some of my early memories are of standing on the end of the dock in front of my uncle's cabin (it was the only dock for our family's 3 cabins), catching sunfish on a 9 or 10 foot pole with bobber, sinker, hook and worms. The fun included digging our own worms out back of the cabins.

I'd say that if they show an interest and can at least handle a Zebco, then they are old enough to fish. Worm fishing for sunfish is usually active enough to hold their interest, at least it always was for us. If they are too young for that they can certainly come out on the boat and spend some togetherness time with "Grandpa". Just don't push it too hard, or make an outing so long that they get bored. Always try to leave them wanting more so that they continue to ask to go.

slonezp reply :

They don't make Snoopy and Barbie combos for no reason.

lo n slo reply :

be patient grasshopper ☝️

Catt reply :

3 or 4 is fine for getting them started

Don't be discouraged if they don't stay with it!

papajoe222 reply :

It's really never too young, to spark a child"s interest in anything. I've introduced many youngsters from 3-13yr. oldsand the majority of them, though now adults, still enjoy the sport. The most difficult obstacle is their short attention span. Regardless of their age, you need to grab their interest as quick as possible. You do the fishing at first and let them throw rocks, play at the water's edge, or sit behind the steering wheel of the boat until you hook a fish. Hand them the rod and let them enjoy the fight while helping or showing them how to reel it in. Show your excitement as they will pick up on it. Older children will progress to actually doing the fishing much quicker, but regardless, continue doing the hooking of fish until the little wanna be asks; Let Me Do It. The big mistake at this juncture is them not catching a fish NOW, not two or three minutes after you help them toss the bait out. For that reason I recommend targeting sunfish, or active crappie when starting them out.

The little guy in my avitar is a 9yr. old I started out at 3yrs.

kingmotorboat reply :

I started when I was two. My grandpa knew every great white perch area on calcasieu river, even fished a few any fish tournaments actually placed 3rd at 9 years old with a 2 pound white perch. As I grew older about 13 I started bass fishing with my dad. I wasn't to in depth with it at that time so at 16 I stopped. I took a 11 year break. Me and my family were on rocky terms through most of my 20's. Then at 27 I started bass fishing again. My dad came over noticed a couple of rods and reels so he decided he was going to start fishing as well, bass fishing has literally restored my relationship with my family so when people ask why I'm so die hard about it, it's hard to explain but there's a big reason

JoshFromBolo reply :

I don't think you can be too young or too old to start fishing, I know people that started when they were 2 or 3, I on the other hand only started not even a year ago, I'm 19

kingmotorboat reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 10:55 AM, JoshFromBolo said:

I don't think you can be too young or too old to start fishing, I know people that started when they were 2 or 3, I on the other hand only started not even a year ago, I'm 19

Welcome to the most expensive habit in the world. Is a 200 dollar combo necessary? No. But oh man is it nice

bobbyg reply :

I have 5 kids, and each one started at a different age. I waited until they showed interest before I started with each one. So far 3 of 4 love it, one does not. The fifth is only one, so not happening yet.

JoshFromBolo reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 10:59 AM, kingmotorboat said:

Welcome to the most expensive habit in the world. Is a 200 dollar combo necessary? No. But oh man is it nice

Yeah I already hit that point, impulse buying is a burden :(. 4 months in, I bought a 285 dollar combo.... and I'm fixing to blow some more money thanks to tax returns

kingmotorboat reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 11:07 AM, JoshFromBolo said:

Yeah I already hit that point, impulse buying is a burden :(. 4 months in, I bought a 285 dollar combo.... and I'm fixing to blow some more money thanks to tax returns

Priorities, you're doing it right

JoshFromBolo reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 11:09 AM, kingmotorboat said:

Priorities, you're doing it right

Yes sir, won't be satisfied until I hit 100

WRB reply :

Kids are usually coordinated enough and have long enough attention span to fish at age 5 to 6 years old. Taking 3 to 4 year olds along for short fun outings of an hour or so to share time with you is ok, just don’t have expectations they can catch fish on there own.

Tom

Bankbeater reply :

My oldest daughter was 4 when she went on her first fishing trip. My youngest daughter was 5. They didn't catch anything, but they had fun.

mattkenzer reply :

I started my sons on small fish that i was certain would be biting .... perch, chub, brook trout.

From shore .... bring a bucket so you can let the fish swim it.

From boat .... place fish in live well or bucket.

When the bite slows down, they entertain themselves watching the fish swim.

They also get to catch them and put them back in the water.

This is bringing back great memories.

My boys are now 18 and 21, but still cant out fish dad. .... well maybe some days.

And yes, keeping them in the bucket for the kids to play with may have broke a law or two.

NorthwestBasser reply :

Started my daughter fishing when she was 4, she is about to be 7...she some how figured out how to get on you tube on an old phone I gave her play games on wifi only. Heard a man's voice in her room so naturally I went to check it out, found her sitting in her chair watching episodes of Big Bass Dreams with Oliver Ngy. Such a proud moment for me. Tears of joy, so I showed her how to cast them to the big TV in the family room. She loves to fish and be on the water with me and her mom!

Czorn reply :

My son started at 2, he's big for his age. He is now 4 and all he wants to do is fish and shoot his bow. My step son is 8 and is using my baitcasters and figuring things out on his own. When we get out on the water now I always ask him what we should start out with. No matter what he says, that's what we do.

Mr. Aquarium reply :

i was 3 when i first started, my parents took me to a kids fishing derby. i won my age group.

the reel ess reply :

My daughter caught 3 white perch and a crappie when she was 3. But her attention span was so short, she was finished right them. Her fishing career was over by about 10.

On 2/28/2018 at 2:25 PM, Czorn said:

My son started at 2, he's big for his age. He is now 4 and all he wants to do is fish and shoot his bow. My step son is 8 and is using my baitcasters and figuring things out on his own. When we get out on the water now I always ask him what we should start out with. No matter what he says, that's what we do.

Good idea. I had surpassed my dad's desire to fish by age 12. So after that, he would let me run the trolling motor and he would sit back and enjoy. I was allowed to take the boat out on the lake by myself by 14 as long as he knew about where I would go.

blongfishing reply :

I grew up in a fishing family so fishing was just part of my life. I don’t remember a time I wasn’t fishing. My grandpa was a striper guide so his main goal was to teach me how to fish. I started catching bluegill at about 18 months old, as soon as I could hold a rod. Later on I moved up to catching carp. My grandpa fed carp that hung around his dock and they came in by the hundreds if you threw a little dog food in the water. After that I just went striper fishing with him and my uncle who is still a guide. Wasn’t until I was 11 or so until I discovered bass fishing on my own and taught myself everything I know.

Teach em young! Fishing kept me out of a lot of trouble and it’s been a great pass time over the years and now has evolved to something even bigger.

NYWayfarer reply :

I took my son for his first fishing trip when he was 3

At that age it's more you hook the fish and let them reel it in. Be prepared to set up and close up shop real fast because of the attention span at that age. Bring things that can keep them occupied (coloring books, shovel and pail, etc) and they might last longer.

Fishing requires patience, coordination and awareness of ones surroundings. These are not things most toddlers have.

Swbass15 reply :

I started taking my son to the lake at almost 3, and helping him fish once he was 3. My daughter is 2 fixing to be 3 and already loves to fish.... both of them last about 30 mins then it’s time to bug hunt and look for dinosaur bones on the beach. I love it!

DINK WHISPERER reply :

It just depends on the individual child imo. Some are just not going to be into it no matter what. I myself started around 4 yrs old for bluegill. My son was late to show interest in it. He started around 7 as my full time partner. Just get them out there and take it day by day, don't force anything. And always make it as fun as possible for them. Good luck

bigbill reply :

My son was 4yo when he caught his first trout.

my older brother took me fishing when I was six years old.

Hog Basser reply :

My sons are 5 and 3 and have been fishing for a few years now. I would guess they were each about 18 months when they first held a pole. Attention span is key. Started them out on dock demons (short poles) for bluegill with worms. Now the older one just wants lures to cast out and retrieve and the younger one is obsessed with catfish since he caught a 2 pounder off the dock with some of his mom's ham last summer (when he was just shy of 3 yrs. old). Between them and my friends' kids, I stay really busy for about 30 minutes baiting hooks and removing bluegill, then they move on to swimming or something else. Of course they might come back to fishing 2-3 times during the day while we're hanging out on the dock.

geo g reply :

My son and daughter both started at about 5 years old with a short push button zebco set up. Both have fond memories of those days with a bobber, small hook , and worms, maggots, and crickets. We were targeting fish of any kind and not just bass. We kept the trips short, loaded with snacks, their favorite juice drinks, and lots of praise. It was fun for all. They are 38 & 33 now, it seems like yesterday!

Frisbie385 reply :

Wish me luck. We are having our first this June and hopefully he takes up fishing like I have. I am thinking a nice Lews Hyper Mag Speed Spool and Dobyns Champion Extreme for his first birthday............... I will just hang on to it till he is able to throw a bait caster!

Paul Roberts reply :

The relationship with you and others along is primary. The rest comes on a need to know basis. They will be best served learning with you than from you. They will care more that you care, than care that you know. Ultimately, fishing should be introduced, supported, and allowed to become their own.

Hog Basser reply :

Took my two again this last Saturday to a pond while mom was working. We didn't catch anything, but they had a blast trying and stayed with it much longer than in the past. They made me change their lures 3 times! Few more years and I will have them tying their own.

islandbass reply :

You might want to consider a dock or the shore first, until you see what their attention level is like. Imagine setting up and preparing all that and then ten minutes into the boating activity, they're ready to go home (really young uns).

Build from there.

FishDewd reply :

Well I remember catching my first fish when I was somewhere between 3 and 4 years old. It was a catfish from the family pond, a healthy 2.5 pounder or so. I still have the picture my mom took and dad and me getting ready to prepare it for dinner, I was just a little dink back then! Today I went out on a fishing trip and saw a really small girl fishing with her little pink Barbie pole and she seemed to be having a blast with dad. He really did a good job with her keeping it fun, I was very happy to see that. She even managed to catch a little baby fish... I think it was possibly a drum? That was pretty cool to see, brought back some memories. Minus the Barbie pole of course... I was using the same 5' ugly stick with a zebco 33 that I still have to this day!

BuzzHudson19c reply :

Some of my earliest memories are fishing with my father. Couldn't have been older than four at the time. I remember when the bite was slow, we would walk the shore flipping rocks to find crayfish.

Fingers crossed my daughter will enjoy fishing with me when she is old enough.

Rick Howard reply :

My old man stared me fishing when I was 2 using floats and worms on a spinning setup. He had s good approach. Never kept me out too long in the beginning. He knew when I was bored and brought me in then. It wasn’t long before we spent all day fishing because I wouldn’t let him go home

Bluebasser86 reply :

I started taking my boy when he was 2, but last year when he was 3 he was probably more ready. I'd say it varies a lot by the child most likely. The old bobber and nightcrawler is probably the most surefire way to get them into some action. I make mine fish a wacky rig and he does just fine.

flyingmonkie reply :

I have two little girlies that I've been exposing to fishing since they were old enough to walk. I've tried to keep it exciting though - 15 minutes at a time, somewhere that I know I can catch a quick fish. I'll fish while they throw crud in the water. I'll hook one and then let them take turns reeling it in, and then we all take a selfie. They also love running jug-lines, catching bream in throw-nets, and hunting for crawfish under rocks.

My oldest officially caught her first fish at the age of 4. Worm on a bobber in a creak. I'm thinking this summer (she'll be 5) will be our first legit fishing trip together.

Ratherbfishing reply :

How old (or young) is directly proportionate to how much patience YOU have and how much YOU actually want to fish yourself.

Sifuedition reply :

When I was five, I hooked an 8 lb catfish on a Snoopy pole while fishing for perch. That reel never stood a chance. Dad actually had to pull it in by hand. I've been hooked ever since. I'm sure I fished before that, but, alas, my memory just doesn't go back that far. I'm not sure how long my attention span was before that catfish, but, it was certainly impressive for a 5, 6, 40 year old after that, lol.

austinF reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 10:59 AM, kingmotorboat said:

Welcome to the most expensive habit in the world. Is a 200 dollar combo necessary? No. But oh man is it nice

Agree but it's more specific to say it "one of the most expensive habit".

Will1248 reply :

Coming from a recent kid (21 its not as fun as they said), who lived next to a pond, a professional babysitter often times next to a lake and as an elder child in a house with two very young twins.

When they can walk and understand basic speech so 3-4 is the best, shoot even 2 if they are a stud. A zebco underspin with barbless straight circle hooks and powerbait and even if they do not know what is happening they will love it.

10985

How old? 2024

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