handling younger kids fishing

[mrklean]

Well yesterday i was out fishing with the GF yesterday and there was a younger kid on the dock probably 10-12 years old. I could tell the kid liked to fish because he talked nonstop about fish and which lure to use, most of the time i could tell he was talkin to himself. Well we started to catch some fish mostly smallmouth and redhorse when he started to move right in between us and cast. i ignored it at first cause he was young then he crossed lines a few times and i told him you have to pick a spot where you wanna fish, said it nice not yelling or anything, he moved about 80 feet from us and fished. I kinda felt bad cause i didnt want the kid to leave just pick where he wanted to fish so we didnt get tangled up, he came back fished for a bit was having line issues i think and started to leave. Well he made it about half way up the hill stopped then started to take off all his line off his reel. Well instead of grabbing the line he went to get on his bike and take off, then i did yell and tell him to pick it up and throw it away, he picked it up and took off. I guess i dont really know if i handled this all the right way i kinda felt like a jerk in the end.

[Northlander]

You did fine. Evidently he didnt have anyone at home teach him things. Only thing I can say is maybe you could have helped him out with his line issues. I have a "Challenged" kid in my neighborhood who stops at my garage every once in a while for a line change on the rod/reel I gave him, even when its not needed, and his free lure. He just loves some positive attention and to talk fishing with someone who actually shows him some care and concern.

Lots of kids these days without good parenting at home and many times you can pick these kids out pretty easy. Im guessing the kid you met was one with the poor boundries and social skills displayed. About all you can do is be nice, teach them something, like not littering his line and hope they enjoyed the experience enough to keep fishing.

Something about fishing that almost every kid I have met no matter how "challenged" or "Hard" enjoys.

We need to keep the kids involved in the sport because the numbers of kids sitting in the house and not outdoors is on the rise. No coincidence that our population is getting fatter and fatter either.

[mrklean]

yep thats what im really kicking my self about i could have given the kid some pointers

[Slabasaurus]

Tough to say. I've run into this instance more than one time this year, and it seems (shocking, I know) every kid out there is different.

One kid was teaching an older gentleman how to use a fly rod... that was pretty neat.

one group sticks out though. It was obvious they loved fishing as much as I do, which was awesome for me to see. What I did not understand is why their dads (casting on the other end of the pier) were not giving them the tips/pointers/advice/attention I was. Unfortunately it became quite annoying, as my buddy and I were trying to get as much 1/1 fishing time in before his twins arrived. They didn't really like the idea of CPR.. which i adhere to most often, and definitely kept crossing lines. However, every time I felt they needed to be scolded, i'd hear a dad shout at them. You should have heard the screams after the kids left the minnow bag (yes, bag) open and all the minnows fell onto the dock.

So perhaps my true issue here is parents who go fishing and bring their kids, not take their kids fishin. Heh.

Anyway, it is nice to teach young anglers some tips about being a true angler. Maybe the advice of a stranger means more sometimes, or is more memorable at least.

Slabs

[Tom7227]

Everyone has their own way of raising their kids, their own reasons for doing things a certain way, and that's just the way it is. Best thing is to only intervene if you think the kid is being hurt in some way. Your standards on how you would/do raise kids, or how you fish, or whether you C&R vs. keeping are your standards. Your methods are OK for you, not everyone else. Observe, learn and tolerate. If you want to try and help a kid, and if the kid wants some help, great. If not, that's the way it goes.

If all parents were perfect we wouldn't have problems in schools and we would probably need fewer jail cells.

[Northlander]

"If all parents were perfect we wouldn't have problems in schools and we would probably need fewer jail cells."

I see this every day! I dont expect parents to be perfect I would just settle for a bit more average ones.

[sdpikehntr]

I have 3 boys ages 4-11, I have had fishing issues to say the least, but it is all fun now. The reason it is all fun now? I have struggled with "my fishing trip" and "our fishing trip", My kids are only young once and they will grow up fast, I now know that its "our fishing trip", which means no pole for me but 3 poles to over see. I have cought more than my far share of fish and I now love to watch them fish, and I get more joy from the teachers chair.

Many parent see their kids as a anchor on there fun, and forget that the kids just want to be apart of their parents fun. The kid that was fishing close to you most likley just wanted some interaction on a subject he thought was a mutual enjoyment. Most of the time if you give them 5 min of your time and teach him a trick or two, they will do everything they can to not upset you, rather than bother you.

I wish that more parents spent time fishing with their kids, it is so important in their success.

[muddpuppy]

1. I would not raise my voice at another persons kid. You never know who or where popa bear is at.

2. If your unwilling to help a kid out who is having a hard time. Don't yell at him for doing something wrong.

Kids will be kids... Just be gentle and understanding. I have a 14 year old son who still feels the need to sit in my lap and cast where I just caught the last fish. I am not a patiant person at all I have a small 16' boat and I just tell my self to breathe and relax, breathe and relax. Before I say anything. Because as frustrated as I know I get. The last thing I want to do is ruin fishing for him. I could tell him 30 times to stay in the back of the boat. But He is standing on top of me casting over me to put his lure in the same spot I just caught a fish every time. It's just what kids do!

[tunrevir]

Interesting topic. Funny, I was once a kid like that, not knowing ethical boundries of how close to fish ect. I pretty much learned by doing not that I had a bad upbringing but just parents that were busy working alot of the time. I know the feeling of wanting to catch fish when not getting into the action close at hand and I admit, at times, growing up I probably crowded somone that was catching fish so I could get in on the action. Simple advice is to give each other some room but in a young mind, "all of the fish" are right where you are fishing. One way I found to handle this was look at the setup the kid is using and the bait/techniques. I find alot of the time these kids have an old rod with 15# line on it that is all coiled up, ect, ect. If yu have an extra bait or rod you are willing to let them use let them try and fish "with the good stuff" in "THE" spot and try to tell them what you are doing and how it feels/looks when a fish takes the bait. Kids are sponges and will suck up all the advice, know how and fishing tips you can hand out and it might just get them hooked for life. Like Northlander said alot of kids don't have a + influence in their house to teach them so any positive influence can go a long ways in their lives. I have given away many a twister tail, beetlespin, bobber stop and bobber and hook and it is a sincere pleasure to watch those kids go out and fish and have fun. Even had a kid run up to me one time and tell me about the giant bass he caught on the lure I gave away. Bottomline, anything you can do to help out, be a positive influence and assist may have far reaching consequences in that persons life. Good karma there

Tunrevir~