Fishing time machine.

[SCUMFROG]

Just some thing to take you back a few years. I was sitting at the end of the dock all by myself catching perch, crappies and little pike that were following a huge school of minnows around. As I sat there I was thinking about when I was a kid fishing from shore or docks having fun catching any thing that would bite. I wasn't using all these electronic things to find fish I was just fishing. I sat there on my tackle box thinking back for almost 2 hours and never even casted, just let the line drop off the end of the dock. It was so peaceful.

Do any of you still do this?

[hanson]

Scumfrog,
I try to do it whenever possible. The little lake our cabin is on winter kills every so many years. When the fish come back, it is so much fun fishing for them off the dock. Box of worms, ultralight rod, slip bobber, and a jig. Most of the time the sunfish are consistently bigger then I can catch anywhere. You'll hook into the occasional bass and carp. Man, are those carp fun on an ultralight rod.

[1DIRTBALL]

I don't but I should. Along similiar lines, when the world starts to press in on me a little too much, I like to do what I call "go out in the woods and give my mind a bath". All I do is find the deepest, wildest part of the woods I can and just sit there and observe nature and think. Since I live right next to Beltrami Island State Forest, this isn't hard for me to do. Surprising how an hour or so spent like this can change your outlook. It doth restoreth the soul.

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YOU CAN'T talk AN OLD talk'ER!

[The Grebe]

I think just about everyone will go sit on the dock once in awhile, in one way or another....and maybe the older one gets, the more times that dock is visited!

There are times when I go back to the places I fished and tramped around in my youth...I look back through the window of time and each place seems to hold some kind of good memory, gives me kind of a peacefull feeling...especially if the area has'nt changed. My own personal docks give me some kind of renewal that is needed every once in awhile.

[Dennis Steele]

I have come full circle to my childhood.When I was a kid I rode my bike every where to catch some fish or splash around in the creeks that surounded my home.Now after 30 years I am again riding a bike to go fishing.I picked up a junk ten speed...or should I say 6 speed as two of the gears don't work. I hope on that junk and take the bike trails to some of the best shore fishing spots in my neighborhood.
I have heard a few snickers as I have ridden by from joggers and other bikers as they see this unshaven gruff looking character riding a pile junk and nearly out of control from trying to hold my pole in one hand as I head to my honey holes,but I don't care...I am having a good time!

[Carl Spackler]

I used to sit on the dock with my Grandpa years ago...I miss him...and the time on the dock. Someone actually took a picture of us out there once, it's my favorite and hangs on my wall.

[fishface5]

Dennis, I been doing the same thing! It can't be beat.

[Chad Holst]

Carl, That is one of the best pictures i have ever seen. Thank You.

I am Taking my 5 yr old son fishing this weekend for the 1st time. I know, you may be thinking 1st time? My god he's 5..he should have been out many other times...Yes.
I don't get to spend to much time w/him. I am divorced and ( in the past) seem to have had way to many things to do..work, girlfriend, drinking, etc... Well I have come to realise that I have way to many things w/my son to do than to be a work, drink, girlfriend kinda dad....

I'm really worried from some wierd reason.. I'm wondering what to say, where to go, etc... I really want to have that dream fishing day. But, what if he doesn't like it..what if he gets bored...
I got a nice boat, gear etc..(tourny fish...) Should i take him out on the lake? Maybe break-up the bordom with a boat ride...? Fish from shore?

Some of you guys seem to have had that man figure in your life.. what should i do?

thanks,30 year old scared dad

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I'd rather be fishing and think about church, than be at church and thinking about fishing!

[fishin789]

sirlips
If you take him out in the boat be prepared to leave when he gets bored. which may be 20 min. keep doing that and after a while string it out a little longer after he says he wants to leave. eventually he will want to stay all day.Make sure you are on a lake that has a ton of sunnys or something that will bite to keep him going.once you have him hooked on it he will fish with you all the time. when i was young all my dad had to do was wake me up and ask if i wanted to go fishing and i was up in a flash. making sandwiches and out we went. most of the time we would spend the whole day fishing. when i got bored i would go play in the woods then fish some more.my dad has been gone now for quite some time but i sill think back to the times he took me fishing.

[2dalake]

I agree. The easiest way to sour a kid on fishing is to keep him out there longer than he wants to stay. Fish as long as he likes, then yank the boat out and go for ice cream, play ball, something else (mine liked mini golf, still do). His attention span won't tolerate anything else. Then the boat becomes a real drag for a five year old.

They will stay out a little longer if you catch a couple and put them in the livewell though. Mine could watch them swim around for hours, especially if they caught it themselves. Then they wanted to let them go, which I did.

I never fished off a dock with my grandpa, he used a boat. An 16' Lund rowboat with a 20hp Merc. He couldn't go fishing unless we left at dawn. The night before my brother and I couldn't sleep because we were so wound up.

[hanson]

Carl-
I 2nd that about the picture, absolutely awesome. I've got a couple pictures from my youth which are my favorites. One is with my first greenhead mallard, shot that with my grandpa's bolt action 20 gauge. The other is with my first deer. 2 of my favorites anyway.

Dennis-
Great story with the bike!! You wouldn't have happened to be in the Menards in Eden Prairie on Sunday by any chance???

[sami0115]

that is a fantastic photo!
i would have loved to have a photo of me and my grandpa.

[Dennis Steele]

hanson
Yes I was!
You should have stopped me and said hello.I know I look kind of unapprochable at times but I am just concentrating on fishing!Its always on the brain!

[Doufish2]

I ffished very little with my grandfather, but when i met my wife 30 years ago i fished with my father-in-law for 20 years. I have many many great memories of him. When he passed, i got all of his fishing equipment. Instead of keeping for myseelf, i gave each of the eight grandchildren a rod and split all his tackle between them for Christmas. It was the right thing to do. This spring, I bought a new Ranger 185VS, on the back of the motor, i removed the Merc sticker and had a painter paint a worm, sitting on a hook, with the words,IN MEMORY OF WHB, the spirit of OOGIE(his nickname). He took me fishing for many years, my turn to take him. Good memories.

[wooly1]

sirlips,
Quantity not quality fish is what is important to the 5 year old. Perch, sunnies, rock bass anything. Get a ice fishing rod with a spinning reel on it for him. Short and easy to handle with out a lot of tangles. Bobbers, hook and worms. Bring fun snacks and beverages. HAVE FUN.
Be ready to leave when he is ready.
What's important is the time you spend together not necessarily what you are doing.
Nothing to be scared about. Show him and tell him you love him and that he the coolest kid in the world and you'll both have a great time. Just my two cents.

[jbdragon]

I take my 4 year old out with me often. I try to make it exciting for him in other ways besides fishing. I put together a big "snack" bag... hot chocolate.. have a couple of his books that he likes. I always make sure to have some minnows. (he likes to play with them). I try to build it up for a couple of days involving him in some planning and preparation (mostly with his snacks). I will have him help me get my gear set up. He seems to enjoy it very much. He actually gets disappointed when he doesn't get to go fishing with dad. Earlier this summer he said something (for the first time)which I will remember for the rest of my life. He said "Dad...When are we going to go fishing".

All of this has worked well for me. He went out with me the Tuesday July 6th. We fished almost all day long while it rained on us. He loved it.

[Chad Holst]

Thanks for all the advise guys, I truelly appreciate it.

I know it's seems silly to have to ask, since I tourny fish, but, Where are good spots to catch sunnys and the like?... We will be going around the Rochester area... Probably the River at Wabasha/Lake city/ Redwing....? Crawlers?minnows?crubs/wax worms?

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I'd rather be fishing and think about church, than be at church and thinking about fishing!

[weezeemn]

I've got a great fish 'n ski boat, electronics and way more gear than I need. Yet my two girls don't fish off the boat unless it's docked. Well, they do, but it's still just a jig and worm in weeds for sunnies. Lately, when I'm not finding the bigger fish, I find catching small fish with my daughters really restores something in me. I swear that my daughters enjoy it more when I'm catching sunnies, too.

Thanks for posting that picture, Carl. It's got to be one of your most valuable possessions. Talk about a moment in time..

[marbleeye2]

Sirlips...You can't go wrong just taking Jr. out either on the boat or from shore. Trust me, most of the time the kids just want some undivided attention from Dad. It's not too late even if he is already 5. The other guys have all given good suggestions so I don't need to repeat what they've already said. Not to be philosophical, but they do grow up really fast...my fishing buddy just turned 13. Relax, have fun and keep expectations to a minimum. If you have fun, so will he.

By the way, I fish the MWT with you...in fact my 13 year old is going to prefish with me for a couple days before Ottertail.

[Chad Holst]

Thanks marbleeye2

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I'd rather be fishing and think about church, than be at church and thinking about fishing!

[This message has been edited by sirlips (edited 07-21-2004).]

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST TOPICS YET !(no one is argueing)ha ha
I live through my 4yr old son.I see him sitting there on the dock next to me and I see myself and my father.I get goose bumps quite often watching him stare at the bobber just daydreaming whatever 4yr olds daydream about.I hope he is making the same memories as I made at that age.

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Greg