What age to start ice fishing?

[Sonicrunch]

they should be out there while still in the womb courtesy of mommy.

[pushbutton]

Those carmel apple suckers are a go to....they last a long time! Great pics Eckie....even better times!

[lakevet]

My only stipulation is that he's big enough so he won't fall down the hole.

At least not both legs at once. When I was little dad took me spearing. He tied me to an eyebolt in the back of the darkhouse. Took my nephew ice fishing when he was about 3 yrs old. Stepped in the hole. Took wet sock off and put on one of my wool socks then the bread bag from our sandwiches to keep him dry in the wet boot. He happily fished the rest of the afternoon. When I took him home, I told my sister. After waiting a few days, she finally asked him why he didn't tell her about putting one leg down the ice hole. He said, "I was afraid you wouldn't let me go again if I told you I fell in." He still remembers that at 23 years old.

Used the bread bag/extra wool sock on son # 2 when he was 4 years old and stepped in a hole on Bowstring crappie fishing. He still remembers that episode also

Have fun with them!

lakevet

[troutman72]

think my daughter was 4 in this vid not sure it was here 2nd time out heres a vid and pick.

just keep it short and make it fun for them. also a pic of son and his cusin

[Grainbelt]

I remember taking my son when he was 4. We hooked into a 6# northern while I was showing him how to jig. We finally got the head pointed up the hole and the northern shot up out of the hole about 3ft mouth wide open. My son dropped the pole and ran out of the portable. He suggested that we snowmobile instead, so that is what we did.

[reinhard1]

i have a picture of myself in diapers in Germany when i was a child holding a stick pole fishing in a stream in the village we lived in. i took my daughters fishing when they were 3 and 4. kept them busy with panfish. when they got bored i took them home and did something else. they both fish to this day. same with my grandson at 3, taking him camping and fishing. now the grandaughters doing the same. good luck.

[JEK]

I started my oldest son a 4 and he hasen't missed a year of fishing since. He now takes me fishing.It won't be long before he will be taking his son so that is the way things go I guess.

[tsande00]

I think each kid is different and in order to accurately gauge your kid's interest you'll have to take them out. Teach them that there is more to fishing than just catching fish. It's also about having fun and bonding with family and friends, and doing things you enjoy. Snacks, games, toys, flashers, underwater cameras, tasty beverages, sleds, snow toys, etc. Also, you can't dress them too warm if layering. Once they get cold it's over.

Obviously picking a lake close to home is a good idea, preferably one with some suicidal sunnies or crappies.

My son is 6 this year but last year he'd come with and catch a fish or two, play with the minnows, run around outside, play with the dog, eat snacks, etc. We started when he was 3 and each time we go out he lasts a little longer before he wants to go home. Last year he spend a night or two with me on the ice.

[Jarrid Houston]

I was fishing before I can remmeber, so it will be the same for my kids someday,...

[Nordern]

I would say as soon as you are ready to take on the challenge. I was lucky to have a 8' X 20' sleeper on Mille Lacs so there was plenty of room. My kids were 3 and 4 when we started going overnight. It was more or less a camping trip for them but they did enjoy catching fish when they happened to accidently see one of their bobbers go down. The rattle reels were a great tool also and they immediately got quiet in anticipation of what was making the bells ring. I always had plenty of toys for both inside and out. The only bad thing I can recall (they are 14 and 15 now) is suiting them up to play outside and they want to come back in in 10 minutes. Those were some fun weekends. And I still kinda miss fishing the Barbi heads out of the holes.

[crappiebuster]

My grandpa started taking me when I was 4 and I'm 27 now. Fishing was a whole lot different back then. Still remember certain things about bein out on the ice from 23 yrs ago kind of amazing. And I've had the bug ever since.

[datvbdad]

These posts are great. Keep bringing the kid stories.

[Cyberfish]

I pulled my first fish through the ice before I learned to walk* in 1970!

[hookncook]

Whatever age is comfortable for you and safe for the kids. I've been taking my daughter and son out since they could walk on their own. Daughter is 14 now, and son is 5. I use custom tip up flags so my son knows what tip up is ours and he likes to visit other people on the ice. He calls them "ice fishing friends".