Getting kids into fishing

[muddpuppy]

Long story short I have a 7year old boy and a 4 year old girl. I have been trying to get them into fishing. They will practice with their pole in the yard for hrs it seems. They seem excited to fish but when you put them on the ice or Get them in the boat and 10 min later they want to go home. It does not matter if the fish are biting sometime we barly get on the water and they are done.???????? looking for ideas to try as they love to be out on the water, swimming tubing etc. which is great but Daddy would also like to fish and have those memories as well.

[BartmanMN]

First thought is, put your pole down and focus on them catching fish. I need to remember this myself from time to time if I haven't been on the water much. Second, having plenty of snacks around is helpful, but I'm sure you've found that out already if you are already boating and tubing.

Last thing, my kids love to play with the fish in the live well. We throw a couple little sunnies in there that they catch and that keeps that busy and having fun for quite awhile.

One more thing, make sure their gear is in good working order. Nothing worse then a kids pole that can't cast or has 6 year old line.

Just some thoughts.

[CaptainMusky]

I have 3 boys and the thing I have found that keeps them occupied most is snacks!!! Pull into a gas station prior to the trip and have them pick out snacks, or take something from home.

On the water let them throw ice cubes in the water, splash alongside the boat or whatever keeps them from wanting to go home.

As they get older they fish more, but when they are little the attention span is super short if the catching is coming fast and furious. Even at that they can get bored with it.

Believe it or not fishing from a dock they have more fun sometimes than in the boat. Laying face down on the dock and peering into the water watching the fish eat the hook entertains them for hours. My kids killed an entire afternoon trying to get crayfish to latch on to their jigs while laying on the dock.

[theiceman]

I went to Rod holders and started trolling a lot of crank baits and they can just watch the rods and don't have to hold them. My daughters (8)(10)love fishing this way. snacks help a lot! Just make it fun that's what's important!

[20lbSloughShark]

Food, and pick lakes with numbers. It rarely matters how big the fish are, they just need fish. That and food. Associate fish with success. It doesn't matter if its a quarter size sunfish, take a picture of it and congratulate them.

[Sandmannd]

Food, and pick lakes with numbers. It rarely matters how big the fish are, they just need fish. That and food. Associate fish with success. It doesn't matter if its a quarter size sunfish, take a picture of it and congratulate them.

Spot on, get on fish no matter the size. If you can find a lake where it's full of pannies with some occasional bass it would be good. Nothing like a nice couple pound bass here and there to get their blood going. Snacks are key but you also need something for them to do other than fishing. My daughter takes the tablet with her. This kid has walleye fished with me since she was two. At five she would last almost an entire day in the boat. Now at 8 she will last 12 hours easy fishing for eyes. Not fast and furious action. You just have to get them out and enjoying it. Once they get on fish they'll love it then you have to move them up to bigger fish that need more patience.

[muddpuppy]

Great ideas everyone, I have done all the above, except the video games/movies. I am looking for an outlet to get away from that. A scoop of minnows and a small bucket, or a cooler of ice go a long way with them for sure.

I guess maybe persistence and sooner or later it will or will not catch their interests. Thinking about it they just want to have fun. Until I can get them to think of it as fun instead something we do before they have fun.

Maybe, giving them a choice to Join me or stay home. With the idea when I come back in we will go do what they want to do. Or go have fun and try fishing in the evening

In the end just looking to make fishing something the whole family takes part in rather then just me.

[Comit 2]

Forget the boat and forget the ice. Find a nice shore fishing spot with Sunfish or Bullhead. Bring the family and some of there friends, start them fishing, have a picnic, play with a turtle, check out the bug hatch and make a big deal out of every fish caught, even the Carp. The rest will fall in place. Explore, Explore, Explore. In the end isn't that what fishing is. Reading what is going on around you.

[amateurfishing]

here is something ive tried for last 2 years and son loves it, try and get away from the bobber watching, bottom fish waiting, slow fishing duldrums. go buy "slow death" hooks and put on a swivel. add plastic bait of your choice, cast & retrive, repeat. the beauty of this style of fishing is it keeps them busier, constantly casting & retreiving, gets the to learn the rod & reel faster/better also. when they get a bite, they will know it and fish hooks themselves just like crankbaits. my son will usually out fish me by this method, he has caught bass, gils, crappie, n perch. & when they get tired, just have the cooler of snacks ready. no personal electronics are allowed on boat cept my phone for navionics & emergencies & the fish finder. my son also loves watching the graph and gps,he will tell me where to go find fish and we do, helps keep him interested, learn graph, and play more of a role in our adventure. have fun.