Trying to get my son (4 years old) more excited about ice fishing...

[Kylersk]

Lets just say, so far, the experience hasnt been the best for him. He did land him self a crappie tonight, but the ride out (on 4 wheeler, I dont trust taking truck out yet) and back was a nightmare, and I'm scared it will further his dislike of ice fishing (at least without grandpa . His hands got soo cold that it made him cry. Last time, it was his feet, so I picked up some Feet warmers for his boots. Guess I shoulda brought along hand warmers, but his mittons are darn small...

So, what do you all do to keep your kids interested?

[MJCatfish]

At 4 years old, lots of snacks and lots of very short fishing trips. Great question!

MJ

[brava-pesca]

I've been bring my 7 and 9 year old out since they have been 4. When they were smaller I had to limit the time they spent on the ice to 2-3 hours. Now I fish with them all day. I keep them occupied with coloring books, books, a gameboy, hockey skates and sticks and of course lots of snacks. I never push them to fish and they only fish when they want to.

[Mark Christianson]

Any friends that have kids?

I know my son enjoys being on the ice a lot more when there is another kid to run around with from time to time.

He is 9 now, but even when he was smaller, just having another kid around is HUGE.

My son and smallie hawgins sons have been out with us several times, and they get a kick out of minnow races on the ice. Yeah, pour some water on it and watch a minnow swim around. Hockey sticks. And snacks and drinks are HUGE!

They pop over, fish for a while, get up go run around, come back, play with a fish or two if we got some, etc.

Multi tasking is mandatory for the kids.

[Lazy Mike]

The underwater camera keeps my 5 year old occupied, however last year he got really cold one time and was done for the season. It might take another year for the little guy?

[Dan Thiem]

When they are that young their attention span is way short. Bring all the toys and cars and trucks you can. Make little race courses in the snow.

Bring along a sled. Pull him around and make goofy noises.

Like BLB said too, bring another youngin. Someone that's around the same age.

Let them play in the minnow bucket. They will even give the darn things names. What's a scoop of crappie minnows cost anyway. They can play in the bucket with the scooper for hours.

If your little guy got cold, just take a break on the wheeler and then after he warms up, go really slow to keep the wind factor from being such a nuisance.

[Cyberfish]

I started ice fishing at around 4. Keep it short, keep em warm, and let them catch a few fish. perch and panfish are fine size dosent matter. Make sure at the least sign of not having fun, leave right away, or do somthin else fun.

[Hemlock]

Kylersk, haven't spoken with you since Rainy Lake last year.

I am having the opposite issues with my four year old son. He can't get enough of ice fishing with me. We have averaged 8 hours in the fishouse the last 4 weeks.

Things that may be different....8 X 12 shack that allows him to be comfortable and have some room. We also take the pickup from our house righ to the shack. I'm guessing the four wheeler ride might be a bit too much for him.

As others have stated, keeping them busy and giving them as much attention as you can help. I like what Dan Theim said about making the race track in the snow. My little guy brings his boats and slides them in the snow. He loves it, and they do go pretty good, gliding on the snow.

You are probably doing the best you can, but without warmth, they will give it two thumbs down. If and when it's safe to take the warm pick up, then that will help. With a winter like this one, where you are forced to do the ATV thing, then it better be warm for JR.

[Random guy]

Few tricks I have used for the little guide clients

1) Underwater camera, and if the fish don't show up toss it in the minnow bucket. It's a whole new world, kinda like real life finding Nemo,

2) The sucker minnow pet. Drill a hole just deep enough for a sucker minnow to swim around, mini sea world. Works until the hands go into the ice water.

3)On ice fort, an old blanket and a something to prop up the middle. Keeps the little guy out of the wind if you don't have a shack and what kid does not like a fort of their own?

4) Chores, lots and lots of chores. Plastic shove to clear snow for the next hole for dad, floating skimmer to clean the hole for dad, carry stuff back and forth for dad. The more they help the more they feel like a part of all this and it keeps em moving and warm.

5)Keep the fish alive in a bucket or ice well and have kiddo keep an eye on them so they don't get out! That one is good for at least an hour.

6) Snoopy can come along. Snoopy rods work on the ice (they actually work pretty good) Kids take pride in having a rod that is just like dads, and when they catch a fish on their rod, they had in their hands all by them self going in is the last thing on their mind.(kinda like the big kids)

7) Don't plan on fishing very hard or staying out very long, it's all about getting them to like it at their speed, once they take to it they will let you know.

Kudos to anyone taking the kids out fishing! I seen a bumber sticker once that read "Kids that hunt and fish don't have time to mug little old ladies"~ makes sense.

[Panfish Guy]

I think the time thing may be the most important. In our neck of the woods lakes are hard to come by.

When my kids were small my wife worked weekends so I built a nice warm permanent fish house to take the kids to.

We could catch as many small perch as we wanted.

Cooked hotdogs and burgers on the stove. Took sleds and toys to play with. Water was even clear and shallow enough to see the fish. It was about an hour drive one way so when the kids wanted to leave after a short while it was hard for the old man to do. My girl is a freshman in high school and my boy is in 7th grade and neither of them has any interest in ice fishing. Sometimes my boy comes along as a "mercy" fishing trip because he knows how much I enjoy it but he is never fond of it. Please don't burn them out on it when they are young or you may regret it later.

[Tony Boshold]

All great info, nice thread!

I have found that taking kids fishing and getting them hooked on fishing can be two very different things.

My son who is 8 now, likes to fish, not love.

He has been reeling in fish since before he could walk. It all started the end of his first winter. I would take him for a "walk" in his stroller around the lake to give the x-wife a "break." I'd bring a rod and take a few casts and then keep walking around the lake. Eventually I'd catch something and he wanted to reel them in before long.

As he got older we would go for short trips like said complete with snacks and rock throwing and nature veiwing.

I never fish myself, I am just there to help him catch fish. I think this is a huge key to getting kids interested.

Pay attention to them and they will like it.

ACTION spots are the key to keeping them interested. Catching a bunch of pannies on an UL ice rod is as good as it gets for the little ones. No action and they get bored pretty fast. Staring at tip ups and freezing is not fun for kids. We can both fit in my Pro one man shelter. He gets the Driver's seat and I sit next to him or "kitty" corner. The heater goes next to him. I am just there to make sure he doesn't hook himself and help handle the fish. He takes them off the hook himself now. He gives them a kiss and sends them back to tell grandma to visit.

He always "catches" the biggest, the most and the first.

He really likes helping out with cleaning holes and naming the bait and checking depths with the flasher.

He thinks the flasher is just as good as his gameboy, its "reality gaming."

I saw a bummper sticker that summed it up pretty good. "Don't let your kid be the one that got away!"

[Dan Thiem]

Panfish Guy hit the nail right on the head!

Quote:

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Please don't burn them out on it when they are young or you may regret it later.

---

I learned that with the oldest boy. He's 17 and didn't even want to get a fishing license this year. But the youngest, 13, he can't get enough. I think the reason was I never corrected his mistakes while fishing. I just let him do it how ever he wanted to do. If he asked questions then I could correct him.

With the older boy I was always trying to "show" him the right way. I think in a way it may have soured him a bit. But at least when he gets friends who like to fish he'll have a good idea what's going on.

[tunrevir]

I like to take my 4 and 6 year olds out and the biggest thing is remember when they are along it is their trip, don't expect to get alot of fishing done yourself. I always try to bring along some "special snacks", stuff they don't get at home, like a whole can of pop for themselves. I try to get the shack out, holes drilled and heater going before they come out so they are comfortable when we get there. I bring each one their own pole to fish with. They have enjoyed just dropping the plastic fish that comes with the snoopy rods down the hole and reeling it up again. I have (when driveable ice permits and snow conditions) brought out their tricycle/bicycle) Ice skates, sleds can be fun too. My ace in the hole is having mom on standby at home so if they become tired or bored then we can arrange a pickup via cell phone. It isn't the fishing as much as the time you get to spend with them and have some fun. It helps if you can get them on some fish but again the fishing is a small part of the overall experience. I guess it just comes down to have fun, enjoy the time outdoors and if you can get them to sit for awhile and fish it is a bonus. A favorite toy, book or board game can also help extend the time they are out with you and a minnow bucket can be great entertainment for them. Looks like you are getting some pretty good suggestions. Have fun and good luck!

Tunrevir~

[icecold]

I have come to the conclusion that My 9 and 7 year old are still just kids and have no patience yet for anything that takes longer than ten minutes, whether it is icefishing or waterfowl hunting, I think there is that age around 12-13 that they will start to get interested in such activities,as I did ,know i eat sleep and breath hunting and fishing, I hope they follow in old dads footsteps,Well maybe not all of them, Good fishin..

[fisherking01]

hey Kylersk, Hope all is going great for you, That's still a nice eye from the Rainy trip! It was fun being there when you caught it. As for the kids, your going to pay your dues, I did as well as most. I'm not going to repeat the good info above, just a reminder that your kids aren't you, and if everyone had the same interests it would be an awful crowded world. Your time with them you will find out goes wayyyyy too fast! I am lucky in that both of my kids like to fish, not everyday like me, but we have quality time. They've opened my eyes to their interests and I try to stay as involved as I can without crowding them, unless they need to be crowded. Just keep providing the opportunity. I wish you success in your endevours.

so have you iced any eyes this year?

[fishing tech]

When I took my boys fishing I brought along the kitty kat snowmobile. I would make a track for them to ride on. A tank of gas would last about 2 hours. They would take turns fishing and riding. The best part was listening to the stories of how big the fish were and how much air they got going off the jumps. Both are to big for the kitty kat now but to young to ride the big sled but they still like to go fishing. It helps to if the weather is nice and you keep it interesting. Good luck. Rememeber the fish dont have to be huge. Kids dont care as long as they are catching something.

[Xplorer]

Lots of good info here. My son is 3.5, and has been out with me about a half dozen times this winter. Our trips together are his trips, its about him having fun. If i get a line down with a bobber on it fine, but he gets to reel any fish in thats hooked (he's just getting the hang of a spinning reel, opening the bail to let line out etc). Watching a bobber is only cool for so long, then there need to be snacks, juiceboxes, toys. Our last trip i took him for streamer trout. Action was nonexistent so i put the camera down for him to watch, but the water was way to stained to see anything. I pulled it up and when he saw himself on the screen he was thrilled. Proceeded to think he was "on TV" for the next hour or so.

Our favorite lake has a good sledding hill right next to the access, so on sunday mornings it is usually 1-2 hours on the ice for gills/perch, then on to the sledding hill for a couple more, then home for lunch and a nap.

He loves to fish, and caught way more fish than i did this past summer (i think he caught/released close to 300 perch, gills & punkinseeds on this lake alone).

Get your son good stuff to wear, i bought mine really warm boots/socks and gloves for snowmobiling (he's ridden about 600 miles harnessed to me the last 2 winters and loves it, I can't get him off the sled ) and they double for icing. Use the handwarmers, but be careful, some generate way more heat than others. I like the ones that max at about 105 degrees and will replace if needed during the day. I hope that my little guy keeps his love for fishing and sledding, it sure is rewarding seeing the grin on his face when he reels up a nice gill

[njsimonson]

Maybe introduce your kids to openwater before ice fishing? I'd have to say that ice fishing generally is less enjoyable, less active, and less tolerable weatherwise than is angling for pannies during summer, especially for a kid. Hook them on the easy stuff, and then bring them to the hard water.

Don't force it either. I don't think fishing can be forced if you wish it to be an enjoyable lifetime pursuit for your children. I was "helped" into fishing by family and family friends, but ultimately it was doing it on my own that made me the angler I am today, and helped build my appreciation for the sport that I have now.

It shouldn't be so complex...but by goodness it sure is

[jigging-matt]

I have found that using the Vexilar helps loads. My Daughter is almost 4 and is always asking to go. I try to take her to our local lake where you have a hard time keeping one line in the water. Also letting then watch the minnows and hand dad the waxies. She has the time of her life, but she is also an outdoor girl. Can't hardly get her to come in the house during the summer.

[Quickstrike]

i think some kids also have a natural interest in ice fishing and some don't. take me and my brother for example, we were taken out by my dad quite often as kids. I wanted to go every available opportunitty and my bro has always been the complete oppositte. My twin sisters are the same, one is always asking to take her out whenever i go home to visit, while the other could care less. I don't think anyone should take it too personal if their kids don't immediatelly take to ice fishing, give them the opportunitty and let them make up there own mind and most likely you will have a great fishing partner for years to come.

[Powerstroke]

I have a 5yr old and 3yr old daughterS. They both love ice fishing with me. They each have a small shovel and a small scooper to clear holes and play with the minnows. They will scoop them back and forth between buckets for at least 1 hour. I always bring coloring books, snacks, juice boxes etc. They've got their own fishing rods and my 5 yr old will practice casting outside when she's bored.

The biggest thing is keep it fun for them. I have to say I get annoyed and/or frustrated sometimes cause you need to make so much effort to get things comfortable for them only to have them come out for an hour or two. Keep positive and pay attention to them and the rewards are numerous. Now my kids want to go fishing more than I do and thats hard to do!