You have not caught a fish all weekend: would you let a youngster pull in a fish

[Guest]

We were up on Mille lacs recently. My buddies were not catching much (one perch) "Saint T.J" let my boy land two fish that were his by seniority. Both were 22+ inchers that had to go back in the lake, but will be forever etched in his brain. It gave him the fever for life I think. Could keep him off drugs and trouble.........How many of you would do this for a youngster? I am sad to say that I caught 6 or 7 walleyes before I considered letting anyone take my lines. My father would have punched me in the gut, and then ran for the line while I was getting my brethe! Anyhow THANK YOU TJ!

[MnSportsman]

I've gave up the rod to my boys, too many time to count, & have even given it to friends/fishin'buddies.
Letting another person thats gone icefishing with ya, play in a fish on your tipup... It's all part of sharing an experience.
[Just did that, week before last, with my visiting older brother, who hadn't icefishing since 1965.]
It makes me think of.... Who could feel good about going to a football, baseball, or hockey game, etc.; if they didn't get a chance to play, & were made ta "sit on the bench".
"C'mon, coach,I can do it...Let me out there!"
"Dern right ya can... Get out there...",

That'd be what anyone would want to hear.

Participation is the "key" I think.

[Maybe that's one of the reasons my 2 boy's love the outdoors, hunting, fishing,etc.!
I hope that they do the same & "give up the rod" for others... ]

See ya out there!

------------------
Good Luck & Watch your bobber!
MnSportsman
Proud to be a member in good standing, of the
"Church of the Divine Wilderness"!

[Dave]

I'm usually too busy if I take my two young boys out with me, so I just supervise But, when the bite slows down and they're out playing in the snow, dad gets his poles back for a little action. Works for me.

[Guest]

I never seemed to have to give up the pole.I played mister mom for a couple summers when my doughter was young.We would go fishing most days.She would always get more fish than I and never seemed to get bored.The fisrt birthday that she had after she moved away she asked for a pole.My wife and I hooked her up good.A qaulity pole and a tackle box full of tackle.Makes a dad proud.

[Kingfisher]

I remember many years ago I took my sister, her husband, and their 3 year old daughter from CA out in the boat fishing, I felt a strike and nonchalantly asked my niece if she would like to fish for awhile and handed her the rod, soon she noticed a fish on and it turned out to be a 3# walleye, what a memorable day it was for my niece who thought she caught the fish "all by myself".

[Guest]

Fish: I think this is a true testimont to your friends ideals and sportsmanship. I'm sure your son was thrilled. I have the pleasure of fishing and hunting for over 40 years and now find that the trip is not about me, but our group. Wether I shoot the pheasant, bag the deer or reel in the fish is no longer important. It's wether or not the group is enjoying the moment. Don't get me wrong the excitment personally which comes from any of this is still there and hopefully always will be. But watching someone else enjoy there moment is just as special. Your friend is indeed a SAINT, pat him on the back for all of us.

[Cyberfish]

When I was up at summer camp taking some kids fishing for pike and bass. I had 2 kids in the boat. One was able to cast well and was getting some pike action.
The other was younger and really couldnt throw lures yet. I was throwing a large spinnerbait and got a strike. I handed him the rod and told him to start crankin'!
I coached him to keep the tip up and reel slowly, and soon we got him! It turned out to be a beautiful pike around 10 pounds!
We turned her loose so mabye another kid would get to do battle with her.
Some may think I was being unselfish to let the kid get that big fish, but I would disagree. I had way more fun watching him tangle with that big ol fish than I woulda had getting it myself.

Best fishes,

Cyb

www.gemfishing.org

[ssendek]

I can't count the times I've gone from kid to kid to take fish of the line when the gills are biting. I even let my son pull in the bigest bass I've ever hooked. I was right there and the look on his face when he saw the size of that fish sticks with me better than the real size of that fish.

Fishing is no fun at all if you can't share it at least with the ones you love!

[WyoMin Fisher]

Having been moved from the land of frozen lakes to Wyoming 13 years ago, where if your lucky there is fishable ice for 1 1/2 to 2 months, people here think there is something wrong with your head to go ice fishing. I started solving this by inviting them out to the portable, showing them how and watching the sport grow on them. I've gained many fishing partners this way. My son, who has been beside me for the last 8 years or so on the ice was "hooked for life" in just this manner. He has started to invite his friends on the ice with us, so I can relate to not having time to fish myself as they keep me busy. I think this is great. How else are we going to keep our outdoor sports alive for the future generations if we do not show them there are better things to do than watch TV or play nintendo?

Just my 2 cents worth-- Scott

[The Chemist]

Nothing beats the twinkle in a kids eye and the pure joy that they release when they bring in a fish. My 2 yr old has been going nuts running around on Thurs/Fri. saying Ice fishing. Here's hoping he never loses that feeling.

[Guest]

i know it is the nice thing to do to let kids pull in their dad's big fish
but my friend's dad ;use to be a pro fisherman and i would go fishing with them and the dad would hook all the big fish and give it to the kid to reel in
this kids head became bigger than a basketball
there were all these pics in the paper about an 8 year old catching a 25 lb northern
i knew all along it was his dad
and his dad just created a monster
so becareful and dont let your kids get out of hand
i would give my kid the rod but only to keep him interested in fishing

[Matt D]

Any kid loves bringing in fish. When I've caught a few, I hand the rod over to my 5 year-old. She'll sit there patiently as ever, holding the rod in her mouth. I have to watch the rod tip while she jigs since she hasn't quite gotten the grasp of what a bite feels like, yet. When she gets one on, we run away from the hole 'til the fishy pops out and have a grand old time. I have just as much fun as she does. Nowadays she gets just as excited when I say "fish", as when I say "grouse" or "duck" or "pheasant". Who says retrievers are just for birds!

[Guest]

I'm quite familiar with the camp where Cyberfish works in the summer.
If you check out the link on his post, you will see kids who are learning what our dad's and grandfathers taught us about fishing and conservation. These are kids who wouldn't get this experience otherwise due to their family situations.
One day fishing trips on local lakes are also done throughout the year (open water and ice fishing). Volunteers are always needed to take a couple kids in a boat or ice shelter.
If you would help take an underpriviledged kid fishing, contact anyone listed at the bottom of the gemfishing.org homepage.

[This message has been edited by GEM EYE GUY (edited 01-22-2002).]

[Guest]

I will never forget my first trip spearing with my now father-in-law. I was 16 at the time, but have never been spearing. After getting setup and sitting a while I watched the northern come into the hole. It was the first time I really ever seen a fish like that in the wild. He leaned over and sank the spear into the 3 pounder.

A little while later we see another one come into the hole. But this time he nudged me in the ribs and handed the spear to me. I used the same technique and bam. . .our second northern. He did the same on the third. . .handed me the spear, and bam.

The next one was a little different. The fish was coming from underneath me, and I didn't have a very good angle on it. The spear went in with a big splash. He shook his head at me as he pulled up the empty spear. It was the biggest fish we had seen. A little depressed I leaned against the side of the house. . .and way over in the side of the hole I could see the white belly laying on the bottom. This time he ran the spear. It took 2 tries but he was able to get the dazed northern - a 6 pounder. I guess I managed to get a piece of it.

Well, we sat for a while, this time he was running the spear. It was real quiet. . .very calm. . .it seamed too quiet. We were both gazing into the water, when it seamed to rize and fall a little in the hole. Really wierd since this was a small lake and nobody else was out here. We both leaned in a little bit. . .when all of a sudden a muskrat pops up into the hole. The spear started to come down out of instinct but then he stopped. The hollering and swearing started as the muskrat dropped back down the hole and swam off.

I got a kick to see him jump the way he did. It was a great time.

kgm

[bushbunny]

I have had no more gratifying over the years, than taking my kids out ice fishing when they were young. Sitting in the hut with a 3 year old is an experience that I would not trade for anything. The excitement of watching a little one pull something through the ice is something that I will not forget. Over the years, my son accompanied me on many trips. Now my granddaughter has taken up the sport. I cannot get out of the house when she is there without her. I hope she stays with it. All of my grandchildren will have the opportunity to accompany me when they are able to walk.

[Guest]

you all have humbled me. I will let them grab the lines more often.