Parents, or others with experience fishing with youngin's

Post by **steve-hamilton** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:55 am

This friday i'm taking my boss's kids fishing...

its going to be hot, but its a day they can go, and they dont mind...

we are gonna fish from 7am till about 11am...

i'm gonna try to put them on some cats and carp....they are always biting...

any suggestions as to what i should bring to keep them happy and entertained?

i know i need proper fitting lifejackets....

i'll be bringing some cold beverages, pop juice etc.

some snacks would also be good....

i'm thinking my boombox will join us, and i'll let them know they can each bring a cd (there's four of them)...

I'm looking foreward to seeing their faces light up when they hook onto their first fish...

upon talking to a girl that works at our office, who was their old babysitter, she advised me that the kids eat incredibly HEALTHY food, and basically dont drink pop....their ages range from 6 to 12....

so sounds like its water, and healthy juices....and healthy snacks...

any suggestions? (you've seen me, i dont eat the healthiest, lol)

I'm really looking forward to doing this for the kids...and their happy faces could really help me here at work...

I know the fish dont always bite, so i'm hoping for a plan B.

Post by **fishhit** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:03 am

Bring real juices, fruit, and granola bars and sunscreen. Avoid the usual dirty words replacing them with dang and shucks. Oh yah and at their young age do a casting test on them one at a time or you'll be on your way to emergency for hook extraction from yourself or one of the kids. If they can't cast put them on the no casting rule.
Good luck and have fun out there.

Post by **Markus** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:06 am

Steve, my girls are awesome on the boat and at this stage and bring what they want to entertain themselves. But it wasn't always that way. When they were smaller, my favorite trick was to catch a few "pet" sunfish or gobies at the dock and put them in the livewell. Kept them entertained for hours and hours.

Post by **steve-hamilton** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:09 am

ahhhh...great idea!

Post by **spinner** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:11 am

Don't forget the camera to catch the smiles!!! Take pics for the memories.

No fishing for you - the guide

Try for some panfish and perch if the others aren't biting. If fish just won't bite, maybe they'd like to go for a swim?

Sounds like a great day is in store for the kids!!!

Post by **steve-hamilton** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:15 am

see, thats what i was hoping for...

i suggested to my boss maybe port dover would be better...they can swim, and go for perch, sunfish, etc.

Hamilton Bay, where my boss trusts me taking them, is too dirty for swimming, and i'm not too familiar with panfishing...

BUT, thursday night i'm gonna head out in search for some simple panfish...

worms and hook...see what we find...

Hamilton Bay is great for kids....it contains big carp, catfish, sheephead, and dogfish, which will all make a kids day that much better, i hope...

Post by **Kingmann** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:07 am

Steve, all suggestions I have seen are great. Maybe keep a few sacraficial worms on hand for them (similar to what Markus said with the gobies).
I have a 5 and 3 year old that I take out regularly and the one thing I have learned (from actually listening to myself speaking) is not to coach them too much. Give them the basics of what to do, gently remind them of ways to improve the potential for hook ups (like keeping your line in the water or not allowing 20 yards of slack when the bait is at bottom) and as long as they are having fun and not being dangerous to themselves and others, let them go. The CD's sound like a great idea.

P.S. My kids eat pretty healthy as well but they know when they come fishing with Dad they get a bag of chips and a pop. They love it!

JasonM

Post by **crash** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:46 pm

I think you have it covered Steve. Good luck and big fish.

Post by RJ » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:02 pm

My suggestion.....

Do not bring a rod for yourself....

RJ

Post by **steve-hamilton** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:05 pm

RJ, wasn't even planning on it.

Post by RJ » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:07 pm

I've tried it....it just doesnt work...

Have a blast Steve!

RJ

Post by **Ladyfish** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:51 pm

Good luck ! Only help I can offer is if they don't eat a lot of sweets be careful what you bring. Might have a few upset stomachs with the heat and everything

You will do great!

Post by **Rideaufish** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:54 pm

SUNSCREEN make sure they use it dont want to bring home the bosses kids with burns.

Post by **M.T. Livewell** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:12 pm

Is your boss hope you'll be trolling and just hoping to get the kids in the rod rotation?

I guess, ask him what he is hoping to get out of the trip. Then gear your trip to be kid friendly according to what folks have mentioned above.

BTW, and I hate to admit it, my 6 year old boy loves to play his game boy. If the kids have a similar quiet game they like to play, encourage your boss to have them bring 'em along.
Time flies between fish when they have their heads in those games.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

M.T. Livewell