Getting kids into fishing/fly fishing
- This topic has 20 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated Sep 11, 2007 at 2:31 pm by
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I have a question for those of you with kids…
I have two children…girls 4 and 1.
Good post–
Madeline’s first fish at age 3 came from a trout farm. I wanted her to hook into them right away and ‘get’ why we went fishing.
Ultimately most folks will share– you can go fishing or you can take a kid fishing- but you can’t do both. Rubbish.
Ok maybe a bit at first- but the goal is getting a fishing buddy out of the whole deal. And you get to fish when you take a buddy out.
Read the books – Taking Kids Camping- and First Casts. Both helpful. The basic idea of both are to incorporate a fun outing with fishing. For instance- on a hike- make sure there is a swimming hole at the end of it.
Also- taking them fishing doesn’t mean they get to fish. When Mad was a toddler- she was on a back pack while I waded and fished the streams. When she was a bit older- she would often times come along- and just fool around while I fished. This requires planning. Because her fooling around was with a butterfly net, coloring books, and so on that were packed in her own back pack.
Also– bring plenty of treats and drinks with you.
I did this so as to have her desire to want to fish develop organically. You have one huge thing going for you when they are young—They like to spend time with you. As they experience more and more of this- they begin to want to do it themselves- even if it is you casting and them reeling in the fish.But it all begins there. Never force it into them- or it will backfire. Let them spend the time with you and then let them ask to try it- it will work out if you approach it this way.
Another thing, when she was very young she had her own vest, fly box, and flies. As she got bigger she got her own rod, hip boots and other accessories. She enjoys going to fly shops as much as I do because she gets to get new gadgets, and I do too,.
She is at the point now at 11 where she has her own fly rod that we made two seasons ago together-it has her name on it even. Her own waders, her own reel, fly line, –everything a flyfisher should have. Not hand me downs or my secondary stuff. She even ties her own flies and has a box with just her creations in it. I am now teaching her to tie her own knots and she has a pretty good idea of what flies to use. Within another season, she will barely need my help at all.
but even to this day her vest also contains a net to collect bugs, and a little entomology kit. The books she carries now are streamside bug reference books. She also carries the camera when we fish.
We are at the point were we can fish all day, but I will still keep her in mind as not to let her get burned out. For instance- I generally don’t eat a lunch when I fish all day, except maybe a sandwich- but with her I make it an event. Either a fun little restaurant- or a streamside good lunch with something tasty cooked up on the Coleman. She also has been out west twice- I don’t even feel a cramp about bring her to fish on destination trips. She will fish as long as I do– and if you get a guide- a well mannered youngster with fishing skills will get you some special treatment –(secret spots)-definite bonus.
About a month ago I asked her direct if she likes to go fishing- or if it is because she is spending time with me. She pondered this for a second, and with a little tilt of her head responded. ‘About 50/50’.
Those are good enough odds for me.
Good luck- it sounds like you got a great start, and I am interested in hearing others responses.
Dan Boggs
And- this works flyfishing or coffee grinding-I think it is good to get them into both- it’s just that I flyfish 99% of the time- so that’s what we do. And then she doesn’t have bad habits with teaching her casting either…
What a joy. I remember my daughter statring when she was five. We had great years and like you she had her own waders etc. Some patients of mine gave me a gift certificate for a rod and had it made for her. Caught alot of fish on that. She’s grown now and after graduating college she moved out to San Diego. She’s still a great “kid”, but hasn’t been able to fish much out there. I did some addiction work after I retired and found myself making a list of the ages when these poor creatures stared using. Average age 12 to 13. I wondered if their parents had introduced them to fishing if they would have entered the world of the addicted. I’m glad we introduced ours to fishing and the outdoors. Then again you have to look at the parents. Sad comentary. Keep them fishing. It’s great.
Great post again folks,
I have a 3 year old daughter and I want to continue to teach her and hopefully have a long time fishing buddy as well.
My older daughter now 15 really liked fishing until about age 12, then she thought the fish were suffering.
I can’t wait though for him to be out fishing Dad.
It happens sooner than you think.
I guess it is easier if dad is always on the sticks.
Lando you changed your name! Cody must have a more understanding school system and recognize your addiction to fly fishing!
I don’t have kids and never will, but I have taught a lot of kids to fly fish. I think the number one thing a person can do is get the kids excited out the outdoors. The other thing you can do is make a big deal out of every fish they catch. Kids are always looking up to there elders and they want to impress you! I have found that with the kids I teach that if you really get excited about the fish and tell them it is the most beautiful trout you have ever seen and then you show it too them, and you let them touch it, and have them help you release it back to the water it came from they will really get into it. It does work on every kid, but the ones that it does are generally hooked!
The worst kid to teach is the one who can’t stand being away from their electronics. That is when you take Carters advice and get some dynamite and whiskey. Both of which would be for your own entertainment!
Joel
That’s all great advice.
The only thing I would add is about casting.
I think it’s a good idea to get some help with the casting lessons because sometimes kids pay more attention if it’s not their parent taching.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time outside over the last few years with my 9 year old teaching him to cast with mixed results, but when Morsie showed him some stuff he really got into it and since has been casting quiet well.The plan this summer is to take him on a few 2 or 3 day trips where we fish small streams for a couple hours at a time mixed with other activities.
The camera and entemolgy kits you guys mention above are great ideas and I’ll be lloking into that as well.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
It happens sooner than you think.
Yeah…our daughter was tossing tight loops at 12 months with the ol’ yellow stick. Ha…
I have been surprised with her interest already in the fly boxes, rods, and reels. I am hoping that she’ll be naturally drawn to fly fishing. She couldn’t be happier when outdoors…so I can easily see her fly fishing as well.
Today I broke out one of my tents and we played inside it all morning. She was VERY excited about the tent and wouldn’t let get out of it for several hours. She even had to take her nap in it!
Thanks for all of the responses.
I have two daughters Seafood. They are aged 13 and 10 now. We just got back from a weekend where they spent most of their free time fishing. They’ve been fishing as far back as I can remember, probably coming out in the boat with me spin fishing since they were about 3yrs old each.
Both enjoy the outdoors, but my oldest is more closely following in my footsteps. She loves camping, the two of us get away atleast twice a year. She loves bugs can spend hours upon hours just catching bugs, crayfish, frogs, snakes you name it. Shes also developed a keen interest in “birding” which is great because we go for long hikes “birding” now to with out cameras.
Anyways, you get the idea.Not *all* girls grow out of it 🙂
In fact she puts all boys of the same age I know to shame. Shes taken “naturalist” camps and can name fauna (edible or not) that I dont even know 🙂As for fly-fishing
Thats a littlle harder. Ive taken her a few times, she enjoys it but not as much as spin fishing. In fact she more apt to put the rod down and try to catch nymphs and insects as she is Browns. Thats neither here nor there though.I hired a guide the first couple times for 1 on 1 “learn to’s” from a professional. That includined casting instruction, entomology and hands on in stream. Best $$ Ive ever spent. It takes “daddy” out of the “teachers” role, eliminating any “stress” that might arise from that and its just an out and out fun day for all.
Hey Cameron it looks like your little girl is ready for a trip to Montana to stay at the cabin! If she can handle the tent she could easily handle the cabin!
We have had a real bad mouse problem since you and the gang were up there. I think I finally found where the little bastards are getting in! We have caught 20 mice in the past three weeks!!! I am about ready to start using them for Brook Trout bait here pretty soon!
Joel
One thing my daughter (now 4) looks forward to is fish stocking events. Around here there are a number of them throughout the spring leading up to the trout opener. This gives her an opportunity to carry a few bucketfulls of big rainbows, hold them and release them into the creek or lake. It’s a good opportunity to teach her about habitat and the fish themselves without the pressure of actually “landing” a fish. Then when we go back and catch them she’s left to imagine if it was one of the ones she helped stock… Good times.
Man you guys are doing well… I have a vary good mate who’s son just would not fish, he is a little lost at the moment… 21 next year…
My son Tyler is 1 on the 30 Oct, and I am going to get him into it early…
Check this link for a similar post on a South African forum…
http://www.flytalk.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=1821Mike
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