My daughter can't sit still for more than 5 minutes seems like. How do I get her into fishing? Or is it too early. What is the youngest kid you have taken fishing and how to keep them focused?

she turns 2 may 10th.

i started mine out at two at the neighbors pond but if you dont catch one every two minutes there you are doing it wrong. i take him out on the boat now but only for short times usually mixed with some swimming and tubing when it is warm enouph.

My three year old Grandson can sit still longer than most grown ups just waitin for that fish with whiskers to take his worm. I took him the first time when he was not quite three and he goes anytime he can now...I got him some meal worms , and he has a blast. He will be at the Breambuster Fishfry, and he can't wait.

I do not have children but have mentored quite a few. I cannot tell you how young or old before they are ready. I have found each child is different. The youngest I have personally taken was four and we had a blast! But they should WANT to go, not be forced.

Action is the key! Take them somewhere they can get bit quickly and frequently. If not, they will lose focus quickly.

Resign yourself to the fact that this is a fun day for the child and do everything within your power to make it that way. If they wanna play with the bait, play with the bait with them.

Its only about getting them interested in the outdoors and spending time with Dad. If they are to grow into a real fisherman, that will take care of itself in time.

One word of caution, if they are ready to go home, take them. Their attention span is nowhere near that of an adult. A bad experience can turn them against the outdoors just as quikly as a good one will turn them on.

Good luck, sir!

i doubt she will play with the bait, she seems to be a girly girl so far. loves to sit with her mom and put "makeup" on. i told my wife she was corrupting my future fishing partner, lol. we'll see what happens tonight.

My daughter caught her first fish right at 2 years old. She's 13 now and it's tough to get her motivated to go. Once out there she is fine and very good fisherperson. The tough bit is getting her away from computers, TV, phones etc, etc,

Took her on the 12 hour out of Dolphin Docks 2 years ago and she pretty much outfished all of the adults on board.

Sometimes, I think I made it too easy on her at first. I would take her to some pond infested with hungry bluegill, give her a pole with a tiny hook then chum the water with some chopped up nightcrawlers.

my baby girl now nineteen went fishing with me yesterday, drove the boat and cleaned fish with an electric knife. She started out in a back pack touching the fish i caught and then graduated to playing with the minnows( always by twiced as much as you need so she can squish some). We then graduated her to perch jerking. the key is to ,as one reader said is to keep her busy. Perch fishing is the best way to do that. After you get her hooked she will call you in later years saying "dad lets go fishing" ain't life grand.

I feel I have successfully taught 8 grandkids how to fish starting them out at 2-3 years of age. #1 rule is leave your pole at home or in the rod locker. If you try to fish also, they will drive you nuts.

I usually started them off with a bobber that looked like a "duck" or "mickey mouse" they seemed to be content most of the time just watching the "duck" bob around on the water. A bite was even better.

Good luck

I have to keep them on Perch and other small fish. If you are fishing for anyting else you will have a hard time keeping them interested. With cathing perch they have a float that keeps bobbing and then disapears. You can als catch them like every tens minutes more or less.

what i did for mine was start him early with a pole and bobber no hooks and let him cast, then moved to lure no hooks, finally real lures and he has caught fish on his own. He even placed twice and the big bass splash and still not 3... He sees I enjoy it and its fun so he likes it. Like others said if they want to play let them we always take cars/airplanes with us incase he gets bored.

I took my 3 yr old out for the first time Sunday. Simplicity is the key.
Like others have said, find a hotspot for bluegill, they'll generate all the action you'll need. Leave your rod at home and don't plan on spending more than an hour or so the first time. And bring some items that will occupy during any lulls: snacks, their own gear. Now I have about 3 years to get him oriented, #2 is only a month old and I gotta get #1 ready to help me out with #2!

I just went to a community pond with his pack full of jelly beans and other snacks, his Lightning McQueen rod (if it's not 'Cars', it gets ignored right now), and a can of corn.

I think the video confirms I got it mostly right.
www.efduffer.blogspot.com

lots of patience, as previously stated leave your rod/reel at home for now and make it more about speding time together and having fun....the fishing will follow

All good advice. My suggestion would be a Cinderella dip net and bucket of minnows, lots of snacks and short trips close to home. Maybe even a puppy she can be responsible for while in the boat.

I took my 10 year old daughter out this weekend, and while we were moving spots I let her drive the boat. (beside me) That is when she informed me that she didn't care what her future husband wanted, she was getting a boat. So she could go fishing whenever she wanted too. Boy was DAD PROUD!!! She even said she would get a pontoon so she could take me when I get too old to use my own boat. WHAT A GIRL!!!!!!!

I have a 5 yr old and a 2 yr old and it is hard enough to keep up with them let alone fish yourself. The advice about the bobber with no hooks is great, sometimes all they want to do is cast and reel it in, sometimes they throw it out and walk away. Sometimes all they want to do is throw rocks into the water. I always take some bread with me, and if there are ducks around they really like to feed the ducks. Whatever they want to do, I just go with it, and when we leave and are headed home and the older one says "Dad, I really had fun today" then I know he will want to go again.