I don't know if this is similar to an older post, but I have an 18mo boy that I am chomping at the bit to get started fishing. I know he has it in the blood, but I think he is a little too young now. We have a good sunfish nest under our dock I would live to get him started on. My question is for those of you who have kidlets, how old were your kids when you started them out?

Never too young in my opinion. If they can hold their little "Snoopy" pole, they're ready. My son (turning 2 yrs old in 2 weeks) starts crying when he goes to get his "SpongeBob" rod in the garage and I say, "No, we can't go right now." My 5 yr old daughter is always asking when are we going fishing again. She stood on the bank in January with a practice plug for 2 hours just chunking and retrieving. She said she wanted to practice so she would be ready this Spring. You just gotta love that determination.

I don't have kids but I can tell you that I was going with my Dad by 2 yrs old and caught my first fish (perch) before I was 3 on a snoopy pole. You might have to help him but once they are old enough to hold the pole and reel it then you are good to go. Just gets some crickets or worms and a bobber and go to town. Then when it goes under just help him fight the fish! Good times you will never forget. Heck I am 25 and I still remember that first perch and I know my Dad does too!

If you start that young'un out now, by the time he is 5 years old, you won't be able to sneak away from him to go fishing! You will have a bond with your kid that will be stronger than anything in this world, one that you will treasure for all your life, go for it & keep him safe, wear that PFD at all times, a tragedy would devastate you forever! God Bless you for your devotion, anyone can be a father, it takes a special man to be a daddy!

By my name you can tell I take my kids. Both of them started by the time they were 4. Fishing by themselves that is. Now my son and daughter plan the trips for me. Easy to get permision from the wife that way.

My daughter was around 2 1/2 my son was under 2. They will not fish long but will love it. Action is the key. If you keep them too long or don't take enough snacks they will lose interest. Good luck. BTW my 14 year old son now drives my boat on and off the trailer, catches his own fish and is waiting for July and his first 24-hr offshore trip.

Phantom Fisherman

i agree with fishing dad...
much easier to get a "kitchen pass" if i take the kids with me.
take plenty of snacks and drinks. when they get older take a gameboy for those slow times when the fish aren't biting...
let them play with the depth finder just remember to set the default setting first so you can return to your preferred settings.

and be willing to go home or for a boat ride when they are done fishing.

have fun,

hookset

Just make sure it is simple and fun. Kids love watching those bobbers whether they are using a Snoopy rod or a cane pole. Keep plenty of snacks and drinks handy and don't be disappointed if they lose interest even if they are catching fish. They just have short attention spans. My son would practice casting in the back yard when he was two years old. Live bait really seems to hold their attention. Lastly, I would not fish for bass, but, instead fish for crappie, catfish, perch, or white bass. Enjoy your time with them.

White bass and hybrids in Richland Chambers are my two's fish of choice. So far a 6.5# hybrid on a Zebco 33 last summer is my son's best. When it gets boring. The put on life jackets and dive in.

A6.5 on a 33 I bet was alot of fun to watch. I started my son at 5, just start off slow maybe one hour the first couple of times and then increase after that.

Yup, fun. And about a 15 minute fight. He was tired and asking for help. But, I let him do it all and my 9 year old daughter netted it for him.
A great day on the water.

I started my sons as soon as they could walk and hold a pole for a couple of minutes. They like throwing rocks and playing with bait more than fishing. It's all good.

Yup, fun. And about a 15 minute fight. He was tired and asking for help. But, I let him do it all and my 9 year old daughter netted it for him.
A great day on the water.

I agree with all of the above. Get some crickets or crappie nibblers on a very small hook and get them in front of those pan fish! they'll love it, but like everyone said, if they get bored, go for a boat ride or take a gameboy or something else while the fishing is slow. Now that the sandies are hitting pretty good, 1 hour of hot action under the birds can make for a life time memory. Also, don't forget the camera! They grow up so fast and having a picture with their first (even tiny) fish is wonderful.

My girls started catching perch at around 2. The grandkids were around 2 when we started taking them out catching whites. Now at the ripe old ages of 4 and 7 they'd rather catch stripers - as long as it doesn't take more than 15 minutes to find some. No pressure there!

Just remember to bring lots of snacks and if things get slow crank up and zoom around a while for a change of pace.

But most important, make sure they always wear their PFDs, whether you're moving or not.