I've made it a habit to take my 3 year old to our two acre pond just about everyday after work. Armed with an action figure fishing pole and a toy car on the end of the line he is waiting for me when I get home. I am not yet brave enough to allow hooks!! So we go out today and he "fishes" beside me for the first 15-20 minutes and watches me catch five or six fish. He's no dummy, he wants in on the action!! He looks at me and straight faced says, "the next one is mine!!" Touch� son....touch�. I hook up on a small bass and look at him. He saw the bass hit the pop-r....he wants it!! I hand him my 7ft rod and Calcutta and he goes to town!!! I think he plays with my rods while I'm at work!! Kid is a natural!! I wish I could post videos!!! Never have I had a more defining moment in my life than watching him catch that fish all by himself!! That's what it's all about right there!!

Thats whats up man. Passing it on. None of the tournaments, high tech equipment, AOY standings or anything else will be as important to fishing as that. Hope I can have a little boy like yours someday. Gig 'Em!

I'd go ahead with some hooks on his. My boy has been going on trips with me since he was about 1.5 and I started out clipping the points off the crank bait hooks for him. Now that he's almost 4 he has his on tackle boxes, hooks and all. The down side is... I can't take him near a tackle store... Cause he'll try to buy them out...lol.
There is not a better feeling or win in fishing than to look over at your child on the front deck with you Fishing...

Keep up the good work.

That is awesome..just wait till he is 21 and asks you to help him get a boat..I could not say no! He rather fish than go to the bars and that is when you know he was raised right.

This is full of win right here!
To the op. Great job dad. I think if more people spent more time with their children is such ways this world would be a much better place.

that great man! keep that boy out with you and you will have many more moments like that. when my son was 7 he hooked up with his first top water bass out on Amistad and the look on his face is something I will never forget.

when I would hook any fish my son would popup between my arms and slide his hands down my arms taking my pole and land the fish.That is a wonderful memory. Now he's 20 and runs me too the back seat!!! lol

Now that is starting him off on the right foot! Great job Dan.

Touching! I just bought a new boat (1st fishing boat) and have a 5 and 2 year old.

They need more time in the boat too!

Way to go though. I say give him a hook. Its easy to let him have them in the bank cause you can walk away from him. That will prep him and you for when in the boat. Its more of a ballet in the boat dodging hooks and keeping yours wet.

here's mine this past winter at about 2 1/2 yrs old. took him out and he had his own set up but wasn't patient enough to get a slow winter bite. i had caught a couple little ones on a small homemade jig. well he couldn't stand it so i told him the next one was his. few minutes later i hook up and handed him the rod, i had to help him hold it but he reeled it on in and commensed to screaming and jumping. one of the best moments in my life. shortly after he got another one and every time i go without him for a tourney or with a friend it breaks both our hearts a little. be sure to take note that no matter what's going on in the world, if you have a wife who loves you and children in your life, the lord has blessed you and THESE are the good ol days.

here's his first fish ever.

priceless

CONGRATS KEEP IT UP....
Cant never start them out to early Ive been taking my son since he was 2 on boat with me, took handful of toys for playing in between catches but always let him reel them in and get photo. Now he is 9yrs old and loads and unloads my skeeter also usually has to drive from spot to spot... These memories will be PRICELESS>>>>>

Too cool! Great job !

It truly is awesome!! Great to hear all you guys doing the same thing!! I can honestly say, compare to a lot of my buddies kids, my three year old is already developing character traits far beyond his age. Growing up, fishing was more than catching a big one for me. I learned a lot of valuable life lessons on the water that helped mold who I am today!! I will pass that on till the day I'm gone!! Just can't wait till the day I can wake him up at 3:30 am for our first tournament. That will also be the day I lose my spot at the front of the boat!! Lol