very few young boaters?

[U. I.]

Seems to me there's not that many younger faces out there with boats floating the river. I feel lucky? or am I blind? Do we need a goverment subsidized program?

[ 02-17-2003, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: U. I. ]

[BrionLutz]

UI,

[QB] Seems to me there's not that many younger faces out there with boats floating the river. I feel lucky? or am I blind? Do we need a goverment subsidized program?[/QUOTE]

Mo fish would help <grin>.

I'm on a mission to hook my buddy's three kids on fishing. So far so good. Bass fishing on Lake Powell and Salmon fishing in the NW.

I have to set it all up and lure them out of the usual teenage fun stuff. I found a trail of breadcrumbs works.

Fishing with kids takes some advance work.

1. Pick your shots! Make sure it's a peak fishing time...they have little patience but an occasional fish goes a long way.

2. Keep'em active! Use the most active (for the fisherman) method. Jack Glass scores big with the kids because we cast and jig and troll. If the kids stay active, they'll go longer. They'll cast all day. This ties in with No. 1...if the fish are rolling they'll cast for the rest of their lives and won't let you go home.

3. Fit it into their schedule! Figure out their schedules. Don't go wild if a hot date or something with their friends comes up. If you can get some of their friends out with them...that works too.

It's like gambling...one big hit...they'll be tossing that dice until your credit card goes belly up.

As far as a program. Just get fishermen to take kids fishing. I know some of the fishing biz groups got together and had those "Take a kid fishing" commercials which I thought were great.

They were from the old farts point of view...to get them to take the kids.

Some MTV, XGames type commericals aimed at the kids would work...a screaming brawl with a 30 lb chinook with an Xgame rap video edit theme would get the kids asking about going fishing.

Maybe a Rock the Boat theme to match the Rock the Vote ads.

Brion

[hickwithaflyrod]

Im 15 been doing the fishing thing sence I could hold a rod. Been fishing for salmon sence I could cast one. Hooked my first salmon when I was 5 and lost it but I was one happy camper. Kept me out of the "usual" teenage stuff although I still hang out with friends im getting some to go fly fishing with me here soon....

John

[GasJockey]

I agree Brion. I took my nephew(7) and daughter(3) up to the "catch and pay" fishing place to get them started. Now whenever I go they always want to go with me. Problem is they think that a fish bites every two or three minutes now. Guess I'll have to stick w/ trout until I get a little more proficient at steelhead fishing. Not only that, but the weather is a little nasty still for the young ones. (Usually by 1PM I'm thinking its a little to nasty for me too.)

But just wait till the weather warms and you'll see me and my daughter with her new purple scooby-doo pole (christmas present from santa).

[ampersat]

yeah, but this post is about young boaters, not young fisherfolk. you folks can get off topic faster than anyone i've ever known. :smile:

at 33 and a new drift boat owner, i'm probably not fully qualified for the young boater program. my problem is friends: i don't have enough of them that fish. my regular buddy is up to his ears in kid stuff these days. that, and i can't get him to shake plunking. perfect front seater for plugging but a little frustrating when we anchor up for drifting or bobbers.

the other thing about it is it's just a lot easier to toss my gear into the car and go out by myself. i probably spend two hours getting the boat ready the day before and two more putting everything away. if i had a garage for the boat and could just leave it loaded and ready, it would be easier.

right now i get the boat out an average of once a month. once i can put a solid team together i'll probably double or triple that number.

[tailchaser]

I resent this post!! :grin: I'm 27 years old and have owned three boats already, currently a 21' sled and a driftboat. I guess I'm representing the generation "X" eh?? Or do they have a name for us yet? I didn't listen well when people told me to save money out of school after my degree and not buy a boat. I thought it was more wise before I got married and make it a package deal. :laugh:

Anyhow, I've been rippn' lips on bluegil since I could hold a rod and eventually made it to the big leagues and out backbounced old men when I was 7 (didn't hurt my dad was once a guide). Nothing more satisfying than a 7 year old hooking more fish in a day than grown men that requires more than holding a rod. I was in the florence newspaper when I was 5 with a 37 lb chinook. However, my dad was holding it because the fish weighed just a tad over what I did.

About the only fish that evades me from the Western Hemisphere that I consider a prize to catch is the mighty marlin. I have a plan for him though this next year. Ok, I'm done swelling my head, :bowdown: but yes there are some young'ins on the river still, but I agree I don't see too many of them outside of my boat. At least not many that own their own. I have to admitt though I've had a lot of old timers tell me I'm fishing their hole and I should move for them since they've been fishing it for longer than I've been alive. And everyone asks me if my dad lets me take his boat out all the time and they don't believe me when I say it's mine.

I think it's more the fact younger people can't afford them yet until the higher priority things are paid somewhat, houses, cars, etc....

tc

[danger]

Yeah I'd love to be a boat owner...but wait I'm 21 and in college. I can barely afford books for each term let alone a boat I could take out on the CR.

On the other hand if you have one you would like to donate to my cause feel free to email me, other wise I think I am bank bound.

[U. I.]

yes! but when I was in college or even before I should of thought of it. Actually some boats can be bought cheap. Like wooden ones, peices of crappie like that. 1500 dollars. dont think you can save 1500 hundred dollars? Do you want to catch fish for a lifetime.....ANyways I wish someone would of told me sooner....just an idea.......think about it.......
ps im 28 had my crappy driftboat for three years......

[ 02-17-2003, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: U. I. ]

[fishnxtc]

I don't know if I am young 29 but I bought my sled new when I has 24...........Chris

[glowball]

My daughter is 4 and claims the new boat that her daddy brought home is hers. Finally buy the boat and my daughter steals it. Go figure.
Glow

[Green Machine]

Hum...........26 and on my 4th boat. If it were up to my wife, it would be our last boat!! :grin: What can I say, I gotta try them all!!

Green Machine

[BrionLutz]

Ampersat,

yeah, but this post is about young boaters, not young fisherfolk. you folks can get off topic faster than anyone i've ever known. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Um...so we should be talking financing the first boat before their first car &lt;grin&gt;?

As my friends with kids keep telling me "It's a process". First you get them fishing, then you co-sign the boat loan.

My evil scheme is to get them hooked on fishing, teach them to operate the boat etc. and then they'll turn into young boaters and take me fishing in my harvest years.

Brion

[grandsalami]

I'm only 17 and I own a 16 ft wood drift boat, that I built. I also use my dad's 16ft Fish rite drift boat. I'm out fishin almost every weekend. Been fishing since I could walk. I am constantly buying gear and already own enough rods (lamiglas and loomis) and other tackle to start my own tackle shop.

[Vandal]

Ok Ok Ok,
you are not seeing us because you are looking in the wrong spots? I don't know?
in my twenties (for at least a few more years) and am on my third boat...

...to you guys who said you are in school and....just properly adjust your priorities, like I did, and you'll graduate with a much bigger smile on you face...just because you are in school does not mean you have to live the life of a slave...now that I said that...I will gladly offer up a seat in my boats to anyone struggling their way through school...just let me know when!

:grin:

[ 02-17-2003, 10:28 PM: Message edited by: Vandal ]

[ReelTrouble]

Im 18 and have been boating for as long as I can remember. I dont drift, but I spend alot of time out on the Columbia, have been doing this for some time now. I guess im fortunate enough to be able to use the parents boat. But I agree, I see VERY few younger boaters out there, especially on the Columbia I wonder sometimes who is gonna be fishing when I get alot older, will there be anyone left? I cant tell you how many times I have been in a hogline and it seems that everyone in it had been fishing atleast 30 years before I was born. But hey, those guys are always really nice and encouraging to my friend and I, because we are usually the youngest guys out there.

I try to get all my friends to start fishing, they dont know what they are missing. Most will want to come again once I get them out there, so I agree with all of the other posts, once you get somebody catching fish, they wont stop.

[The Overfishin Condition]

Ah, I too am very fortunate to be able to use reeltroubles parents' boat! I am said friend, and I too have tried to get all my friends hooked on fishing, so far, reel trouble is the only one that I've been succesful with.

[U. I.]

good to see some response out of 4000 members. I guess we're spread thin. Grand Salami has the idea....build your own and get out there.
How'd you guys get jet boats so early. Must be still eating beans, rice, and steelhead. Much respect.fish on.

[tailchaser]

Actually U.I. it wasn't too hard. I pay half as much a month on a new boat than I do on my vehicle. A good degree that pays well helps out also. I was also fortunate to prey upon a lonely soul who was getting a divorce about 3 months after he bought a brand new sled. He sold it to me for what he owed on it because he couldn't stand seeing her run off with it. I guess a good job and some good fortune helped me out a little, but I was able to pull it off when the opportunity came.

My dad wheels and deals on boats all the time and he taught me one thing. You should have a new boat about every 7-8 years. The one you have you more or less make minimum payments on and upgrade electronics on it. When you sell it try and make a couple of bucks and get your money back out of the sale. Right now you can get into a new sled for 180 bucks a month for some plain models with 180-month financing. Pretty affordable.

I also second the notion of taking a few college students fishing or those who don't have the money to fund a boat. Just give a hollar!!
tc

[ 02-18-2003, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: tailchaser ]

[U. I.]

hmmmm..................maybe I can go cheaper?
I just want something to go in the willamette with?

[tailchaser]

The cheapest thing I've seen that is moderately comfortable and a reasonable boat is the newer Lund's and I think Smokercrafts. There's several other brands that are pretty good also, the 16' with a 50 horse on the back sound just about right for ya. It might cost ya 7-9K or something but probably around 100 bucks a month or so. Pretty affordable and doable for the willamette.

tc

[Grantspastor]

It may be the tip of an iceberg....the iceberg being a whole generation that has been indoctrinated against fishing and hunting because it might "upset the cosmic balance" or something like that.

I know I'll probably get flamed for this but when I was young, fishing and hunting were desirable skills that many young people wanted to learn. Not the case so much anymore. I absoluely believe we need to be good stewards of our environment and natural resources, however the radical environmental community has taken it way beyond stewardship, and has worked hard to change the thinking of young people towards a NO fishing No hunting mentality.

The only answer I think is to pass it on. I personally take kids fishing. Usually from my church, and cases where there is no father present in the home. They aren't all going to get "hooked' on the sport, but some will. The more the better.

[David Johnson]

I'm 31, have had four boats and have been guiding almost a 3rd of my life.

I started fishing about five days a week since I was 12.

I don't know what I'll do when I grow up :smile:

[BrionLutz]

Grantspastor,

...however the radical environmental community has taken it way beyond stewardship, and has worked hard to change the thinking of young people towards a NO fishing No hunting mentality.<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Well..as a card carrying member of the "radical environmental community" allow me to answer &lt;grin&gt;.

I'm luring the kids out fishing, working on turning them into future "young boaters".

From an ultra green standpoint nothing gives them a better idea of the value clean water, healthy fish, clean air...you've seen the postcard...part of my brainwashing scheme.

So if the kid has gone "radical environmental" on you...that can be a plus to get him or her out fishing.

You probably need to worry more about the "cool" factor than the kid going green on you.

Fishing is not cool. As UI noted in starting the thread, bunch of fat old man out there.... definitely no hot babes is the complaint I hear from my crew.

The trick there would be buy a ski boat with wakeboard tower, killer music rig, lots of flash but rig it up for fishing. Kind of stealth mode.

Maybe we should start a campaign: How to rig your ski boat for fishing so your friends won't know". Most young boaters are boarders.

Brion

[Bounty Hunter]

You have just been looking in the wrong spots. Just go the the meat hole on the NFL after school in the fall and you will see tons of kids in anything that will float. :shocked:

[Bankbound]

I'm 23 and have been boating as long as I can remember. Dad used to have a 16 smoker craft alaskan, set up better that i am yet to see! He sold it when i was about 19 but before that I had it out all over from newport bay to paulina and beyond (not with dad). We are soon to get another boat together sort of a joint venture. So I'll be seeing you all soon!!!

Maynies Ghost shall rise again!!!!!!!!

[Grantspastor]

Brion...you could be right about the no babes problem. Hadn't thought of that one.

Unfortunately you don't qualify as a "radical environmentalist" by my definition, if you are trying to promote clean water, responsible practices, and good fisheries management. In my book that is good setwardship...

And I agree...whatever it takes to get young people involved. I don't know about the ski boat though. I don't look that good in swimming trunks.

Keep up the good work

Dave

[SlimPickens]

31 and DB owner. When i was in high school, wanted a boat so bad that I built one of those Rapid Robert prams with two other buddies. Gathered up all the free wood we could find and put something together. It worked great for many years. For all the youngens' out there, get inventive and dont' worry about what it looks like or what others think. Have some great memories catching fish in the old woody in front of guides on the Rogue.

There are fewer and fewer new recruits to the fishing and hunting world now a days. If you look at the statistics of who buys fishing and hunting licenses you can see the bulk of the licensees are over 40 and you can track this group as they get older and older. This is of concern for fish and game departments nationwide.

GP has got it right. Need to expose kids to the sport.

Who cares about fisheries resources more than anyone in the world? Fishers like you and me. If the fish don't have our support, you know they will get the shaft from a society that doesn't give a rip whether or not fish exist in healthy rivers. :depressed:

[Fishslayer]

I'm 27 now and have 3 boats. 2 of the 3 I've had for 3 plus years and within the last years bought a new drifter.

[BrionLutz]

Grantspastor,

Unfortunately you don't qualify as a "radical environmentalist" by my definition...<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Whew! Close call there...must be that "other guy" &lt;grin&gt;.

I don't look that good in swimming trunks. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Not for you...for them...I think UI will find lots of young boaters out there but most (not all as we see here) will be hanging on the wakeboard rigs and camps, not in the hoglines.

That's the majority of the young boating crowd today.

Another issue, not to go green on you, is that it's not like the "good old" days where kids could just walk to the river bank or creek and fish. No fish there anymore...lots of times no creek there anymore.

Fewer fish, fewer places to fish, no time to fish...cuts down on parents fishing and so cuts down on kids fishing which cuts down on young boaters.

Brion

[fish Addict80]

I am 23 and have 2 boats. A 14' aluminum flatbottom and a 15' fiberglass boat with a 50 horse merc and I didn't pay very much for it and it works well for the willamette and Columbia. Have caught a keeper every time on my first 3 trips out for sturgeon in it. I also try to get my friends to go with me. I also take my cousins when possible. And my fiance goes with when ever possible (she's 22). Boat also works well towing a tube. As soon as I can afford it I will buy a sled.

[whatugetemon]

I’m 26 and currently own my 2nd and 3rd boat. 1 drift boat and 1 runabout.

[ReelTrouble]

Just in responce about making it a wakeboard boat. I just have a runabout that I wakeboard, ski, tube, and do all that good stuff behind. I usually do that in the evenings when I can, fish the mornings. This year im adding a center pole for wakeboarding. I dont have enough money to have two boats, so I just have to make the boat I have work. I have gotten some strange looks out there, cause it doesnt look like a fishing boat, but I put in some poleholders and went for it. They only look at you funny till you land a coupla fish :smile:

As to combat the "babes" problem, I take lots of "babes" out with me. Ill take them on a nice warm sunny day, for shad, or maybe a nice day for springers. Last year we had the summer fish open. They are lured by the fact that they get to hang out on the river when its sunny and warm, and I get to fish, and they enjoy it (so do I). Bring out some good food, then go out for a campfire on the beach once it gets dark. Just an idea for any guys who cant decide between girls and fishing. I just decided I had to have both.

[Stratocaster]

Im 33 years old which might not be young, but i feel young and im on my 2nd boat, a north river.Over the years ive been seeing more young people out on the rivers.Last spring run i saw a kid (the most 18) by himself trolling in an 18ft super v, pretty cool.Oh yeah he caught one also. :smile:

[U. I.]

just trying to bring it back up top...
this has motivated me...
just like ReelTrouble said....