easy fishing for kids?

blankman · 01-14-2002, 03:27 PM

I need some input for easy kid fishing. Every time I go out for steelhead my daughters whine because they want to go. I take my seven year old to a few safe spots when the weather is warmer, but for some reason my wife does not want my three year old standing waist deep in the Clackamas at 7:00 a.m. in the middle of the winter - go figure. We do powerbaiting for trout once in a while, but this can get boring if they are not biting. I have heard of people fishing for crappie or perch either locally or at the coast and getting buckets of fish. This is what kids like - lots of action. Where do I go for these, when are they active, and how do I rig? I would love a nice bank spot to let the kids have fun catching just about anything?

Any help would be appreciated.

Cutter · 01-14-2002, 03:49 PM

Blankman, get yourself a copy of "Fishing in Oregon"; it's a great book for anyone. It has information on almost every body of water in Oregon. In the back of the book there is a list of places that are really great to take kids fishing. There is also a warm water fish guide back there, just cross reference the two and you have your location for perch and crappie for kids.

Meridian · 01-14-2002, 06:15 PM

In the springtime when the lakes are being stocked I find the trout to be very hungry. Watch the Thursday paper and the lakes stocked are listed. I to have small childern that need to be entertained. I started doing this a couple of years ago. Also a trout farm for a quick easy fish can be good for small childern. When I took my kids there they were 2 and 5 years of age. Get them started there so they can catch fish and not just get bored watching you fiddle with the poles. A place where I took my kids is off hwy 26 just past Sandy. Very nice grounds with picnic tables and playground equipment for the kids. You get a fish with every cast. I found at that age they only need 30 to 45 minutes of fishing and then they are ready to do something else. The young ones do not need a bucketfull of fish to make them happy. Just something to take home and show mom.

Ocean · 01-14-2002, 06:40 PM

Blankman:

I have a six year old son.

Shad fishing in May and June is great for kids. Weather is usually warm, tackle is simple and they can catch a boat load of fish.

In the winter, my son likes to go crabbing better than fishing. Crabbing keeps his interest, lots of crabs running around, boat moving, seals, etc. We cook the crabs on the beach and let the kids run around and play on the beach.

Kids seem to enjoy both smelt dipping and herring jigging. Same reason: lots of action, lots of fish.

I found that fishing from a boat works well with kids. It easier to keep an eye on them and I bring toys and food for when they get tired of fishing.

Have fun.

Mark

Jim · 01-14-2002, 10:04 PM

blankman...I am a 42 yr old father of 4 kids that love to fish...even my girls! When they were young we had fishing buddy days. They each had their fishin buddy shirts and their own fishin buddy pole. One at a time I would take them out...first stop always was for a donut and milk. As for fishing....I operated on the basic premis that it is a sin to bore a kid. Steelheading is boring! (to a kid) If the kids got bored...we decided that the fish just weren't awake yet! We would usually throw rocks or go for a walk and then head home...sometimes the rods weren't in the water 15 minutes and we were done. Not what I had planned but they didn't get bored and slowly they learned what it meant to catch fish, and then bigger fish and then bigger fish. My oldest daughter has graduated now to *********...the biggest of them all, why?? Cause they pay you well to catch them!!

Anyway here is an invite for you and your girls and your wife if she wants...pick a wednesday at the end of jan or beginning of Feb and lets go smelting. Lots of fun...lots of fish...the girls can be successful which is fun. My boat, my gas, my net...you guys just come!

Jim

Hottamale1 · 01-15-2002, 05:04 AM

Jim,

I might even take you up on that proposition!!!

I have a 4 & 6 Year old (Boys) that would love to go Smelt dipping...and...we could make a fun little "Kids" show out of it! You know...talk about safety gear, keeping the kids busy and, of course, how & where to dip for smelt. By the time the show "airs", the smelt run will be over, therefore no reason to worry about overly crowded conditions, etc. Talk Soon,

Scott

Jim · 01-15-2002, 05:35 AM

Scott,
We have traded emails etc a few times...but there is nothing I would rather do than take some kids smelting! Or kids doing anything...I know of many guides that don't want kids in their boat...I encourage it and love it. You just let me know! I will clear the schedule.
Not next week though I will be at the Puyallup Sportsmans Show Wed thru Sun.

Jim

Jim · 01-15-2002, 12:14 PM

Hooch if you and yours still had fun when I ran out of gas :shocked: on that cold October day than I must think you are right :grin: Boy was that ever embarassing!!

Jim

blankman · 01-15-2002, 11:28 PM

Great replys and input - I appreciate the ideas. People on the board are amazingly nice.

Jim - thanks for the great offer for smelt dipping - I don't own a boat so I have never done this. I'll talk to my wife and get back to you.

- jeff

hoochie · 01-15-2002, 11:57 PM

Any time you guys can get a ride with 'Uncle Bubba'(Jim), you got a fun trip goin' on!

Right, Bubba??

BlueWater · 01-16-2002, 09:57 PM

Blankman-
I took my 4yr old girl out to dip smelt last year at this time and she still talks about it. We were gator fishing on tuesday and out of the blue as I was rigging up she smartly says: " Daddy those are the fish we caught with grandpa aren't they?" I say "Yes honey thats right" and she says "can we do that again?"
Can we do that again are lovely words to any dads ears when it has to do with going fishing.
:grin:

BlueWater.

hoochie · 01-17-2002, 03:59 PM

Hey, Jim, even Alex knows we have to fill the ol' gastank now and then. Helps him get those 15# Coho at Sekiu.

Guys, I have 4-year-old grandson living with us who is absolutley HOOKED on any kind of fishing he/we can do. We take him as many places as we can launch the 'Bobber Boy'

He's always watching the Fishing shows on TNN and OLN and asking when he can get 'one of those kind of fishes'

I couldn't be happier than to have someone to fish with any time, any day!

Take 'em fishing and they'll stay outta trouble.