whats the best age to get kids into fishing??

hey guys,

 fairly new to the site and just had a few quieries about when we should get our kids into fishing.

im fresh into parenthood and was absolutely stoked when we found out we had a little boy on the way.

we went away for a long weekend fishing/surfing trip and decided to take the little fella who at the time was 6months old. gave him a rod and reel and first hook up a a meesly trumpeter but the little man found it hillarious..

3 months down the track he cant keep his hands off my fishing gear. decided to spool my salina 2 16000 while mums at home and im at work just for shits and giggles, but evry time i move them and hide my gear he finds it all and just cant keep his hands off.

cut a long story short is 6 months to early?

he is absoluetly mesmorised by fishing rods and reels and will drop his toys anyday to get hold of the gear i leave lying around.

 

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Posts: 908

Date Joined: 06/05/12

Let the kid decide

Sun, 2013-03-03 22:42

Let the kid decide

Posts: 88

Date Joined: 14/10/12

I just had a little fella and

Sun, 2013-03-03 22:48

I just had a little fella and can't wait to get him onto a rod, I reckon if he likes it and it keeps him occupied why not 6 months!

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 born to fish, forced to work

Colt_Striker's picture

Posts: 624

Date Joined: 26/07/09

I'm in the same boat too,

Mon, 2013-03-04 06:35

2 classic pics for the memories there. I'm in the same boat too, Mrs had our little fella 5&1/2 months ago, she wont let me take him out on the boat yet LOL. But my mate turned up to the hospital when he was 3 days old with a shimano kids spin stick & reel.

WSHN4FSHN's picture

Posts: 224

Date Joined: 19/09/12

 Hey mate I reckon any

Mon, 2013-03-04 06:54

 Hey mate I reckon any interest in fishing is a great thing so I would cultivate that interest from any age. As for the practicality of fishing my eldest has just turned 4 and she has really only been capable of independence in the last 6 months or so which is essential to an enjoyable time for everyone Things like not running off, listening to instruction, obedience, awareness of dangers etc. Just comparing her to my 2 year old boy who would be a nightmare to have out there as he loves exploring and testing boundaries!! Younger than 3/3.5 and you will spend more time looking after the kids compared to fishing!! Obviously not all kids and situations are the same but this is my experience. Hope that helps somewhat. Cheers

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Burley it and they will come.

Hortzy's picture

Posts: 110

Date Joined: 31/07/10

..

Mon, 2013-03-04 07:59

 get him into it straight away!!! my son and i watch the fishing shows together play with gear together, tho i recommend giving him his own as the end eyes are sure to missing,,, my boy is 3 1/2 now and pumps n winds,knows most of the fish loves piking out which jig to use,, and loves it,,,went 30nm out yesterday in a boat and he loved it!! is a very proud satisfying thing to be able to share!!! 

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choc's picture

Posts: 670

Date Joined: 05/01/12

The younger the better.My

Mon, 2013-03-04 08:15

The younger the better.

My boys are 8 and 5 and they have fished since they could walk.

One thing to remember when they are startin to cast and fish is patience,dont think you will be ablo to fish as if you were on your own,you will need to just let them fish and help when required.

If you want to have a serious fish sometimes you may need to sneak off on your own until their a bit older.

carnarvonite's picture

Posts: 8673

Date Joined: 24/07/07

Son and grandsons

Mon, 2013-03-04 08:19

Son Jeff was about 4-5 when I took him on his first over nighter beach fishing down south, I hooked a salmon on the big beach rod and held the rod while he cranked it in, hooked another and stood beside him this time to make sure he wasn't going to get pulled over. About ten minutes later he was on to one on his own solid glass 8 footer and Mitchell 303 reel [he did the lot, bait, cast etc], son, you are on your own, you hooked it you land it. He finished up with 8 for the day, most released.

Not to long after that it was off to Gnaraloo and heavy handlines in those days, Dad,Dad, I've got a fish on, I held the line while he put some gloves on then gave it back, again, you hooked it you land it, up came his first red and pinky double header.

 

Now he has done the same with both grandsons, Alex and Axel, they are both mad keen fishermen and do the lot themselves, including tie the correct knots.

When he knocks off work each arvo, its pick the boys up from school, home to get changed then down the beach to flick lures, put the net out, kayak around or put the boat in, tough life for young boys to take when they enjoy it.

quadfisher's picture

Posts: 1146

Date Joined: 28/09/10

Girls fish too!

Mon, 2013-03-04 08:38

My girls have allways gone fishing with me , yet I have a few friends and aquents

whom sons have never really been into it ( video games , computers etc there thing)

My eldist came to the warren river just after she was learning to walk, nappies, gum cream

and doggie leashs were the order of the day along with beach rods and mulies.

Those 4 point harness kiddy seats really work well on big dune climbs, and she neatly fitted inside my single swag

at night.

It really was hard work , but it did instill in her and later her sister, the love of the outdoors, sand in your food

and safety around fires , knives etc etc.

They are now 13 and 16 , and although the 16 year old wanes ( or whines?) sometimes

we still do things together as a family.

I have great memorys of summer afternoons on a beach somewhere, kids swimming , dad fishing

not a care in the world the lot of us, thats what involving your kids in things brings.

cheers.

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quadfisher

Posts: 186

Date Joined: 26/12/12

 No one in my family likes to

Mon, 2013-03-04 10:26

 No one in my family likes to fish. I picked up a fishing rod when I was 6 years old. Now I am 14, Mad keen, go fishing every day and work part time in a tackle store.

Posts: 126

Date Joined: 09/01/13

 at 6-9 months old he

Mon, 2013-03-04 10:39

 at 6-9 months old he probably just loves playing with dad tbh.  

I can tell you from experience that it only takes you showing an ounce of frustration with a dud cast when they are not paying attention and they lose the mood FAST.  it is not easy... but what bit of being a parent is!  I'm about to drag my moaning 7 and 5yos out:)  Will be happy if it lasts 45 mins all up:)

Posts: 52

Date Joined: 07/01/13

I first introduced fishing to

Mon, 2013-03-04 10:48

I first introduced fishing to my young bloke when he was around 18 months and now he loves it, I think the most important thing I found was to keep it interesting and exciting for him and when he starts to get bored with it I usually pack up as not to make the experience frustrating for him

 

He caught his first fish (or mish as he calls it) on Saturday and I was so proud to see him reel it in himself and it was a pinky of all things!

 

Daniel

 

 

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 The Shooters and Fishers Party Wa

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 18090

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 never realy too early. as

Mon, 2013-03-04 12:27

 never realy too early. as long as they can hold onto a rod without dropping it in the water or it could be an expencive experience lol. 

teach them young to apreciate the finer things in life and show them there is more out there than tv and video games to keep them entertained..

might pay to tie the rod to something solid tho

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

lawnman's picture

Posts: 7

Date Joined: 07/08/12

ive got 2 girls 6 and 8

Mon, 2013-03-04 20:25

ive got 2 girls 6 and 8 .....funny ive got a 4 mtr tinnie the eldest loves the boat and fishing....

but the 6yr old hates the boat and fishing from it .....but both LOVE  fishing from the beach shore.

i think some times its not the fishing side of things i think its the dad time side of things......

lawnman's picture

Posts: 7

Date Joined: 07/08/12

ive got 2 girls 6 and 8

Mon, 2013-03-04 20:25

ive got 2 girls 6 and 8 .....funny ive got a 4 mtr tinnie the eldest loves the boat and fishing....

but the 6yr old hates the boat and fishing from it .....but both LOVE  fishing from the beach shore.

i think some times its not the fishing side of things i think its the dad time side of things......

lawnman's picture

Posts: 7

Date Joined: 07/08/12

ive got 2 girls 6 and 8

Mon, 2013-03-04 20:25

ive got 2 girls 6 and 8 .....funny ive got a 4 mtr tinnie the eldest loves the boat and fishing....

but the 6yr old hates the boat and fishing from it .....but both LOVE  fishing from the beach shore.

i think some times its not the fishing side of things i think its the dad time side of things......

catchalittle's picture

Posts: 1875

Date Joined: 04/09/08

mine started to come fishing

Mon, 2013-03-04 21:35

mine started to come fishing with me when they were 5 and havnt stopped they have a collection of their own now at they are 7 and 10 now

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Nathan

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

Cute kid! Give him a reel to

Mon, 2013-03-04 21:58

Cute kid! Give him a reel to learn to reel at home, my boy has been fishin since he was 1, now 3 he fishes unassisted and is my main buddy out on the boat, he's caught a few good fish, even boated a bigger tailor than I have ever caught. Kids learn quick, just gota teach them and make it enjoyable

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Posts: 5817

Date Joined: 18/01/12

any age

Tue, 2013-03-05 14:57

mine are 6-13 and come on all the Abrolhos trips I do (just got back this morning at 8.30 so they were an hour late for school).

sad thing is (being pessimistic) will they still be allowed to do it when they are old enough to go under their own steam?

Will it be like shooting? When I was 8 or 9 every farm kid had an air rifle and a .22 when about 12 or 13.

Now I have to tell my kids not to speak at school about shooting even at the club with me and even as an adult now I rarely mention firearms with city people around.

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 Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...

 

 

The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.

Everyone's just winging it.