Kids and muskie fishing

Abomb · Post by **Abomb** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:28 pm

Hello all, I just was thinking lately how to get my daughter into muskie fishing. She is almost 6, and even taking her bluegill or perch fishing is quite a chore. I took her up to the cuts last week and it was only about 55 degrees out, and within 5 minutes she was allready too cold. If its not that, its "I have to go potty" And I remember last year when the bluegills were on there beds and we were catch a bunch, she was having fun, but then within about 20 minutes it was "Daddy, lets go, I am too hot" Now I am pretty sure musky fishing would be even more of a challenge for her, but yet I am dying to at least see me land one. But here again, I think if I fail to do so in the first half an hour, thats all she wrote.
I am amazed how Tyler can fish with Will for such "fairly long" periods of time. Maybe its just in his blood? Maybe I should still stick to the bluegill thing, untill Emily seems more exited about the whole thing. I don't know.
Just something I think about. Ak

kid coulson · Post by **kid coulson** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:58 pm

Abomb,
I have 2 daughters, now 7 and 6.Ive taken them out the last couple years.
Attention span is short indeed.If weather is poor or it starts raining its 10x worse.I never take them out with the expectations of a full day of fishing
but I do make them understand Im not driving 45-60min to fish for just a couple hours.A couple things seem to help for us.
Pack plenty of snacks and food/drink.
Bring a small bucket or something for them to pee in.Just hold up a towel or coat for a little privacy.
A radio helps.
Break up the slow times by cruzing around the lake a little.My girls love going fast and crashing the waves.(I get 22 mph with family on board).
Also plan on trolling not casting(muskie).Big hooks and crowded boats
with kids dont mix to well.
I let them pick the lures to troll sometimes also.
I dont think they cared for muskie fishing until last year when they witnessed my wife get her first,a 39,and 45 min later in the same general area I got a 43.That lit them up a little!!
This season I want them to step up and actually help reel in a muskie
without getting freked out.We will see.
Hope this helped ya out a little.Dont stop taking her out!
These times,and lessons are something she will always remember and
one day treasure.Just be SAFE,and dont get frustraited.

Post by **Will Schultz** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:36 am

Abomb - Ty has been on the boat since he was in the womb. In fact, Ellyn would say that the only time he wasn't doing flips in her belly was on the boat. He really started to spend a lot of time on the water with me at 1.5 years old and since he's spent hundreds of hours on the boat. This isn't like muskie fishing with your buddy for a day though, we take lots of breaks when muskie fishing. Taking the time to make a run to a park on a lake to play in the sand or on the slides or swings keeps it fun. On the boat you need to have, snacks, toys, action figures or dolls, books, etc., this stuff keeps them on the boat without getting bored.

Muskie trips are fun as long as you make it fun for them. If they need a break or want to go catch perch/panfish/walleye for a while do it, were trying to make them life long fishermen.

Abomb · Post by **Abomb** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:36 pm

Good comments guys.... I'll make her a sportsman (woman) out of her yet. I was just seeing if you folks, had some of the same frustrations with your kids. I'm sure its all well worth the time spent in the end though.

MuskyTom · Post by **MuskyTom** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:20 am

Last year I took my son who was 3 at the time, fishing with me. He never asked to come in. I always took food and drink and would always catch some bluegills and throw em in the livewell and then my son would play with them using my little net. He also would real in Bluegills once I set the hook for him. I usually go out there with the attitude that this is time to spend with him and even if I don't get to fish very much, it is all worth it to see how happy he gets by reeling in bluegills and just spending time together. Somehow, he always finds a way to dump out the worms. :lol:

Bomba · Post by **Bomba** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:40 am

My boys are 7 and 4, they both have been in the boat since they were
two. I've tried the toy thing, books, and other "kid" things, but they
seem to have more fun and stay interested more just playing with
their own tackles boxes and rods, when I'm muskie fishing, I always take breaks and fish for gills with them, and I try to troll also and let
them take turns sitting on my lap and drive the boat, and they also
get to pick out the lures we use trolling......
Sometimes the trips last 2-3 hrs, sometimes it's all day. It just depends
on the mood they are in and the weather....NO pressure.....Keep it fun,
and upbeat. And keep the lifejackets on them no matter what..........!!!!!

kid coulson · Post by **kid coulson** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:19 pm

Bring lots of worms!!My girls still dont get the "you have to much slack in the line"-(set the hook,set the hook!!)...............you got robbed!!
Those little gills usually run circles around my girls,but when they do catch
one they really light up!