A kid can't throw a punch or shoot a gun with a fishing pole in his hands, or something to that effect! If you ever had the pleasure of having a few youngsters tag along with you while your fishing, it will prove to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life. To prove my point think back to your own childhood memories of your Grandfather, chance are one of the earlist that come to mind will have to do with fishing. My most vivid memories involve a canepole a can of worms and a stock pond seemily full of blue gill. I can still see my Grandpa will his faded overalls relaxing under a shade tree on a Pepsi crate. Paying me a nickle for every grass hopper I caught to use for bait. The rule of thumb to use when determining whether your children are ready to start taking fishing is the younger the better. I have had my boys and girl fishing ever since the were big enough to hold up their $9.99 Snoopy spin cast reels and cast out toward the water without hitting me up side the head. At first it would be down at the local pond catching bream or catfish with this type of fishing gear even bait can prove to be a worthy opponent. As soon as they learn they can actually catch fish on their own, you'll find it hard to go on future trips by yourself, the only minor draw back.
Fishing with younguns around take a little preparedness when loading the boat and tackle box. One must become an expert at untangling reels. Kids can tie a reel in knots faster than Houdini would ever thought possible, so bring along plenty of extra line. Another strange fact that will for certain happen at least once if you spend any amount of time fishing with kids. Is although that cheap Snoopy real will probably be dug up in future generations in perfect working order. As soon as you let you prodigy use one of your $200.00 reels it will magically begin to start to come apart, providing that your rookie angler doesn't get it pulled from his hands into the water first by a bull red. So for your stress levels sake investing in some decent, economical, rods and reels until they gain a little more experience. Take it from me, this is not a lesson you will find pleasant to learn for yourself. Also while at the tackle house buying some of those less expensive rods be sure to grab quite a few extra weights, hooks, corks, and cheap lures. Kids come with this inherent Charlie Brown syndrome, where ever third cast some how get stuck on some sort tackle eating rock beneath the surface. If there is something out there to get hung up on a kid while certainly find. So far my boys have pulled up two anchors and something we still have yet to figure out what it is. In fact they catch so many strange, non fish items that we have built a semi-memorial in one of the flower beds where their trophies lie in state.
Now this may be starting to sound like more work than fun. You may be thinking that gone are the nice relaxing outings that you once treasured. But just as kids seem to have that flaw of catching ever thing that doesn't belong on the table. Youngsters also come with what some people refer to as beginners luck. More than once our family fishing excursions have ended up with Dad--0, Kids--Limits, this rule unfortunately also seem to apply to member of the female persuasion. So take some good advise and keep those bets on the cheap side, unless you enjoy handing out money to some money hungry kids.
Final reason for taking a yougun fishing is the ear to ear smiles that pop up when they land a big trout or red. Although I still enjoy the fight of a bull red along the jetties, or the acrobatics of a speck as it flies across the water on the end of your line. It pales in comparison to the joy you will receive when your child finally land that 30 inch red all by himself. It hard to describe the feeling as they continue to gain fishing experience and bait and unhook their catches without your help. And just watching them tie on their leaders and throw baited hooks into the water knowing they may land a huge trout with any cast will bring smile to yours and their faces simultaneously.
But just like the preferable college student coming home for the weekend with suitcases full of dirty clothes and hands extended out for money. Your future anglers will always come back to Dad to untangle the reel with line exploded into a mess only a true fishing parent can appreciate. And while you start to untangle his spool and tie on new line, they will be fishing with your new birthday rod, but you won't have to worry now, you can trust them now even with your pride and joy. Because they have learned from the best!!!! YOU!!!