Taking the grandsons "fishing". Wish us luck!

[masraum]

The grandsons are visiting (5 and 8), and wanted to go fishing (no idea why). I haven't been fishing in 40+ years and don't remember anything about it. I think I've been less than 5 times in my life, mostly when I was younger than 10 or probably even 8, and spent most of the time running around and very little time fishing. I did look up how to tie a hook to a line. The boys parents sent 2 new kid's rods and a small selection of lures.

I'll consider it a success if no one human ends up hooked.

I'll consider it a raging success if either of the boys has a good time and it'll be a miracle if anyone catches anything.

But the little pond at the park down the street has very low water, so hopefully, the fish will be more concentrated and easier to catch. I'm guessing I should take a pair of needle nose pliers that have a cutter, and I always have a pocket knife.

Wish us luck!

[masraum]

Where's Vash when he's needed!

[oldE]

You got this, Grandpa! They'll have a ball just 'cause they went fishing with Grampy.

Enjoy!

Best
Les

[stevej37]

Need worms instead of lures.
And a bobber.

Walmart has both for a couple bucks.

[porsche tech]

Get some worms. All my fishing is salt water but there’s a lot of catch and release fishing in the neighborhood fresh water lagoons. I’m told beef jerky works good in the lagoons to catch bass.

[vash]

you got this!! and you type way younger than a grandpa!!!

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Bring heavy duty wire cutters, a hooked lip, nose or ear happens real quick.
You have to break out as big a hook you can find when you get there to fish.
Gotta impress the G kids.

Night crawlers or chicken livers

[Jeff Higgins]

I was a dedicated fly fisherman up until the point that our two sons got old enough to want to go fishing. I had to relearn the whole game, since that obviously was not going to work with a four and seven year old. So I hung up the fly rod and assumed the dual roles of canoe paddler and Master Baiter.

Bobbers and Power Bait became my go-to for the kids. Relatively easy to deal with and it keeps forever.

[911 Rod]

Pinch the barbs on the hooks. lol

[masraum]

We're back. It was a success, no injuries, and both boys did a decent job of casting. I was impressed as they were better than I was at their age.

Neither caught anything, but we weren't out at the ideal time, and we were using cheap lures. It was an education in fishing. It's funny the difference in personalities (they are very different). The older one who is the one that was the main driver behind fishing, became disillusioned pretty quickly, "we aren't catching anything. Where are the fish?" I think he watches fishing shows on YT. The other was happy to keep casting and hang out until he got something.

They were supposed to have brought a net from home, but didn't. If they had, we have a little ditch that was full of baby crawfish the other day. We would have used them for bait. Maybe next time.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Need worms instead of lures.
And a bobber.

Walmart has both for a couple bucks.

We had bobbers (lost one, which I blame on myself for not getting it rigged right)
Yeah, next time, live bait for sure.

Originally Posted by oldE

You got this, Grandpa! They'll have a ball just 'cause they went fishing with Grampy.

Enjoy!

Best
Les

Yeah, that's true. Just as a grandpa, you want them to get the brass ring. But having a good time and getting the education that you don't always catch a fish is probably even more valuable. Years ago, I was probably 12 or 13 and we were camping in the mountains of NC. Dad took me to a fish farm so I could catch a fish. It was so easy that it wasn't much better than not catching anything.

Originally Posted by porsche tech

Get some worms. All my fishing is salt water but there’s a lot of catch and release fishing in the neighborhood fresh water lagoons. I’m told beef jerky works good in the lagoons to catch bass.

Yep, live bait or some sort of meat will be what we'll use next time.

Originally Posted by vash

you got this!! and you type way younger than a grandpa!!!

Young at heart.

Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted

Bring heavy duty wire cutters, a hooked lip, nose or ear happens real quick.
You have to break out as big a hook you can find when you get there to fish.
Gotta impress the G kids.

Night crawlers or chicken livers

Yep, I had some tools "just in case." Fortunately, we didn't have to use them on any hooked humans!

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I was a dedicated fly fisherman up until the point that our two sons got old enough to want to go fishing. I had to relearn the whole game, since that obviously was not going to work with a four and seven year old. So I hung up the fly rod and assumed the dual roles of canoe paddler and Master Baiter.

Bobbers and Power Bait became my go-to for the kids. Relatively easy to deal with and it keeps forever.

I'd considered taking the canoe, but getting that thing on and off of the top of the outback and then strapped on is a bear. This fishing trip was pretty impromptu and not well planned. Maybe next time.

[vash]

Originally Posted by masraum

Young at heart.

Y.

hell yes, you are!!

[Billiam 911 2.8]

Making memories is what it is all about.

[dmcummins]

I’ve taken my grandson out several times, but this is the first for the granddaughter. And this is one of the first fish she has caught.

We were basically catching bait, but they had a good time and I didn’t have to clean anything.

[id10t]

Fresh or salt water?

For fresh, hard to beat a #6 long shank hook and a small bobber 18" up the line, with maybe a small split shot 6" up the line from the hook. Bait with earth worms, grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, a small ball of bread (smash/roll it tight between your fingers, maybe 1/4" diameter), dough, piece of hot dog, bacon, ham, etc. You'll catch plenty of pan fish.

For saltwater shore/pier fishing, hard to beat a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook with a live shrimp or piece of fresh cut mullet on it, 24" leader, and a large enough pyramid sinker to pin it to hte bottom (anywhere from 1/2 to 4+oz depending on current and wave).

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Have a great time and hope you and your grandsons get a little taste of this.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by id10t

Fresh or salt water?

For fresh, hard to beat a #6 long shank hook and a small bobber 18" up the line, with maybe a small split shot 6" up the line from the hook. Bait with earth worms, grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, a small ball of bread (smash/roll it tight between your fingers, maybe 1/4" diameter), dough, piece of hot dog, bacon, ham, etc. You'll catch plenty of pan fish.

For saltwater shore/pier fishing, hard to beat a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook with a live shrimp or piece of fresh cut mullet on it, 24" leader, and a large enough pyramid sinker to pin it to hte bottom (anywhere from 1/2 to 4+oz depending on current and wave).

Fresh water. Lots of great ideas here for bait. Next time!

[masraum]

I'll bet the water level is down a foot, maybe 2, and the sides of the pond are virtually flat. People fish out of this thing at least every week, probably nearly daily.

[masraum]

It's spring break for the grandsons. I took today off, but I'll be working from home until they go home on Wed.

Back in Feb, I got a Crosman 760 pumpmaster. It's a far cry from the one that I had in the 80s, lots more plastic and not as well made, but good enough for these guys for now. Actually, in some ways, probably better since it's much lighter and both struggle with the weight a bit. It's definitely better for the younger one since he also struggles with the length in addition to the weight.

I also showed the older one the operation of my new AC Hydraulic jack. I had him lift the Zero turn since I was pretty sure that he'd not seen a hydraulic floor jack in operation much less actually been able to use one.

Then later in the afternoon, I got a few drive-bys while I was sharpening the kitchen knives "what are you doing?" "Why do you have to sharpen the knives?" What they don't realize is that I also sharpen the knives at their house when I visit since their parents don't do it.

So all in all, it was a good day!

[craigster59]

Personally, i'd be a bit suspect of eating anything out of that water. I'd go with lures, pinched down barbs. Kastmasters always worked great for me in those waters.

Make it a game, "Bet you can't hit that spot 10 yards off shore". Reel it in and see if something bites, work it like a grid.