Today is December 13. Today is my friend, Christopher Knibbs’ birthday. He isn’t here with us to celebrate it, but I wanted to take a few moments to celebrate him. Tim McGraw once sang a song that’s quite fitting. To paraphrase, “My old friend, this [post’s] for you, because a few simple [paragraphs] was the least that I could do to tell the world that you were here.”
Chris (or “Knibblet,” as we called him) was one of those very decent human beings placed here on this earth for far too little time. While he had his struggles as we all do, he also had a deep sense of honor and conviction and lived his life by a code.
The first time I noticed this was in high school. I’d recently broken up with my longtime girlfriend. He caught her eye, and she pursued him. It was still a fresh wound, and he asked me what I thought. I told her, “I still love her, dude.” He tilted his head down, shook it, and that was the end of their dalliance. Most high school kids wouldn’t have done this (she was a real looker). In fact, most didn’t (she was a reallooker). Knibblet did.
I always thought this was admirable. Knibbs was my best friend’s cousin, you see, and we got along just fine, but it’s not like we were hanging out every day. He owed me nothing. Luckily for the pit in my stomach, he owed his own sense of honor, morality, and code the duty of doing what he felt was the right thing.
For me, simple as the gesture was, long ago as it was, this was the act that cemented in my mind the thought that Knibblet was an all around good guy, and I was very glad, some years later, to spend a wonderful day with him at Putnam Creek in Crown Point, NY.
Knibblet and My Adventure at Putnam Creek
In the years before I was a father, and before I took fishing very seriously, our family home at Crown Point was a bit of a party house. I’d routinely travel up there with friends to enjoy the Adirondacks and all the fun they had to offer each summer. Knibbs was routinely a guest, and he loved the place so much that his parents would eventually choose it as his final resting spot, spreading his ashes there. I like to think that part of the reason he loved it so much was Labor Day weekend of 2006.
We went up to the lake with our usual group of friends. The girls, always adventurous, wanted to rent a boat down at Lake George. Knibbs and I considered it, but the water at Lake Champlain was too inviting and we decided to stay back and drag out the canoe instead. We loaded up a couple of rods and several dozen nightcrawlers, and headed off for nearby Putnam Creek.
Neither of us were particularly skilled anglers at the time, but it didn’t matter. We moved through Putnam Creek catching fish after fish – mostly sunnies. We made it past the bridge into the backwaters, seeing heron and listening to mourning doves sing, telling jokes and laughing the whole way. This day cemented our friendship firmly and from that day on, I’d consider Knibblet one of my best.
Every now and then, we’d tie into a small pickerel deep in the marsh, which was a good thrill amidst the perch and bluegill. Eventually we came to an especially clear section of the creek near some fallen trees. Peering into the water, we spied a largemouth bass! It wasn’t particularly large, but we hadn’t caught one yet and we were determined to catch this one. We tossed worm after worm at that darned fish but he wouldn’t take any offering. This was strange, as he was so little, and we were so far back in the creek, past where any bass boat could go, that surely he hadn’t seen a lure once in his life, but he wouldn’t budge or bite. After about 30 minutes of trying we moved on. I’ll bet that bass sired some huge monsters with lockjaw in his day.
We were out there for hours and hours having the time of our lives. We spent the entire time it took the rest of our friends and the girls to drive the 45 minutes to Lake George, find a boat rental, use it for their allotment, and come back. Our cell phones rang eventually as the girls were looking for us. They took the rowboat into the creek and found us, and Paulina, twig though she was, nearly capsized the darned canoe transferring in. Knibbs then transferred to the rowboat to help the other girl out and I got to hear all about how much of a pain in the butt that was to row home through the late-season weeds.
Knibblet and I would have many more trips to Crown Point but we’d never have a fishing trip quite like this again. As years went by the house became even more of a party destination than before and fishing took a bit of a backseat for a time. Even so, 18 years later, I look back on that early adventure with Knibblet and consider it one of the better days I spent alive.
You’re probably sitting there with a pale face, full of terror. Your kid just asked you to take them fishing, and you have no idea how. Perhaps you’ve never fished before.Maybe you fished once or twice as a kid yourself, but some adult tied on a bobber and ruined the sport for you forever. You might even like the hobby, but are nervous because you know how many times you come home without catching any fish, and don’t want to do that to your son or daughter. The pressure when taking kids fishing is real.
Taking kids fishing is an intimidating task for seasoned anglers, much less novices. There’s tremendous pressure to make sure the kids catch a fish. You want them to have fun, not wind up in the emergency room, or have your spouse telling you, “I told you so.”
You know it won’t be easy. Finding, much less hooking and landing a fish, is never a guarantee even for professionals. Just look at all the zeros on any tournament scorecard and you’ll see what I mean.
Then, there’s the matter of all the mechanics to consider. Little about this sport is intuitive, and that’s if you even get to the lake. Many a parent has quit after walking through a Wal-Mart aisle full of kids fishing poles, overwhelmed with anxiety trying to determine which fishing rod is best for their children.
Is this making your stomach turn a bit? Are you scared, wondering if you can pull this off, or if your kid is going home frowning and empty handed? Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered! Here’s my illustrated guide to taking kids fishing. Your one stop shop for everything you need to know!
What This Post Is
My goal with this post is simple. It will walk you through EXACTLY what you need to do to catch a fish with your kids. I will tell you exactly what kids fishing gear to buy (and will keep it simple, with gear you can find right on Amazon, or at Wal-Mart). I will teach you exactly what fish are best for children, and precisely when and where to find these fish to maximize your chance of success.
At the end, I will also devote some time to a FAQ about fishing with children as well as give you some good additional resources to help you out.
My goal for this article is that you should be able to catch a fish by doing nothing else than reading this post, and buying nothing else than the modest gear that I recommend. But, if I fail and you still have questions, you can also email me and I’ll personally help you for free. You can even send me your phone number if you want, and we can talk this through. I want your fishing trip with kids to be successful, and I’ll do everything I can to help.
Maxims and Mottos for Taking Kids Fishing
There are a few maxims or mottos that I live with when fishing with kids, but none is more important than this:
Get a fish in the livewell or bucket as fast as possible.
Your number one goal should be to get any fish you can (that is legal to keep) in your livewell or bucket as fast as you can. Doing so gives you considerable breathing room. First, your day is a success, because you have caught a fish. Secondly, if the action does slow down (and it will from time to time) your child has a new fish “friend” to play with.
A few fish in the livewell (or a bucket) will provide entertainment when the fishing slows down. Try to get a few in there ASAP!
Other Useful Maxims
Some other useful tips include:
Bring a spare rod or two that your kids can use while you fix tangles. Plan on fixing tangles constantly. Coach your children to tell you about tangles before they become unmanageable.
Make sure you have snacks and shade. Understand that children will find reasons to whine. Don’t give them any more than you have to. Bring snacks, provide shade, and make sure they’re comfortable.
Make sure you have a plan B. I recommend fishing places that have something else interesting to do. Fishing ponds next to a playscape are a great idea.
Safety Precautions for Fishing With Kids
Fishing doesn’t have to be dangerous, but just remember that you’re fooling around with sharp objects near water, often in the blazing sun, and with the intention of capturing wild animals. Things can go wrong. Here are some of the more common issues to be aware of.
The Sun
The most likely danger you’ll encounter when taking children fishing is the sun, especially if you’re on a boat with little shade. Make sure that you bring large-brimmed hats and liberally apply sunscreen. Consider avoiding the dog days of summer with little wind as they can be unbearable. If you have an option to add a bimini cover to your boat, set it up.
Keep an eye on your kids and remind them to drink water. It’s easy for them to forget to do this. My son gets so engrossed by fishing that if I didn’t remind him to take a drink now and then, he might pass out on the floor!
Don’t be afraid to call it a day or at least avoid mid afternoon. Often, this is the hardest time to catch fish, anyway. Granted, with kids, sometimes you’re working around nap time and can’t always pick your spots, but if you had a choice, I’d recommend mornings or evenings. The fish will bite better and the sun won’t be as brutal.
Hooks and Other Sharp Objects
Hooks are an obvious danger, as are scissors or even sharp pliers. You’d likely supervise young children making a craft at home with scissors, so be doubly aware while fishing with them on a rocking boat.
If you’ve followed my blog for any time, you’ll know that I try to avoid certain types of hooks, like treble hooks, when fishing with kids. These are three-pronged hooks that will stand up straight at all times and tend to be very sharp and thin. All of this is a true recipe for disaster if you ask me. If you search on YouTube or Google for videos or pictures of anglers jabbed by fishing hooks, chances are it’ll be a treble hook. Because of this, I recommend leaving them at home. If you must use them, consider pinching down the barbs.
I’d also highly suggest investing in some sunglasses for your children. First, they’ll help with the obvious sun issues. Secondly, they offer protection against errant hooks. While a hook getting stuck anywhere in a child is a problem, their losing an eye would be a tragedy. Sunglasses provide some peace of mind. If your kid doesn’t want to wear them, pick up a pair of polarized glasses and pitch it to them as a better way to see fish underwater (they reduce sun glare and allow you to see into the water better).
The Water
Kids love water, but water doesn’t always love kids. When on a moving boat, your children should always wear a life jacket. Some states even require them to wear one when the boat is moored, so check local regulations. While you can pick up any old life jacket, I swear by Mustang Survival life jackets for children. If you’re interested in finding out why, check out my review on why Mustang Survival makes the best kids life jackets. While they are a little more expensive than some other options, I don’t recommend skimping on your child’s life vest.
I trust Mustang Survival with the most important people in my life.
Another concern with water is that it can chill your kids quickly if they get it on their clothes. Remember how I told you to get a fish in the livewell or bucket as fast as you could? Well, guess what else is going in there? Your kids’ hands along with their sleeves. This can quickly chill them on a spring or fall morning, so be aware of this and keep some dry clothes to change them into if necessary.
The Animals
With the possible exception of fallfish, just about every type of fish you catch has some way of injuring your kids. Remember – these are live animals who aren’t in on the secret that you intend to thrown them back. For them, this is a life or death struggle and they’re going to use what God gave them to defend themselves as best they can. Here are some of the ways they do this:
Teeth
Teeth are obvious enough. If you catch a species that has them (like northern pike, chain pickerel, walleye, trout, bowfin, etc.) you should not handle these fish by the mouth! Doing so can result in a nasty bite.
Spines
Many of the smaller prey fish out there (such as sunfish, bluegill, and yellow perch) have sharp spines along their dorsal (top) fin that they will extend when caught. These are prickly and can hurt if they catch you just right. On the other hand, they can be folded back down or simply avoided. My son grabs fish fearlessly at this point and just shrugs off the spines as they don’t hurt that bad, but then he also plays hockey. You should at least warn your kids that the spines can jab them.
Bear in mind that some fish, like bullhead, have a toxin in their spine that makes getting jabbed by them especially painful. I’d recommend handling these fish yourself so your kid doesn’t get hurt.
Gill Plate
The gill plate on many fish is quite sharp. I really wouldn’t recommend having kids handle fish by the gill plate. Much can go wrong for the fish, and it functions almost like a blade that can slice a finger.
Further Reading on Fishing Safety With Kids
You’ll find that those are the most common issues to watch out for. Want more advice? Check out my article about safety tips for fishing with kids where I will put the fear of God into you over every little thing that can go wrong! Joking, but not really.
Fishing Gear For Kids
I promised you at the beginning of the post that this article would tell you EXACTLY what kids fishing equipment you needed. I intend to keep that promise. If you’re looking for some lengthy “best of” post, with fifty different recommendations that are supposedly “the best kids fishing poles” (makes you wonder what they think is worst), you won’t find that here. I’m going to keep things simple and to the point.
These are the five pieces of fishing gear for children that you need:
A good kids fishing pole, pre-spooled with line.
A pack of fishing hooks.
Some sinkers or weights.
Spare fishing line for when yours tangles.
Some bait.
All the merchandise links in this article will take you to Amazon, but you should be able to find all of them (or their close equivalent) in your local Wal-Mart fishing aisle. Note that I recommend a few different kids fishing rods. You should choose which one you buy based on how old your child is.
Also note that when I say “best kids fishing pole” I really mean “best kids fishing rod,” but as more people search for fishing “pole” than “rod,” and I’m trying to help people find this post, that’s what I’m rolling with. There is a difference between a fishing pole and a fishing rod if you’re curious. It’s mostly semantics at this point, but I’m a purist at heart!
You’re going to need a weight of some kind. You can get away with some small nuts and bolts, or buy these Tungsten dropshot sinkers (lead works too but is illegal in some states). These should be small. 1/32 oz or 1/16 oz would work.
For fishing line, you’ll get Berkley Trilene XL in 6lb test as a backup. All the kids fishing poles I recommended came with fishing line, but tangles happen and you might need to replace it. Trilene XL is about the best fishing line for kids that you can find.
In addition to this, make sure you bring a pair of needle nose pliers from home. Any pair from your toolbox will work.
That’s it. Nothing crazy. You can buy it all on Amazon and have it here in 2 days. Or, you can go to Wal-Mart and probably find this exact stuff or something close. Again, I’m here to make fishing with kids easy.
Why Did I Pick These Fishing Poles and This Fishing Gear for Kids?
Look, these aren’t the most expensive fishing poles for kids. Likewise, they aren’t necessarily the highest quality out there. What they are, however, is very easy for a beginner to pick up and use. The goal of this entire post is to make things easy, so that you can focus on catching a fish.
You’ll note that I’ve recommended kids rod and reel combos here. Normally, I don’t recommend buying a youth fishing rod and reel combo, because I think you can do better parting stuff out. However, these aren’t normal times. These are desperate times, because your kid wants you to take them fishing, and you don’t know what you’re doing! I don’t want to stress you out even more having you put on your own fishing line or try to assemble your own reel, so I’ve gone with youth fishing combos that start off with line on the spool.
While I did once write an article all about the best kids fishing rods, I’m confident that if you buy the five pieces of equipment above, you’ll be just fine. Let’s break down the gear a little bit to show why.
The Best Kids Fishing Pole
Many posts out there about the best kids fishing pole have 10-20 entries, many of which are junk. I’m going to keep it real simple for you. Let’s and just talk about two that are good fishing rods for kids. If you’re looking for the best beginner fishing rod for kids, I recommended either the Zebco Dock Demon or an Ugly Stik. They are the perfect size for young anglers, and can stand up to the abuse kids put them through.
Steer clear of the fishing poles with princesses or cars on them. Let’s put it this way. If you buy one of my recommendations, you’ll use them with multiple kids. If you buy a toy fishing rod, you’ll be lucky if you can use them for multiple fishing trips.
Zebco Dock Demon
My kids have been fishing a Zebco Dock Demon since they were little. At 30″, it’s the perfect size for fishing with 2 or 3 year olds. It stands up well and will catch fish. My son wasn’t exactly careful with it, and smacked and dropped it every which way. Even so, it lasted long enough for my daughter to use it a few years later. I have pictures to prove it. Here’s a photo of the front of my book. You’ll note that my then 2-year-old son is fishing with a Zebco Dock Demon (you’ll also note that I’m photographed wearing a fanny pack on a nationally distributed book, but form follows function).
Trust me, I’m not going to try and sell you on something that doesn’t work. If you’re taking your kids out fishing and you have a 2 or 3 year old in tow, pick up a Zebco Dock Demon for them at Amazon and keep them entertained.
The Ugly Stik Combos
I spend a lot of time on my blog raving about how Ugly Stik makes some of the best rods for fishing with kids. I’ve been fishing with these since I was a kid myself. Now, my children are now using a number of the same fishing poles from my past.
As I mentioned, the particular Ugly Stik fishing rods I recommended above are combos. While I do earnestly believe you can find better stuff by parting it out, that overcomplicates things for a kid’s first fishing trip. The combos I recommended will work great for your children and help them catch their first fish. There’s a great chance your grandchildren will be using the same fishing rods some day.
Why Am I Recommending Spinning Reels Instead of Spincast Reels?
Many people recommend that kids start off with spincast reels. I don’t. While spincast reels are easier to cast, here’s the thing: if your kid isn’t old enough to learn how to cast a spinning reel, they aren’t old enough to cast on their own, anyway. You should be casting for your children when you’re all getting started. If you don’t, one of these three things is GUARANTEED to happen:
Your child will cast into the first bush or tree they (don’t) see.
There’s an extremely good chance you or another bystander will be hooked and hurt.
Your kid’s fishing line will tangle into the worst birds nest imaginable almost instantly.
Unless you bring along spare fishing rods (which isn’t a bad idea, frankly), you really don’t want your kids casting on their first time out. If your kids are anything like my three-year-old daughter, this is going to cause some issues (“I can do it!” is one of her favorite slogans). You’ll want to set some clear ground rules in advance (remember those maxims we discussed)!
Why Did I Only Recommend Fishing Hooks Instead of Lures?
It is much easier to catch a fish with a hook and a worm than it is with a fishing lure. Lures are artificial and require some skill to convince fish that they’re something worth eating. Worms, on the other hand, are actual food and fish (at least the dumb ones, which are the ones you’re looking for when you take your kids out fishing) don’t need any convincing. While I do have some articles about the best kids fishing lures, can you just trust me on this? Grab a pack of Aberdeen panfish hooks in size 4 and keep things simple for the first few fishing trips with your children.
Now, you are going to need to bait these hooks. Nightcrawlers are your best bet, and you should do your best to keep them alive and healthy as fish prefer live worms to dead ones. You could also fish with corn, though you’ll want to check and see if that is legal in your state.
Alternatives to Live Bait
Some people are uneasy about using worms or other live bait. I get it. Before I was a dad, I didn’t like using live bait either. If you don’t want to fish with worms for whatever reason, then buy some of those Berkley gulp minnows I talked about earlier. Get the 1″ size if you can, but no larger than 1.5″. This is small enough that panfish can grab them. Use a color that is either gray or black – something natural.
I personally have had much better luck by buying Berkley Gulp minnows in the plastic tanks filled with liquid than the dry pouches. The liquid is a proprietary scent and the lures come doused in it. They give off a good scent trail in the water which really calls the fish in. Berkley claims that Gulp out fishes live bait, and I’ve had several days where they were right. It’s certainly pricey compared to nightcrawlers, but well worth it.
Why Berkley Trilene XL is the Best Fishing Line for Kids
Granted the kids fishing rod and reel combos I recommended earlier come pre-spooled with fishing line, but that will only last so long. You’re only a few epic tangles (read: about 5 minutes away when fishing with small children) from needing to put on fresh line, so you’d better buy a pack.
If you’re looking for the best fishing line for kids, it’s Berkley Trilene XL, hands down. This isn’t fancy stuff. Indeed, it’s been around for decades and some thumb their noses at it, considering it “simple.” Simple is exactly what you want when you’re fishing with kids. Berkley Trilene XL is soft, easy to manage, and inexpensive. It casts well, is easy to tie knots with, and is strong. You can also find it anywhere. Amazon carries it, but it’s also at any local sports shop that carries fishing gear, guaranteed.
Since I’m trying to keep things simple here by setting you up with gear you don’t need to spool, I’m not going to give you the instructions how to do that here. However, I do walk you through that process in my post about the basic skills you need to take a kid fishing if you need some help.
Avoid Fluorocarbon When Fishing With Kids
Fluorocarbon is a mess to deal with and will have you wondering why your fishing line unravels from your spool so easily. It’s not a good fishing line for beginners because it’s so hard to keep it pliable.
Braided Fishing Line Can Cut Children
Braid is extremely strong fishing line that won’t coil up, but it is sharp and can easily cut your kids. Most of my injuries while fishing have come from using this line. Let’s say your child catches a good sized fish – that’s the dream, right? If your kid doesn’t want to touch the fish, they’ll hold the line instead. Now let’s suppose that fish thrashes suddenly. That thin braided rope is going to burn or cut your child’s hands.
Why You Need to Buy Some Fishing Sinkers
Well, I suppose you technically don’t. As mentioned earlier, you can use some nuts or bolts or anything heavy that you don’t mind losing as a weight. I’d simply recommend you stay away from lead sinkers. For one, lead isn’t good for you or the environment. Secondly, some lead sinkers are illegal in some states like Massachusetts.
You can pick up any sinkers you find that are affordable. Ones that are shaped like this work very well, but don’t fret if you can’t find their exact match. Just make sure you buy or scrounge up a weight, because we’re going to use them to tie a drop shot, which I’ll describe in the next section.
How to Fish With Kids – The Mechanics
Here we will discuss the mechanics of fishing. This could fill an entire book, but I’m going to keep things simple and teach you three things:
You’ll learn how to tie a drop shot rig.
We’ll discuss how to cast a spinning rod.
I’ll teach you how to hook, fight, and land a fish.
While there’s plenty more to learn, I promised to keep things simple These three skills will be enough to help your kids catch a fish.
How to Tie a Drop Shot Rig
At a glance, the drop shot rig should look like this:
The drop shot – a tried and true technique for fishing with kids.
The drop shot rig is just a hook tied with a Palomer Knot where a sinker is attached to the tag end. To tie a Palomer Knot, thread your line through your hook and then pass the tag end back through the eye again (figure 1). Take the loop this forms, and tie a simple overhand knot around the standing line and tag line with the loop (figure 2). Now, take the loop and pass the hook itself through it (figure 3). Finally, pull on both the hook and the tag/main line until the line is fully tightened (figure 4). You would now attach a sinker of your choice to the tag end (I like to leave about 12″ of line between the sinker and the hook, but you can experiment with different lengths).
The Benefits to the Drop Shot Rig
The reason I’m so high on the drop shot is its versatility. It will catch literally any fish in the lake and can quickly be converted to a simple hook and worm by removing the sinker. You can also rig up a bobber to it easily enough (even if I hate fishing with bobbers with a passion).
Drop shot rigs work very well in a variety of locations. Basically, anywhere that they won’t be fouled by weeds is a good place to throw them. They do very well in rocks (especially if you use cylindrical drop shot weights that won’t get stuck as easily in nooks and crannies), and are perfect for dropping near a school of sunfish or perch.
Finally, they’re a breeze for kids to cast, and don’t have treble hooks that you need to worry about. The hooks used tend to be quite small and thin, sure, but they don’t have too much of a barb to them and don’t pose as much danger as some other options.
How to Cast a Spinning Rod
Casting a spinning reel can seem daunting if you’re used to a spincast reel, but it’s really not that hard. My son was able to learn it at a very young age and with a little practice, so will you.
To learn how to cast a spinning rod, you need to know what the bail is. The bail is a metal loop that leads to a line guide. Its purpose is to keep line from falling off your reel. When the bail is opened, line can freely fall unless you do something about it. What you need to do is to hold the line with your index finger (young kinds might use their second hand) to keep it taut. When you go to cast your rod, you would release your finger from the line when you’re ready for your lure to fly.
Essentially, whereas with a spincast reel you hold onto a button and release it when you’re ready for your lure to cast, with a spinning reel, “the button” is the line itself, and you hold it with your index finger.
Hooking, Fighting, and Landing Fish
Once you get a fish to bite, you need to do three things: hook, fight, and land it! Here’s a few handy tips for each.
Hooking Fish
When you feel a fish start to nibble, you want to set the hook. Setting the hook means driving it through the fish’s mouth so the fish is stuck. You do this with either a short jerking or sweeping motion depending on what type of hook you’re using. If you don’t set the hook, you’re basically hoping that the fish bit down hard enough to snag itself. This isn’t always the case.
Just be careful when you set the hook not to pull too hard. For one, you might rip the hook out of the fish’s mouth. More critically, you might find you’ve sent the hook back flying towards you and your children! This can get dangerous in a hurry and is the second most likely way (behind casting) that someone gets hooked. Take it easy there sport and don’t go nuts!
Fighting Fish
Fighting fish boils down to three main objectives:
Keep the fish hooked.
Prevent the line from breaking.
Guide the fish away from cover, and to the boat or shore.
Keeping Fish Hooked
To keep a fish hooked, you need to maintain pressure on the line. When a hooked fish is under pressure (which is easy to tell by your rod bending), it means that the hook is grappled into the fish’s mouth. When there is no pressure, the hook can fall limp and be dislodged. Thus, it’s important to keep pressure on the fish.
While it’s not something I’d recommend for adults when fighting big fish, the easiest way to get kids to do this is simply to tell them to keep their rod up high. This has some disadvantages (the fish may be more inclined to jump, and in a worst case scenario, “high sticking” can cause the rod to break), but with little kids, it really is your best bet.
While “high sticking” can be problematic, the bottom line is it is the easiest way to help a kid catch some fish. Kids don’t really listen to the instruction well enough to cause a grave danger with the technique, anyway.
Preventing Your Fishing Line From Breaking While Fighting Fish
Fishing line has a line test, which means the amount of force it can endure before it breaks. For example, 6lb line can withstand 6lb of pressure. However, this does not mean that 6lb line can only catch fish 6lbs and smaller. Indeed, substantially larger fish are often caught on smaller test line. This can be done for a few reasons.
First, the rod itself absorbs some of the pressure and acts like a shock absorber on a car. It is very important to maintain a bend in the rod so that the line won’t snap. If your child points the rod tip right at the fish and prevents this bend from forming, the line can easily snap.
Secondly, your reel’s drag system will allow line to pull off the reel when a certain force is applied. Your spinning reel will either have a dial at the top above the spool, or below it. With most manufacturers, twisting this clockwise will increase the drag (meaning, it will be harder for line to pull off) while turning it counter-clockwise will decrease the drag.
A good rule of thumb is to ensure that line will pull off with a bit of pressure, but won’t fly off. This will help you prevent your kid’s from losing a fish that takes a sudden run, but will also ensure that your child can make some progress against larger fish.
Keeping Fish Away From Cover
When you’re fishing near cover (rocks, piers, laydowns, docks, etc.) bear in mind that this cover is the fish’s home base. Chances are, when they feel the pinch of the hook they’re going to go scooting off for home. Try to be aware of this when fishing and make an effort to keep your kids aware of it too. Their going to want to try and steer fish away from heavy cover as well as possible. If they don’t the fish can get tied up around the cover and break off.
Landing Fish
Once your child has tired a fish out and it is near the shore or the boat, you need to land it. If the kid you’re fishing with is fairly small, or excitable, you’ll want to help. The goal is to get the fish safely out of the water without injuring it or having it escape.
Small fish, like sunfish, bluegills, and yellow perch can simply be lifted out of the water. Your kid will probably end up reeling these fish close to their rod tip (which you want to tell them to avoid) before you know it, anyway. However, when you start tackling larger fish like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, chain pickerel, and northern pike, you’ll probably want to use a net.
While it is possible to land any fish without a net, things will go much smoother and safely if you use a landing net. I prefer landing nets like the Frabil Conservation Series net as its rubber netting is better for fish. It also catches less barbs than traditional rope/fiber nets. This is a win-win for everyone!
When attempting to land a fish with a net, try to guide the fish head first into the net and seize it with a scooping motion. Be careful not to jab at it, because if you miss and bonk the fish’s nose with the edge of the fishing net’s rim, there’s a good chance you’ll knock the fish off.
The moment that you attempt to hand your child the rod is the fish’s best chance of escape. Remember how I mentioned keeping pressure on the line and not allowing any slack is critical? Well, this is very challenging to do when handing a line from one person to the next. You need to ensure that before you pass the rod, your child knows to grab it and keep pressure on. You’ll help yourself tremendously if you ensure that you hand it to them with a bow in the rod meaning that the fish is under pressure. Do not allow slack to form before handing it over as there’s a great chance you’ll impart at least a little on the transition.
This might take you a few times to get right, especially if you’re targeting larger species. Don’t let your frustration seep through or let your kid down. Both of you need your A game to make this work so don’t let any nagging doubts creep in.
What Types of Fish are Good Targets for Children?
That old cliche that there’s plenty of fish in the sea is also true about fish species, but we won’t bother with that. We’re going to put fish into two broad buckets: easy fish to catch, and “kicker fish” to take a beaming photograph of. As mentioned in the maxims section, the idea is that you want to to get a fish into the livewell as fast as possible. This means that you should focus on catching “easy fish,” not “kicker fish.”
An easy fish is one that will bite repeatedly, aggressively, and without much trouble. They don’t require special gear or know how, and basically just require you to show up where they are and drop a worm in front of their face. Fish like sunfish, bluegill, crappie, rock bass, and yellow perch are considered “easy fish.” They were probably the first fish that you ever caught, and they’ll be the first your kids catch too.
“Kicker fish” are the fish your kids are going to go show off at Show & Tell the next day. These are the fish that are a little bit bigger than the easy fish, and will pull a little line. They’ll put a bend in the rod and a smile on the face. These will be the photos you put up on the big screen during their wedding day.
Kicker fish are not the goal. Easy fish are what you’re after. Kicker fish live in the same areas, however, so with time, you’ll get one naturally.
How to Catch Panfish
Panfish (bluegill, sunfish, yellow and white perch, as well as crappie) are great fish to target with kids, because they’re relatively simple to catch. They aren’t particularly smart, are extremely common, and will put up a decent fight on the light or ultralight rods you might use with your kids.
Panfish hang around docks, wood, and weeds. In clear enough water, you can often see panfish even if fishing from shore. Oddly, even though you can see them, they’ll still often take a bite at your worm!
Where to Find Panfish
Panfish are common in many lakes and ponds. When fishing from shore, you’ll be able to find them near most types of cover. For example, weed lines, rocks, and standing/fallen timber. When fishing from shore, you will probably notice there are “community spots.” You can recognize these because there will be signs of repeated human activity. These include worn areas where there is no grass, and, unfortunately, trash.
While these spots are often productive (and frankly, often your best shot when taking kids with you) just be advised that they may have been overfished recently. Sometimes, you may be better off taking a few steps off to the side or trying to find a good spot that not as many folks frequent.
Ideally, you’ll find a spot that has easy access to 3-6′ of water near cover. I like to use a drop shot tied on with a worm or gulp minnow to search for panfish. I don’t put my rod down. Rather, I hold onto it waiting to detect their bites. If there are panfish in the area, it usually doesn’t take too long to get a nibble.
Another outstanding place to find panfish is near creek mouths. Sometimes you’ll find them right in the mouth itself, while other times they’ll be a bit further back. These spots are especially productive in early spring and fall. During the height of summer, boat docks, rocks, and other places that toss a lot of shade can hold many fish.
A cross section of where to find panfish most days. Cover provides protection and shade both for the panfish and their prey.
What Size Hook to Use for Panfish
There’s a pond near my house that I take my children to often. It is popular, and there are frequently other families fishing next to us. We habitually take more fish than them, and it usually isn’t close. This isn’t really due to skill, but due to hook size. I’ve found that when I walk over to help out, they have a monster hook tied onto their line. I fish with very small hooks, usually size 4 or 6 in a panfish hook. This set has a good range of sizes that work well for panfish.
Basically, you want to make sure that the fish can actually fit the hook in their mouth. If they can’t, they will simply peck away at the sides of your worm until the hook is stripped bare.
I’d also recommend using just a little piece of a worm. There is no need to thread on the entire thing when going for panfish. If you do, you’ll find that most fish steal parts of the worm without being hooked. By taking a small chunk and placing it right near the point of the hook, your chances for success increase substantially.
How to Catch a Big Fish With Your Kids
There’s a very good chance that if you simply soak a worm for long enough, your kids will tie into a larger fish eventually. However, no one will dispute that you’re more likely to catch larger fish if you specifically target them.
Trying to catch a big fish with your kids requires either more skill, or more patience.
As your child’s casting accuracy and distance increases, you can tie on a spinnerbait for them. This is a lure that rarely catches panfish. Most bites will be a bass or larger. If your child lacks the skill set or desire to continuously cast, if you have a boat, you can try trolling. I wrote an article about trolling for pickerel which has become one of my go-to ways to catch fish with smaller kids in tow.
With more patience, you can tying on chunks of chicken liver onto a circle hook for bullhead and catfish. This is very much a “soak and wait” type of presentation, so ensure you have some distractions nearby.
If you’re serious about catching a larger fish with your kids, I’d take them out in the evening as the sun is setting. While you’ll need good bug spray, larger fish tend to be more active at this time and you’ll have a better shot at catching one.
Other Helpful Resources
Fishing has a ton of great content producers out there besides FishingFather publishing blogs, videos, books, and magazines frequently. One of my favorites is In-Fisherman magazine, which is great because it looks at ALL major freshwater species of North America, rather than just bass.
I’m also a huge fan of Uncut Angling’s YouTube channel. While some of his stuff is a bit advanced, he brings passion to the sport, has great tips, fishes year round, and just has some awesome fun videos to help get your kids excited about the sport.
On the other hand, if you, the parent are looking for help, check out my book, “Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide” for help centered from the adult’s perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions for Fishing With Kids
I thought it would be best to close with a few “quick hit” questions that I hear from time to time from parents new to the sport. Some of these have been answered up above, but it helps to have them in one spot.
At What Age Does My Child Need a Fishing License?
All states allow very young children to fish without a fishing license, but a few require that their chaperon have one. Arizona has the strictest laws in terms of age, as kids less than 10 years old need a fishing license of their own. For more information, please see an article where I researched if a kid needs a fishing license in all 50 states.
What Size Hook Should I Use for Panfish?
Because panfish have very small mouths, you’ll want to use a smaller hook. I recommend panfish long shank hooks in the size 4 to 6 or so, but this set has a bit wider range that includes some other good sizes you can experiment with.
What is the Best Fishing Line to Use With Children?
I recommend 6lb test Berkley Trilene XL. It casts smooth, has low memory, is inexpensive, and is a tried and true brand I’ve been using since I was a kid myself. 6lb test is a good size that will fit on most spinning reels, even small ones kids use. It is strong enough to allow your child to catch bass and even larger fish, assuming the drag is set appropriately.
Well that was a doozy of an article, wasn’t it? But then, this is an expansive topic that can take a lifetime to master. I hope this helped condense that a little bit into something you could chew through in a weekend and have a good time on the water with your children!
Please feel free to send me stories or photos of your fishing adventures and successes. I’d love to hear feedback if this guide or my books helped you on your journey!
Dad and I headed up north a few weeks ago to close up the house for the winter. Naturally, the allure of Lake Champlain was too much for us to resist, so we hauled the boat up to Port Henry to fish Bulwagga Bay.
The water was very cold (approximately 50 degrees here and there), so I was worried it might be tough to get bites. Luckily, the fish were hungry and we ran into them consistently along the western shore. While we made plenty of casts directly towards the rip rap, the largest and most consistent fishing was slightly further out in about 10′ of water.
The cut held fish as always, but they weren’t stacked up there like they are at times. Rather, we caught them along the entire shoreline.
I had started the day with three rods: a jerkbait, a spinnerbait, and a lipless crank. It soon became apparent that the lipless crank was the only thing fish wanted, so that is what we stuck with.
Dad with the big fish of the day, caught a bit out from the rip rap.
Here are the key facts about this fishing trip. Hopefully it helps one of you on your next adventure to Bulwagga Bay!
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022
Time: Midafternoon
Water Temps: 50 degrees surface
Weather: Slight chop with overcast clouds
Location: Bulwagga Bay, Western Shore near rip rap
Presentations: Red Rat-L-Trap
20 largemouth bass taken, largest approximately 3.5lbs
Notes: Most fish taken off shore slightly – approximately 10′ of water in submerged weeds.
Other Thoughts
As usual, Lake Champlain didn’t disappoint. While Bulwagga Bay isn’t necessarily on every bass fisherman’s radar, it has deep water along the western shore, and is near a great boat launch that works year round, even in drought. You might consider it if you’re in the area.
While most anglers probably use 2-6lb test monofilament or fluorocarbon line for panfish, it’s also ok to use braided fishing line in many circumstances. Indeed, braid can be one of the best types of fishing line for panfish such as sunfish, yellow perch, or bream, and can be a cost-effective alternative to monofilament and fluorocarbon. If you want to use braid, I’d argue that your run of the mill Power Pro is the best braid for panfish. Here’s why.
Why You Should Consider Using Braid for Panfish
I wouldn’t make the argument that braid is the “best” line for fishing specifically for panfish, but there are some good reasons to consider it. Chiefly, ease of use, enhanced line strength, and durability.
Ease of Use
So long as you properly set up your reels to prevent line slippage, braid is easy to use. In the past, many reels (and especially spinning reels) struggled with braid. This is because the line would slip on the reel and cut into itself. The way to solve this is to use some monofilament as backing rather than tying the braid directly to the reel. However, nowadays many reel manufacturers place a few strips of rubber on their reels to prevent this issue. Such types have no need for backing.
Once you get past the potential need for backing, braid is foolproof. It has no memory to create giant, loopy tangles on you, and nearly never creates wind knots for this reason. You can tie it directly to any type of lure as it is good middle ground between fluorocarbon that sinks, and monofilament that floats.
Enhanced Line Strength
Braided fishing line has greater strength per diameter than other types of line. While braid may be considered overkill for panfish, it does have one significant advantage over monofilament and fluorocarbon: if something big and exciting comes along unexpectedly, you still have a great chance of landing it!
How many times have you gone out on a fishing trip only to have “something” big break your line? While it makes for a great fishing story, it’s not a great feeling! With braided line, you can pull in as many panfish as you want while still having a chance of landing something substantial, should it bite.
Durability
While professional anglers like to change their fishing line frequently, I’ll confess that I often leave braid on for season after season. I only feel the need to change it when my spool is running low and I’m losing casting distance. This isn’t to say that I won’t retie frequently, because I will. Braid can get scuffed up along rocks and other cover. If I see it fray, I will cut 3-4′ and retie as needed.
All the same, I tend to hesitate with leaving other types of line on season over season. Fluorocarbon especially needs a change after the winter as its high memory just begs for trouble after too long. Braid on the other hand has absolutely no memory at all, so you can leave it on indefinitely. The only thing you may want to do is run a magic marker down it should it start to fade, if desired.
The Best Braid for Panfish
In my opinion the best braid for panfish is PowerPro in 15-20lb test. While I’ve tried some other products, such as their SuperSlick series, I have most confidence in the original. The SuperSlick is a bit too thin for my liking and I’ve found that the fibers catch on everything.
While you could use a lighter pound test, there isn’t much point when using braid, as its diameter is smaller than comparative mono or fluorocarbon. Frankly, I’ve found that the smaller the pound test with braid, the more difficult it becomes to utilize. The only time I’d consider using a smaller pound test is if I was fishing with an ultra light rod. If you’re not careful, you could break it using too strong of line. I wrote a post specifically about if braided fishing line would damage your rod, if you’re concerned.
Simple and effective, PowerPro is my favorite braided fishing line by far.
Using a Leader
Braid’s visibility can be a concern in very clear water. If this is where you’re fishing, consider using a leader. The leader can either be fluorocarbon or monofilament. You also may wish to consider using fluorocarbon if you’re fishing near rocks, jetties, or docks. Fluorocarbon can be more abrasion resistant than braid, which comes in handy.
I like to tie my leaders on using a double unit knot. I wrote a post about how to make a fishing leader that you may find helpful. This video by Fishthatwontquit also does a good job of explaining how to do so.
Alternatives to Using Braid for Panfish
If you don’t wish to use braid, most folks would agree that monofilament or fluorocarbon in the 2-6lb test range is your best bet when fishing for panfish. I personally like Berkely Trilene XL for monofilament, and Seaguar Invizx for fluorocarbon.
Trilene XL is tried and true, as I’ve used it since I was a child. It is easy to tie, strong, inexpensive, and does the trick. It’s my favorite fishing line for all of my kids’ rods for these reasons.
Fluorocarbon can be difficult to deal with because of its high memory. Seaguar Invizx has substantially less memory which makes it easier to handle. I’ve had no issues with this brand and have caught some extremely large fish on low pound tests. I personally use this on my drop shot rod as well as all my cranking sticks.
Conclusions
While it certainly isn’t the first line most folks would think to use, braid is fine when fishing for panfish. In murky waters, most won’t even notice it, and if its visibility is a concern, you can use a leader. Its strong enough to easily handle any yellow perch or crappie, and also can handle the occasional bass or pike that hits your worm. So long as you aren’t using an ultralight rod that could be damaged by it, it might be just the ticket for your next fishing trip.
It’s always a challenge to buy something for a hobbyist and fishing is no different. You need to find a fishing gift idea they’ll actually appreciate and find useful. If you yourself know nothing of the hobby, this can be extremely challenging. Luckily for you, I can help you out.
In this post, I’ll explain the why behind why certain items make a great gift in some detail. We’ll talk about practical fishing gifts (the fishing equivalent of “socks”), what to buy if you really want to “wow” someone, and also some cool gift ideas (think, the kind of stuff he/she probably wants to try, but doesn’t want to spend their own money on). My goal is to let you know the sort of gifts every fisherman wants so you can get them something they’ll actually use and in some cases treasure.
Practical Fishing Gifts
There are certain fishing gifts that are basically the equivalent of “socks and underwear.” While they aren’t exactly “cool” fishing gifts, there is something to be said for practical items that are guaranteed to be used. These are the sort of items that every angler needs, and that most anglers have to stock up on year over year. While you aren’t going to take their breath away with any of these, you might just get some brownie points for actually knowing what these items are, and why they’re important.
O-Rings
If you have a bass fisherman in the family, they can never have enough o-rings. These are little rubber circles that are meant to keep artificial worms on the hook longer during the wacky-rig technique. O-rings prevent the worm from falling off the hook easily. This means that one gets much more use out of the lure. Given that the better plastic worms are fairly expensive, o-rings are a great item for any tackle box.
If you need further proof of how much people love these, I earn more frequent commissions on the sale of o-rings than other item I talk about on this blog. This is a guaranteed win. You can purchase a large set of o-rings plus an extremely handy tool to put them on with at Amazon. This is also an obscure enough gift that the recipient is going to know that you put some time into thinking about. There’s simply no way you’d come up with this without research. So, it’s practical, but it’s also extremely thoughtful. That’s a great fishing gift if you ask me.
Sinkers
Sinkers are weighted objects that are used to “sink” a lure or presentation down to the bottom where fish are lurking. They are extremely useful, found in darn near every tackle box, and are lost exceptionally frequently. Very often, your favorite angler is going to go through 6 or 7 of these in a bad hour. While not an “exciting” fishing gift, they are the epitome of practical, and make a great stocking stuffer.
While sinkers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, you’ll find that most freshwater anglers want to use the smallest sinker possible the conditions allow. 1/8 ounce or even less is a very common size, especially if the recipient spends most of their time on lakes or ponds.
Sinkers are made from various materials with the two most common being lead and tungsten. Tungsten is more expensive, but also the better gift for a few reasons. The most important of these is that some states, such as Massachusetts, actually ban lead sinkers. Keep it legal and buy your favorite angler the good stuff. You can purchase some tungsten sinkers at this link on Amazon to get you started.
Pliers
OK, so the first two items mentioned are somewhat circumstantial. Pliers aren’t. Literally every fisherman on earth needs several pairs of these, and they often are accidentally lost overboard. A good, high-quality set of pliers is also one of those things that are just great to hold. It’s like anything else, really. Think about your hobby and the common tools required in it. Have you ever had a higher quality version? Hasn’t it made a difference? Well, pliers do too. One of the more annoying things in life is trying to take a hook out of a struggling fish with pliers that aren’t well suited to the task.
When searching for a pair of pliers, look for ones that are needle nosed, have a good grip, and are long enough that they can go into a fish’s mouth with endangering the angler. An added plus is if the pliers have a little “tooth” at the top that is used for opening split rings. This allows you to easily change out hooks on lures. I personally love these pliers from Rapala. They’re the perfect size, have a good grip, can be used with split rings, and are easy to open. They’re quite comfortable and while you do pay a premium, it’s totally worth it.
Special Fishing Gifts
A “special” fishing gift is basically a premium upgrade of items the recipient ever has. Think of it like this – they always had a car with a cloth interior and now you’ve bought them a vehicle with heated leather seats. That’s kind of the idea here. You want to buy them a nicer version of what they already have. this ensures that they use it more often than what they already own. The two obvious choices are fishing rods and fishing reels.
Buying a Fishing Rod or Reel as a Gift
Let me just start by saying if you’re not careful you can really mess this up. There are several types of fishing rods out there and not everyone uses them all. The two most common are spinning rods/reels and baitcasting or casting rods/reels. They are extremely different and you need to pick the right one, or else you’re buying something that may never be used.
The photo below is of a baitcaster (left) and spinning reel (right). If possible, check out the recipient’s current gear and get them whatever they’re already using. If they have both, the world is your oyster, I suppose.
A baitcaster (left) is more difficult to use than a spinning reel (right), but also is a better choice for certain lures and techniques.
How to Choose the Right Rod or Reel as a Present
My best advice for how you should pick out a rod or reel as a fishing gift is to go look at what the recipient already has. Note the brand and model they’re using. Is it consistent?. Many anglers are very devoted to certain brands. For example, I’m a St. Croix guy. I know and trust the brand and tend to use it more or less exclusively, with few exceptions.
What you want to do is look on the blank (the rod section right above the handle) and take note of the information you find there. It will tell you the brand and model. For example, in the photo above, the rod on the left is a St. Croix (brand) Avid (model). See what rods the recipient already has and then go to the manufacturer’s website and see where it lands “on the totem pole.” For example, while still an awesome choice, a St. Croix Avid is “lesser” than a St. Croix Legend Elite. If you want your rod to be a very memorable fishing gift, buy a line or two up.
You can do the same thing with reels as folks will again tend to buy the same brand. You can again go to the manufacturer’s website and find the line or two up. They’re often listed in order, but a general guide is more expensive = “better”. Yes, I know that will spark a debate, but it’s a fair starting point.
A Critical Consideration When Buying a Baitcaster
If you’ve determined that the recipient uses a baitcasting reel, you must identify if they use a right or left handed retrieve. Unlike spinning reels, which usually are interchangeable, baitcasters come in “righty” and “lefty” models. Trust me, there are few things more unpleasant than having to fish with the wrong one. The difference between the two is simple. Whichever side the reel handle (the part you turn) is on is the side of the retrieve. You determine this by looking down at the reel. Lay it flat so the top (where you can see the line) is, well, on top. If the reel handle is on the left of the reel (as it is in the photo below), the reel is a left hand retrieve. Don’t buy the wrong one!
Make darn certain that you buy the correct baitcaster as it is very frustrating using one with the “wrong” hand.
Cool Fishing Gifts
I’d define “cool” fishing gifts as those items that most of us want but few of us actually want to spend our own money on. These would either be “splurges” or just items that would be nice to have, but not totally necessary. Sometimes that sort of thing makes the best gift.
Life Jacket
Everyone who fishes on a boat should use a life jacket. They’re the law in some circumstances, and a great idea in all others. The problem is the less expensive life jackets tend to be clunky, hot, and uncomfortable.
Mustang Survival is a life jacket brand that has solved all three of these problems. They sell high quality life jackets that have a very low profile normally, but automatically inflate when submerged in water. They are pricey but completely, 100% worth it. They’re lightweight enough that you really don’t even notice them except on the most scorching hot days, which means there’s a good chance you’ll keep them on.
Stuff happens out there. People trip, irresponsible boaters throw up errant wakes, stumps appear out of nowhere, as do rogue waves. Even if you’re the most responsible and grounded person on earth, one visit to a boat ramp on a holiday weekend should convince you that you can’t count on others to be so as well. Wearing a life jacket is a great piece of insurance for mishaps, and if you buy your spouse or child one that is comfortable, there’s a much greater chance they’ll keep it on.
While the particular model I’m raving about is intended for adults, it is also worth noting that Mustang Survival makes a separate (though non-inflatable) line of outstanding life jackets for children. I’ve written a lengthy review of why Mustang Survival makes the best children’s life jackets that you should check out as well.
Binoculars
You might not consider a pair of binoculars to be a “fishing gift,” per say, but let me explain why I’ve always wanted to buy them (and never have). I often fish from a boat on large bodies of water like Lake Champlain. When I’m fishing, I often have a specific spot in mind. The problem is, I frequently will drive towards my spot only to find someone on it once I get close enough to see them. This is usually after a few minutes of squinting asking myself, “is that another boat?” It’s rude just to pull up along side someone so I go and find another spot once this happens, but if I could just tell from further away that my spot was taken, I could save myself a lot of time and aggravation.
Binoculars are also useful for spotting activity, either from baitfish breaking the surface of birds on a feeding frenzy. You’ll find that most saltwater anglers have a pair for this reason, but I haven’t noticed as many freshwater fishermen taking the cue.
When buying a pair of binoculars for fishing, you don’t need to go all out for one of the more expensive hunting models. There’s really no need for the expensive range finding equipment these have. Instead, you should focus on magnification as well as size. Try to find one that is fairly powerful (so you can see further) without being gigantic (so it isn’t clunky). You wouldn’t want to hold a heavy piece of plastic and glass right next to your eyeball while bouncing across the waves. If I were going to buy myself a pair, I’d probably start with something like these ones that are lightweight and waterproof.
Power-Pole Micro Anchor
OK, so the Power-Pole Micro Anchor might just be the ultimate “I really want it but I’m never going to buy it for myself” type fishing gift. Granted, this is a highly situational fishing present because the only people who can use it are ones with small watercraft (canoes, row boats, kayaks, gheenoes), but every single person who has one of those would fall in love with this gift instantly.
A mini power pole is essentially a shallow water anchor. It is a stake that a small engine drives into the lake bottom at the push of a button. This is a much stealthier and easier way to anchor than dropping an actual one. It makes less noise, can be deployed much quicker, and actually holds you where you drop it as opposed to wherever the line lets out. Pretty much every professional bass fisherman has the “full size” models on their boat at this point in life, and every person who doesn’t have one, wants one. If my wife ever bought me one of these for my gheenoe, I think I’d probably die from joy. It would make my fishing experience that much more enjoyable.
If you do purchase this, don’t forget you’ll also need to buy the spike to make it work. There is also an optional (and convenient) battery pack and charger you can purchase.
Personalized Fishing Gifts
If you’re the kind of person who thinks that Thing’s Remembered is the most thoughtful store in the mall, then you’re probably in the market to get some sort of personalized item. Given their unique nature, I won’t really have hyperlinks for you (Google will be your friend) but I thought I’d at least toss out a few ideas of personalized fishing gifts that I’d appreciate and I’m sure the recipient would as well.
Custom Fishing Rods
If you’re in the market for getting someone something truly special, it’s hard to beat a personalized fishing gift such as a custom-made rod. There are master craftsmen across the world who specialize in rod building and can create truly beautiful works of art that are personalized to the angler. Options include having their name etched on the rod, having a custom handle made (certain types of wood are much more sensitive, for example, and can detect bites easier than “off the shelf” rods), or even having the rod created in the recipient’s favorite colors.
Personalized fishing gifts such as custom rods can be heirlooms passed down for generations. For example, I bought Dad a custom rod one year to commemorate my brother who passed away. The rod, “Steven’s Special” was built on a St. Croix Avid blank, had a nice cherry wood handle, and was adorned in the colors of Steve’s favorite sports team, the New Jersey Devils. While it is Dad’s for now, one day I’ll take custody of it until my son is old enough to pass it on to him.
While I don’t have a particular custom rod builder I work with consistently (reach out if you’re a builder who’d like to help with this!), what I can say is that if you go on a popular fishing forum such as ultimatebass or walleyecentral and ask around, you’ll have no shortage of recommendations.
I had this rod, “Steven’s Special,” custom crafted for my father to commemorate my late brother. Note the wood handle and custom colors.
Personalized Embroidery
Earlier I discussed the Mustang Survival life jacket, noting that it was expensive (but totally worth it). Well, if you added a few more dollars to that puppy and brought it to a local seamstress, you could really make it pop and turn it from “just” a super cool gift into one they’ll love for the rest of their life with one simple step: Have their name sewn on.
These life jackets have an exterior fabric to them which could accept thread and needle (carefully, so the actual inflatable isn’t punctured of course). It’s a small little touch but also one most people on the lake don’t have. Further, it gives a small degree of protection from theft, or at least makes recovery that much more likely.
The Ultimate Fishing Gift
You want to know what the ultimate fishing gift would be? If you’re as special to this person as they are to them, then what I would recommend you do is buy them a chartered fishing excursion, and go with them. Even if you hate fishing or think it’s boring, go with them. Trust me, a fishing guide will make the trip more enjoyable for both of you. Here’s why:
All the pressure is taken off of your angler. See, if you just went with them, they’d feel enormous pressure to ensure you had a good time and caught fish. Guess what? That’s the guides problem now – the two of you can just relax and have fun.
No matter how good an angler your husband/wife/kid/whatever is, that guide is probably better at finding fish on any particular day because their livelihood depends on it. This means that it’s very unlikely the day is “boring.”
You get to concentrate on each other. No one has to worry about boat control, what to do, tying lures, etc. All the two of you have to do is show up and have fun.
My wife got me a fishing charter for our honeymoon and it was one of the best memories I have of our relationship. You really can’t go wrong with this gift, assuming you get a good charter captain. Luckily for you, I have written a post describing how to choose a fishing charter so the trip goes well.
My Charter Recommendation
And, as I always mention when I talk about fishing charters – one of the best in the business is my good friend Mickey Maynard. He operates on Lake Champlain (www.lakechamplainangler.com) from about April to late October and spends the entire winter guiding in central Florida (www.largemouthcentral.com). Regardless of where you live in the country, either destination would be a fantastic gift for your favorite angler (Both Lake Champlain and Florida are renowned fishing spots that every fisherman wants to visit once before they die).
Need Other Ideas?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’ve also written a few other articles with fishing gift ideas. Though specifically written to help parents buy their children fishing presents, you might find value with them. Please read my article on fishing gifts for kids or fishing gifts for babies and newborns for more ideas.
I Hope This Was Helpful!
I know it can be stressful to buy a “hobby” gift for someone else, especially if you don’t really know much about the hobby yourself. Please let me know if this article was helpful and pointed you in the right direction. I’m sure if you take my advice you’ll really impress the recipient as the gifts I’ve described are all ones that someone “in the know” would know to get. It will be obvious that you put the time in to get something practical, special, cool, or personalized for them, and they’ll truly appreciate the effort.
Best of luck to all of you. Should you need any more help don’t hesitate to send me an email. I’ll do my best to help you. Thanks!
I’ve found this to be an absolutely crazy summer where I haven’t had much time to write. Work has been incredibly stressful lately given how understaffed we (like everyone, it seems) have been, and trying to hire some good people and retain many more. I’ve also gone completely bananas by what’s going on in the stock market and that has taken a good deal of my free time as well! The low water levels at Lake Champlain haven’t helped, either. Normally, I could get my boat to my dock through at least August but this year I couldn’t even bring it there in July. All this conspired to mean that there weren’t as many fishing adventures in 2021 as in years past, but I was able to get a quick ride north in this weekend to Bulwagga Bay with the wife and kids.
A Quick Jaunt to Bulwagga Bay
When I was last at Champlain in July, I had a hard time even launching my boat at the Crown Point boat launch. While I love my Lund Impact, it isn’t the easiest boat to launch in shallow water. Given the Lake Champlain water level reports were showing comparable levels for this trip, I decided to take the kids up to Bulwagga Bay instead.
Bulwagga Bay has been very good to me the past few years. I’ve had good luck trolling for pickerel in its southern, weed-choked shallows, and had great success throwing Rat-L-Traps along its western rip rap shore this year. I opted to stick to the latter with the kids as the very dry year has meant an abundance of shallow water weeds to contend with, and I figured the deeper water would give us the best chance.
As I was taking my daughter, I knew I’d only have a short time. She’s still very young (3) and isn’t quite as enamored with fishing as my son was. She enjoys it and asks to go frequently, but if the action isn’t hot and heavy she has a hard time staying focused for more than an hour or two. That meant focusing on presentations I knew would work. I tied on a white war eagle spinnerbait while I handed my son a drop shot with a live worm.
The Results:
My son beat me four fish to two and won the coveted prizes of “most fish,” “biggest fish,” “smallest fish,” and “most species.” In other words, he thrashed me on all accounts! While he was using nightcrawlers, he wasn’t just letting it sit there. Instead, he brought the worm back towards the boat with a a series of short hops. While the western shore of Bulwagga Bay is fairly deep, we were catching them close to shore in what is probably 3-4′ of water.
A yellow perch caught in Bulwagga Bay, Lake Champlain.
Surprisingly, that was the only yellow perch we caught. Even though my son was using nightcrawlers, all of his bites were big. This probably was due to our focusing on weed beds vs. the rocks directly, as there are a few spots in that bay where you are nearly guaranteed a feast of rock bass and other panfish.
A nice photo with the kids.
It certainly wasn’t the longest trip out there, but it was nice to take the kids up one last time. While fishing on Lake Champlain is great in the fall, it’ll get a bit too cold for them going forward and if I go, I’m going alone from here on to close out the year.
Useful Information
Granted this is a short post so here’s a few useful tidbits for anyone following and to help you with your own October trips to Bulwagga Bay.
Date: Saturday, October 9, 2021
Time: Roughly noon
Water Temps: 65 degrees at surface
Weather: Slight chop but mostly clear skies with a few whispy clouds
Location: Bulwagga Bay, Western Shore near rip rap
Presentations: White spinnerbaits (2 fish), drop shot with nightcrawler (4 fish)
5 largemouth bass taken, largest approximately 2 pounds.
Sorry for the short post but hopefully this helps someone.
Hi All! I just wanted to write a quick post to let you know that I’ve published a second fishing book for kids, My Awesome Guide to Freshwater Fishing: Essential Techniques and Tools for Kids. I am very pleased to have partnered with Rockridge Press to bring this book to reality as it was awesome to work with this great publisher.
This book was written with an eye towards helping children aged 8 – 12 learn how to fish. It is written in substantially easier language than my first book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guideand should keep your youngsters occupied and happy. It would make a great addition to your library now that the school year is in full swing and would be a good way to keep them occupied during the cold winter months as they wait for their favorite fishing hole to thaw!
I’ve been working with my son lately on persistence and keeping a positive attitude. He, like every normal six year old, is starting to notice that life doesn’t always work out exactly as planned, and it’s my job to help him figure out how to “keep calm and carry on.” He got a great lesson in why persistence pays off this past week when my father and I took my son on a fishing charter with my old friend Captain Mick Maynard of www.lakechamplainangler.com to try some vertical jigging for lake trout on Lake Champlain. Many things didn’t break our way until our grinding finally paid off and resulted in some of the best pictures of a smiling six-year-old a father could ever ask for, but it was a nail biter at first for sure.
The Objective
Our objective was simple – put my son on fish. He reeled his first fish in before he was two, so I knew he had a good chance of prevailing. All the same, I was pretty nervous. Lake trout are formidable opponents, and jigging for them is something I knew nothing about. Further, my boy has rapidly reached the point in his fishing career where he gets annoyed when he doesn’t catch a fish “all by himself.” That’s not to say he won’t happily run over to reel in any rod you hand him, but I knew I’d hear all about it if he didn’t hook up with one on his own.
I really wanted my son to have a good time out there, and hoped we could pull it off. All the same, going for lakers very much violates my maxim of “quantity over quality” when fishing with kids. I spent a good amount of time over the past several weeks coaching my son. We discussed how he couldn’t expect many bites, and he might not catch anything. I told him he couldn’t get frustrated or bored – we would have to keep plugging away.
Luckily, I could say for sure that Captain Mick would do his best for us. I’ve been fishing with him for over a decade and he checks every box when it comes to picking a good fishing charter. My son seemed reassured by this and I told him to trust Mickey and do exactly what he said. I hoped that he’d remember that and keep a good attitude despite being pulled out of bed at 3 a.m.
It was a sleepy start to the day!
Obstacle #1 – The Weather
We’ve been trying to get out jigging for lake trout with Captain Mick for a few years now. This is an open water sport on Lake Champlain, so you do need to pick your days. Unfortunately, we’ve had to either cancel a few trips the past few years or go to “Plan B” of a more shallow water attack given rough weather. Even on this trip, we had the dreaded, “The forecast isn’t good, but it’s your call” conversation the night before. Once again, I managed to pick the one day of the week that called for a deluge of rain. Even so, there wasn’t any indication of thunderstorms and the wind wasn’t supposed to be too bad, so we decided to go for it.
A double edged sword about fishing on Lake Champlain is that the weather reports are typically useless. You have to understand that the counties and towns are so vast up in the north country that even a guarantee of sunshine or rain is nothing of the sort. You can very easily find yourself in a situation where you’re either staring at rain far in the distance or being surprised by a microburst that rushes down from the Adirondacks before you can react.
It’s so unpredictable that I’ve taken to say that people don’t get to become meteorologists until they’ve killed at least three fishermen. Most times, Murphy’s Law dictates that this isn’t going to work out your way. I guess on July 8, 2021, someone up there was looking out for my son. While there was a bit more wind than forecast early, after a few hours in the wind piped down and we had perfect conditions for jigging.
Early in the morning and so far so good…
Obstacle #2 – Finding Lake Trout
The next obstacle we had to overcome was finding lake trout. When you’re fishing for them in the summer, you’re going out deep. On Champlain that meant heading far out into the main lake. The vastness of this habitat cannot be overstated, and fish are known to swim around! Unfortunately we didn’t find too many spots that held a huge number of fish so we were dropping down on little groups of 2-3 hoping to entice a bite. We spent a good amount of time moving around – the deep water equivalent of power fishing, I suppose, but aided by Mick’s extremely cool 15″ Humminbird fish finder. If my moon tickets ever take off, I’ll have to buy one!
Where to Find Lake Trout
I’m not going to give Mickey’s spots away, but I think it’s fair to at least explain what we were looking for so you can try and jig for lake trout yourself. Basically, it all boils down to structure, as with any other fish. You’re going to want a good topographical map that has detailed depth contours (here’s a link to a great topographical map of Lake Champlain). Depending on the time of year, lake trout will hold at different depths. We fished in 80 – 110 feet of water or so in early July. Earlier in the year (March, April) you can find them shallower as evidenced by those going after them in Bulwagga Bay. Later in the year, Mick tells me you need to go even deeper (120+ feet).
While depth is important, the contour lines are even more so. Basically, you’re looking for humps, reefs, points, or other interesting topography. It’s not really that different than analyzing a shoreline – you’re just doing so with structure that lies 100 feet under water. Structure that you’d be interested in fishing if seen on the surface will likely hold fish down below as well.
Once you get to these spots, you’re going to want to use your fish finder to zero in on fish. Specifically, you’re looking for fish cruising just off the bottom (1-3′) as these will be actively feeding. You’ll see them show up almost as “snakes” on the fish finder. They look like big fat strings of yellow and red just off the surface. Once you find them, try to hold over them and drop your lure straight down. This is much easier with a Minn Kota Terrova or other trolling motor with a spot-lock feature. If you are unfamiliar with this great product, check out my review on the Minn Kota Terrova.
When searching for Lake Trout, look for structure such as underwater points (A) or humps (B) in the right depth zone.
Obstacle #3 – Hooking, Fighting, and Landing Lake Trout
Once you find lake trout, you have to get them to bite. Again, I don’t want to give away Mick’s secrets as his livelihood depends on them, but I don’t think it’s shocking to tell you that you jig for lake trout with, well, jigs. We used a particular large soft plastic on them, though I suppose others would work as well. These are big fish and they are deep so you’re using heavy jig weights to reach the bottom quickly, and large lures to entice fish to bite.
As with most fishing, the trick to triggering bites was to add some erratic action to your lure. It’s really no different than a jerkbait, jig, or even twitching a spinnerbait as you burn it in. The erratic action mimics prey trying to escape and triggers a predatory response. The difficulty is that you’re fishing so far down that it takes forceful jolts of the rod to get the action you want. We tried to keep our lures just off the bottom and get them flaring out as best as possible. If your lure was too far off the bottom or laying directly on it, you weren’t going to get many bites.
Challenges when Jigging for Lake Trout
Our biggest challenge by far was hooking lake trout well enough that we could get them to the boat. While it wasn’t too difficult to solicit a bite, getting them to the boat was another story entirely. Point in fact, we lost our first SEVEN fish that hooked up with before we started to get the hang of things, and probably lost close to two dozen before the day was through. Our landing percentage was very similar to what you would expect when fishing with frogs.
There were several issues we had to contend with:
We were fishing at depths of 80 – 120 feet or more which made a solid hook set difficult;
Lake trout have very bony mouths and we were using large hooks on heavy jigs that have difficulty penetrating them;
We were all doing our best to put my kid on fish, which meant handing him the rod after we hooked up a fish.
The Hook Set
An authoritative hook set is critical, and at these depths that means using braided line and stout tackle. Captain Mick set us up with his Vexan Rods paired with Lews reels. These were spooled with braided line that seemed to be about 20lb test. We were using 17lb test fluorocarbon leaders though Mick mentioned that 20lb is also worth using. These combos allowed us to get a pretty good hook set into the fish, but only if you were paying close attention. If distracted and forced to set the hook awkwardly, it was a pretty good bet that fish was coming off.
Bony mouths require solid hooksets when jigging for lake trout.
Keeping Constant Pressure
Assuming you were able to drive the hook point into the fish’s boney mouth, the next challenge was keeping it there. Even the slightest slack in the line, it seemed, caused these fish to get away. It was extremely important to keep a constant bend in the rod and pressure on the fish to keep the hook pinned into its jaw.
This of course is easier said than done when trying to hand off a rod to a six-year-old. This is not a fish you can give a single inch! It took us several tries before we got it right. At least my boy got a good lesson in not giving up.
Persistence Pays Off
Eventually, we got the hang of things, “Murphy” took a coffee break, and we started landing fish. To say my kid had a blast was an understatement. To say the three adults in the boat were relieved would be the understatement of the year. As mentioned, we’d lost so many fish between us, and you never know how many chances you’re going to get — you need to convert. We were all ecstatic when we finally did.
If that isn’t the look of relief on a Captain’s face, I don’t know what is!
Once we beat the skunk, we had much better luck for the remainder of the day. So much so that we even managed to get a triple. That was something after how many fish we lost during the morning, but it’s a photo I’ll cherish for a long time – three generations and three lake trout in the boat. You never know how many more opportunities you’ll get to do this, and God blessed us with the chance.
Three generations fishing together – this is what it’s all about.
Other Fun – Lamprey Eels
Lake trout weren’t the only entertainment. My son also had a lot of fun playing with the lamprey eels that often came up with them. He’s your typical boy when it comes to handling critters. He spends many of his weekends prowling local ponds for crayfish, frogs, and turtles, so handling lampreys was no big deal for him. These provided an interesting distraction and something cool he could tell his mom about.
Let no man call my son squeamish.
The Kicker Fish
While my son did reel in several fish that others hooked, I am beyond thrilled to say that he hooked and fought several fish, including the largest of the day, all on his own. The biggest of the day went 32.5″, and 11lb 10 oz. It was considerably larger than most of the others we boated, and was nearly as tall as my boy!
He was extremely excited about this and couldn’t wait to go home and tell all of his friends. He’s even willing to show them the picture, “even though he’s smiling” in it 🙂
To me, this was the photo that sealed the deal as another great charter with Captain Mick and a wonderful memory with my boy that we’ll talk about for years to come. It also was a day that provided a valuable lesson in I’d say for a six-year-old, it’s not too shabby! Many thanks to Captain Mick for putting my son on fish and helping me put some great photos in the family album!
His smile says it all – this is a far bigger fish than any I caught when I was his age.
Once in awhile the internet shows you something truly cool. I was researching an article to figure out the best small boats for families when I stumbled across mini pontoon boats. I had never heard of these before, but after doing some research on them, it became clear that they deserved an article all of their own.
Mini pontoon boats just might be the perfect small fishing boat for a family. While there are other great options out there like Gheenoes and even the simple row boat, a tiny pontoon boat is going to let you take your kid out with no concerns whatsoever of tipping (assuming you aren’t crazy as to when you take it out).
In this article I’ll discuss why these small pontoon boats offer such huge value. I’ll share some stats among some common models, talk about how much they cost, and discuss their versatility. After reading, I think you’ll share my opinion that these mini aluminum pontoon boats are worth significant consideration when you choose your next budget family fishing boat. If you’re handy, some manufacturers even offer mini pontoon kits for you to build on your own!
Why Buy a Mini Pontoon Fishing Boat?
People buy mini aluminum pontoon boats for a variety of reasons. Some have small farm ponds that they want an affordable boat to toot around on. Others use them for maintaining waterbodies (they provide a stable, dry platform for work on a fountain for example). Some municipalities also favor them for search and rescue operations as there’s room for a driver, diver, and rescued person.
While all of those are great reasons to buy a tiny pontoon boat, if you’re reading this article, you probably want to use one of these little pontoon boats for fishing. I’d wager if you’re a regular of the blog, you probably want to take your kids out on them too. If you’re looking for a small, affordable fishing boat to take kids on, these are definitely worth a closer look. To understand why, let’s consider your other options.
A Look at Other Small Boats
Miniature pontoon boats aren’t your only small boat options. You can also consider rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and gheenoes. Each has their advantages and disadvantages that I’ll explore.
Advantages vs. Rowboats
Having fished off of many rowboats in my day, I can tell you two right now that they have two significant disadvantages when compared to pontoon boats: they are difficult to move around in, and noisy when you do.
While you can find rowboats that are relatively stable (especially larger ones), it’s tough to find one that is easy to move around in. Most rowboats have a few rows of bench seats and their floor doubles as their hull. This means that the floor is angled, often ribbed, and not that easy to walk on. When you do attempt to walk on a rowboat, it tends to be very noisy, and all of that noise goes directly into the water as, again, you’re stomping on the hull.
A pontoon boat, in contrast, is probably the easiest boat to walk around on that’s known to man. You’re basically walking on a flat rectangular surface. If you’re careful, you can walk quietly and get to whatever you need to access much easier in a tiny pontoon boat than in a rowboat.
Do Rowboats Have Any Advantages over Mini Pontoon Boats?
The one place a rowboat is probably going to beat a mini pontoon boat is price. Rowboats can be purchased used on Craigslist very cheaply. They’re unsightly and take up a lot of space. Once people want them gone, they’ll often list them very low. Just act fast!
Tiny Pontoon Boat vs. Canoe
Canoes take all of the disadvantages of rowboats vs. mini pontoon boats and amplify them, in my mind. It’s dangerous to attempt to stand and walk in any canoe, as they can tip easily. Even if you could, where would you go? A canoe places you in one spot to fish from regardless of what is necessary.
Again, all the reasons that make these small pontoon boats great compared to rowboats are going to apply two fold against canoes. Mini pontoon boats offer more space and a better fishing platform by far.
Mini Aluminum Pontoon Boat Advantages of Canoes
Canoe advantages over mini pontoon boats are going to be two fold. First, they too can be had very inexpensively. Even a brand new (basic model) canoe will be less expensive than the most affordable miniature pontoon boat, but there’s a great chance one can find one for cheap used, as with rowboats.
A canoe’s second advantage over a mini aluminum pontoon boat is going to be its stealth and ability to get into skinny water. A canoe will weigh much less and present a significantly lower profile. While it’s possible to use a push pole with a mini pontoon, the canoe is going to be easier to use in situations where stealthy presentations in shallow water are key.
Mini Pontoon Boat Kits
Some manufacturers offer mini pontoon boat kits so you can build your own. For example, Pond King offers a 4×8′ mini pontoon boat kit in four stages of assembly. This can be yours for as little as $1,199 if you’re handy, or you can have them do most of the assembly and get into this for $2,199. These aren’t bad prices at all for a boat that’ll carry 650lbs.
If you own a small pond and are buying one of these mini pontoon boat kits for that, you also have to factor in the savings you would have spent on a trailer. There’s no reason you can’t build one of these right next to the water and launch it there, which makes this an even more affordable option. The Pond King Rebel has quick connects on it that allow you to easily build it right next to the shore, which might be a good option if you don’t have a trailer. Their other modular options are going to require tools, though if you own the pond at least, you can still build it outside.
Finally, mini pontoon kits are just a great way to spend some time with your kids. If you invest in one of these, for years you’ll hear your kids talk about “the boat WE built” with pride. The low cost of ownership, ability to build it “on site,” and the pride of building it yourself makes these mini pontoon boat kits by Pond King a great deal.
Pond King offers many miniature pontoon boats and is one of the few manufacturers to display their prices on their website to make shopping easy. Go check them out. Photo provided with permission of www.pondking.com
Best Mini Pontoon Boats
Which mini pontoon boat is best for you will depend on your circumstances. If you’re looking for a true mini aluminum pontoon boat, it’s hard to argue with Pond King products as they offer boats that are indisputably tiny. Some of their competitors small pontoon boats are arguably “real” pontoon boats. That can work if you just want one to fit in your garage but if you have a specific application (like using it in your own farm pond), they might be too big.
I’ve gone ahead and researched how much these mini pontoon boats cost for you as well as some basic stats. Here’s what I was able to find. Bear in mind that when it comes to price this is usually a starting value. All of these tiny pontoon boats come with multiple add on options that are going to increase the price (and usually enhance the experience).
Note that there’s no precise definition for what constitutes a “mini pontoon boat.” I decided that 12′ deck length would be my limit. Anything over that and I’m hard pressed to call it tiny any more. Maybe someday I’ll write an article about slightly larger ones (what would you even call that? “Miniature small pontoon boats?) but for now, I had to draw the line somewhere!
Good for one person who really wants stability while standing and fishing. It might be a little unwieldly without a trailer. Yes, 150lb should be doable but when you consider its size it could be tough.
This has an interesting paddle propulsion system and is the first mini pontoon boat that can fit a 4-person family. Pond King is a dealer, though they don’t manufacture this boat.
Again, this is a substantial boat. It’s pushing it to call it a “mini pontoon boat” at this point. It has pretty much everything you’d need at a compact size.
Interestingly, they offer a wholesale dealer special with 4 boats unpainted for $19,820. I’m not sure if this would be honored for anyone, but if so, this could be a great way to start a small fishing camp.
All aluminum construction is 11 degrees cooler than wood in the sun. Can be equipped with a range of options like a canopy.
Bear in mind that prices of these mini pontoon boats were as of writing and may have changed. I’ve included links to the model so make sure that you call the dealer to get current pricing.
How Much are Mini Pontoon Boats?
Mini pontoon boats can be purchased for well less than $10,000 new and in some cases less than $3,000. The larger the “miniature” pontoon boat, the more expensive it will be. If you’re looking for a tiny, one-person pontoon boat, you’re going to spend considerably less money.
These are fairly niche boats so you might have a hard time purchasing them used. I didn’t know they existed until I poked around the internet looking for topics to write about. All the same, if you do find one used, consider reading my article on how to buy a boat for your family without losing sleep. You might turn an already great deal into an amazing one.
Conclusions
Miniature pontoon boats are a type of tiny watercraft that offers some big possibilities. They make a much more stable working platform than canoes or even rowboats which is important, especially if you like to stand while you fish. They tend to be quite affordable, with some of the smaller options rivaling the (new) cost of rowboats and other small watercraft. Some even present a fun DIY option as there are certain companies, like Pond King, that offer mini pontoon boat kits for purchase.
While these tiny pontoon boats won’t work for everyone, they are an interesting choice and a viable option for many. You should certainly check out some of the websites I’ve provided on this post and see if these boats would work well for you.
You know how “every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings?” Well, every time a fisherman dies, a meteorologist gets their veneers. That saying was reinforced on a recent fishing trip to Lake Champlain with my buddy, Andrew, when my trusty Lund Impact, “Penelope,” nearly did a backflip heading home from Bulwagga Bay. To say we were a little puckered by the experience would be an understatement, but hey, we made it back and with some great fishing pictures to boot!
The Gear
Andrew’s kids had stolen all of his rods so I loaned him two. One had a Rat-L-Trap on it, and the other a Rapala Shadow Rap. Andrew was throwing these in yellow perch while I used a cherry craw trap and a clown jerkbait. While we played with a Senko for a few minutes in a bay eventually and I caught one fish on a drop shot with a Berkley Gulp minnow, the Rat-L-Trap and Shadow Rap caught every other fish for us.
Friday, April 30, 2021 Lake Champlain Fishing Report
Andrew and I headed up to Champlain early Friday morning. It’s a four hour drive but it flew by with anticipation. Those of you who keep up with the blog know that Dad and I absolutely slayed the fish a few weeks earlier, so we were darn near giddy to make a cast. We hadn’t been in Crown Point for more than 30 minutes before everything was set and we were on the water.
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s always a little difficult when you haven’t been to a lake for several weeks. You aren’t going to know exactly where the fish will be, so you have to make educated guesses. This time of year, that usually means the fish are going to be on rocks. All the same, given the crazy weather they’ve had up there this year, I wasn’t sure if that would hold true, or if fish would have pushed into the weedy shallow bays already as they often do in Mid to late May on Lake Champlain. We decided we’d give both a shot.
The Weather Conditions
Friday was a cold and miserable day with drizzling rain throughout it. By the end of it, apparently a hurricane blew through (joking but not really) right around the bridge. Saturday was warmer and sunnier. We weren’t able to fish on Sunday as I had to rush home to get my son off to hockey.
Most of the places we fished had water temps between 50-55 on Friday. On Saturday morning they’d chilled down considerably to 47 but were up to 56 in some areas by nightfall.
First Thing’s First: Rocky Points
We tried our luck first by fishing a few rocky points south of the Crown Point Bridge. We didn’t spend too much time on them because we were planning on Friday being the scouting day, but managed a couple of largemouth and pike. Nothing too crazy but at least we got the skunk out of the boat.
I wasn’t complaining!
On to Some Bays
We then went across the lake to some New York bays. They still didn’t have many weeds in them which is good, but on the other hand the water remains about two feet low. I couldn’t get my deep v back into them the way I usually do this time of year. We putted around a bit and caught a couple of fish, but this wasn’t anything to write a blog about. We also tried the bay just north of the mill but didn’t catch a thing. I normally call this “1000 Cast Bay” because it seems like it takes that long to hook into something sometimes, but when you do, there’s a good chance it’s a northern pike. Well, we weren’t hanging around much past 52 casts today before we headed for more rocks.
A nice largemouth pulled out of a bay. It was a little too cold, I think, for many to be in these waters just yet.
Up to Bulwagga Bay
After messing around south of the bridge for most of the afternoon, we decided to blast off towards Bulwagga Bay. The western shoreline is mostly rip rap for a huge stretch and so we figured we might have some luck. Also, it had been raining quite a bit that day and down south was pretty murky. Maybe the clearer water up north would be the ticket.
We worked our way down the shoreline drifting slowly and tossing jerkbaits and Rat-L-Traps. The action wasn’t as fierce as a few weeks ago, but we were averaging a couple of fish an hour, and they were all of good size. We didn’t catch a single fish that wouldn’t be a keeper if they were in season the entire time we were there. They were hitting on both lures but I’d have to give the nod to the jerkbaits this time around. I caught a northern pike just under the Vermont Master Angler qualifying fish length at 35″ that put up a fun fight. It was challenging getting it into the bass net but Andrew made it happen!
That’s the fish I drove four hours for! Also, note how calm the water is. LIES.
We also managed to get into the bass pretty good. Many were of decent size indeed – the type you wouldn’t be too upset about if you were in a fishing tournament.
A largemouth bass pulled out of Bulwagga Bay.
There were some points along the western shore were the action really heated up. I can’t spill every secret but from the looks of things the next day, the particular spot seems to be a well-known community hole that fishes a little faster than the rest of the rip rap. I’ll leave it at that and let you do your deductions! We found smallmouth and largemouth stacked up there and were catching enough to even have a double.
A nice double of bronze and green fish.
Other Explorations
Of note, we tried much of the rest of Bulwagga Bay too, but didn’t have the same success. There was nothing biting south in the shallow flat, which wasn’t really a surprise, but I was expecting some more action on the rocky northeastern shore. All that we managed was a large yellow perch. We didn’t mess around at all near the hazards this trip.
The Ride Home
Remember how I started this Lake Champlain fishing report complaining about weathermen? They nearly killed us. As you can see in the photos above, Bulwagga Bay was nothing but serene the whole time we were there. Unfortunately we didn’t notice that the winds were picking up considerably in the main lake until it was time to leave.
Now, I don’t want to be the guy that calls a wave a certain size when it really wasn’t. I didn’t have a tape measurer with me and couldn’t pry my white cold knuckles from the steering wheel even if I did. All I know is that we found ourselves in swelling water near the bridge the likes of which I haven’t seen. It was extremely rough swells extremely high in very narrow quarters – not fun. We got through it slowly, doing our best to quarter the waves in the narrow confines, but the boat went close enough to vertical a few times that I found myself looking DOWN at the motor to make sure the stern wasn’t getting swamped as I gunned it up a wave before chopping the throttle to slide down the other side.
In retrospect, the boat handled it well and we didn’t spear any waves or die so I suppose I did too, but it was extremely active driving until about the buoy south of the bridge when things finally calmed down a little bit. Anyway, if you’re new to boating consider reading this great thread on walleyecentral.com where a few Great Lakes captains discuss how they handle rough water. I’m glad I did at one point earlier in life or I wouldn’t have been able to put the knowledge to use and get us out of there.
Saturday, May 1, 2021 Lake Champlain Fishing Report
Having awoken from our nightmares of capsizing and drowning, Andrew and I decided to immediately go back to “the place that almost killed us.” It was a chilly start as the front that almost sunk the boat also brought the water temps down to around 47 degrees. Nonetheless, there were plenty of other boats out in Bulwagga Bay as the fleet was trolling for salmon.
I repeated a mistake that I’ve made several times. If there’s a particular spot you really want to fish, don’t drift to it, especially on a Saturday. If you try to do this, I guarantee another boat will pull up in front of you and sit on it for an hour. That’s exactly what happened to use, so the best action spot entertained others for much of the day. That’s OK – we had our turn with it Friday.
Rocky Points South of the Bridge
Given that we couldn’t do exactly what we wanted to, we decided to work our way south of the bridge applying the same pattern of focusing on rocks. We’d played the rocky point game the day before in the south but hadn’t committed to it like we were now. We blasted down and hit every single one of them until we found one that produced consistent fish. Again, most came on a jerkbait.
I’ve noticed an interesting phenomena over the years fishing the rocky points south of the bridge. For whatever reason, on any given fishing trip it seems like only a few will hold fish. Which one changes each trip! This observation held true this time as well. We caught absolutely nothing on most and then pulled up on one and had a fish every ten minutes or so.
A rocky point we fished. But was it the point that produced, or just a cool picture?
Testing the Vermont Side North of The Bridge
I haven’t spent a whole heap of time fishing north of the bridge on the Vermont side, but the shoreline looks incredible. Since Andrew’s the kind of guy who is down to try new things, we made a few drifts this way and tied into some good fish. Most of them were smallmouth but we managed some pike as well.
I had a very strong bite just north of hospital creek but it broke away before I could see it. Judging by the deep runs, I’m guessing it was a large northern.
Andrew’s Idiot Pike
So Drew caught a small northern pike that probably isn’t going to make it. We threw it back unharmed and it swam off happily enough, but the way we landed it convinced us it’s not playing with a full deck. Andrew caught it on a jerkbait which was properly hooked in its mouth, yet the pike, for whatever reason, came in upside down. If it was foul hooked, I’d get it. This fish was just unique. Maybe it was high from all the wastewater and farming chemicals Vermont dumps into the lake.
We let him go, but I don’t have much faith in this pike lasting much longer.
Calling it a Day With Some Nice Lake Champlain Smallmouth Bass
We finished up the day south of the bridge fishing any rocky shoreline that we could find. Andrew had a pair of gorgeous smallmouth bass, one of which I’ll show the shoreline for, and one of which I won’t! Again, these were all on jerkbaits (the Rapala Shadow Rap in yellow perch, to be precise).
A nice smallmouth on a rocky shore.
With my apologies to Drew, I’m not showing the shoreline on this one!
Until We Meet Again, Lake Champlain
It was another good trip for the books. I haven’t gone fishing with Andrew for years and it was great to have his company out on the water. He’s one heck of a fisherman and I hope we’ll have more reports posted soon. The water remains low but I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other good catches this year on Lake Champlain. Thank goodness I don’t have to go another year without it!
Thanks for reading, everyone! Glad we made it out alive to post this for you!
