Tag: fishing gear for kids

Given that I’ve been fishing with my children for a few years now, I thought I would give parents some tips on how to take their kids out fishing with them at various ages. This will be the first in a series of posts that will continue each year as my children grow older. Here, I’ll talk about how to fish with a baby or infant as defined as a child that’s between 0 – 18 months old. You can also read my post about fishing with 2-3 year old kids here.

I’ve already given a high-level accounting of this in a post where I discussed what is a good age to take a child fishing. In it, I discussed how to best prepare them each step of the way. Here, I’d like to dive into the specifics of actually heading out: what you should expect and what you should bring along.

My wife and I had to figure this out by trial and error and I’ve wasted my share of time and money figuring this out. Hopefully, this series will help save you some grief.

Set Your Expectations

Regardless of the age of your kids, the first thing you’ll always need to do is set your expectations. I hope it goes without saying that if you’re taking your baby along fishing, you’re not actually expecting to catch a fish. Rather, your goal is to just hang out with them outside and start introducing them to the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Any fish you happen to catch is a bonus. If you’re going it alone without any spousal backup, don’t count on it happening!

More so than anything else, fishing with a baby or infant is investing in their future. They probably won’t get too much out of the experience now, but in a few years you’ll have fun going through old photos with them and showing them how they “liked fishing” from a young age. This will help them develop a sense of self and some pride in their early fishing acumen. Perhaps this will encourage them to want to head out more with you when they’re older. My son beams with pride every time Facebook shows up with an old timeline photo of him fishing as an infant.

Catching fish is a plus, but depending on how young your infant is, they might not even notice it if you catch one, or have any idea what to think of it. They could have a whole range of emotions, but apathy seems pretty common for the youngest children.

Pick a Good Time

Fish tend to bite best early in periods of low light, such as dusk and dawn. Unfortunately, this is completely irrelevant when fishing with babies. When you consider a good time to go fishing with an infant, it has nothing to do with the fish and everything to do with their nap and feeding schedule.

You know your child best and should aim to go out with them when they’ll have the least amount of reasons to be cranky. They need to be rested, fed, and lively. If this means that you’re headed out at high noon, you’re headed out at high noon. If this means you’re going out at 3 p.m., that’s your time. Don’t try and plan a fishing trip with infants around when the fish bite. That’s just asking for trouble.

This can complicate things, to say the least. Depending on where you are and what time of year it is, the sun can be pretty brutal at these times. You’re going to need to consider this and either find a good spot in the shade to fish, or invest in some good infant sun gear. Always go in before they get too hot.

Dress for Success

Your baby needs to be comfortable while out fishing. This (along with making sure they’re fed and rested) is something that you can control, so you should control it.

If it’s cold, make sure they’re bundled up with extra clothes, and make sure that those clothes stay dry. While I wouldn’t recommend taking babies fishing in the rain, waterproof clothing is also useful for keeping water spray off of children when driving a boat.

If it’s hot, make sure they have on light clothes. There are some great infant clothes out there that have built-in SPF protection and keep your kids cool. They are long sleeve which is a bit counter-intuitive, but they are very lightweight. I’ve yet to hear my son complain about wearing one even on the hottest of days.

If you’re headed out on a boat for your fishing trip, bear in mind that the sun will be bearing down on you, your baby or infant, and also the seats. People tend to forget about the latter, but all surfaces on your boat will heat up and can hurt exposed skin. You’re better off dressing your baby in some light pants that cover their delicate inner thighs than just a onesie.

As a reminder, all states require children to have a life jacket on. Some require this only when the boat is underway, and others require that children wear it at all times while on a boat. Because this is the one piece of clothing that your kids can’t take off, it makes sense that you should invest money in something that is comfortable and functional.

My Recommendation: Mustang Survival

While I don’t always advocate buying the very best of any type of gear, when it comes to life jackets, I spare no expense. I have invested considerable money over they years outfitting my entire family in Mustang Survival’s line of life jackets. I can’t recommend them enough. They are as comfortable as a life jacket can be, and they give me the peace of mind knowing that my kids are safe in them. They also hold up very well to pool testing, as I’ve observed that they keep my children’s heads above the water, as designed.

If you’re interested in learning more about Mustang Survival jackets, please read my full review of why Mustang Survival makes the best children’s life jackets, bar none.

On That Note… Is Boating Safe for Babies?

Boating is perfectly safe for babies and infants, but only once they are old enough to properly fit in their life jackets. This is not something that you want to stretch, the reason being that a properly-fitting infant life jacket is designed to right them and keep their head above water. If the life jacket is too loose, it will not work properly and may not keep your child’s mouth and nose out of the sea.

You must wear your kill switch whenever you are boating. This is even more critical if you’re fishing with babies or infants who can’t swim. This is a device that clamps onto you and the boat’s ignition switch and will kill power to your outboard once it is detached. It functions exactly the same as the safety tethers on treadmills.

If the driver isn’t wearing this and is ejected, the torque of the engine will cause the boat to turn in a circle, meaning that it will come around and strike anything or anyone in the water. This is an exceptionally dangerous situation and one where an infant would have no chance. Insist that your boat’s driver wear one at all times that the motor is running.

Bring Your Own Shade

It’s pretty rare to find a shady spot to fish. You’re mostly in the middle of the water with the sun bearing down on you and then also reflecting off the water’s surface. Babies and infants don’t do well without shade, so you’re going to need to bring shade with you on your fishing trip. Their car seat can work just fine, or you could invest in a little shade tent. Just make sure you have a place to put it when it is completely unfolded. These things are borderline impossible to get back into their case. Tthe instructions stink and make no sense. I hate, hate, hate them, but they’re a necessary evil with little kids around the sun. And no, I will not provide a link to one!

If you do go with the car seat, make sure you don’t leave them strapped in, especially if on a boat. That would be a massive safety concern around water.

Take along a Snack & Water

Infants get hungry when they feel like it, even if that’s in the midst of a fishing trip. The last thing you want to do is be out in the middle of the lake without anything for your baby to chew on. Just remember that not everything lasts well on a boat. Also, you could be somewhere far from help. I’d definitely recommend leaving anything remotely resembling a choking hazard at home. Grapes have absolutely no place on a fishing trip with infants, babies, or young children. Or, for that matter, adults.

Likewise, have water and a way to keep it cool. Many people think to bring along a drink but don’t consider just how fast it will heat up on a summer day. A little cooler is indispensable for a fishing trip with kids.

Bring a Friend to Play With the Baby While You Fish

I’ve seen some posts by people who put their kids in backpacks or harnesses and wade into rivers with them on their backs. I’m not going to tell others how to raise their kids, but missteps happen and it’s easy to see how one there could be tragic. To me, the photo op isn’t worth the risk, at least near rivers. I think you could get away with this just fine next to a calm lake or pond. The worst that should happen there is you get wet and an earful from your spouse.

You want that spouse on your good side. I recommend bringing them, a grandparent, or just any old friend along with you as backup. In fact, it might make sense to have them be the primary people fishing so that you can concentrate on really selling the experience to your baby and “oooing” and “ahhhing” them into smiling and enjoying themselves.

Take turns fishing and entertaining your kid, if they’ll let you. Sometimes they just want one parent, and I’d recommend that they get them in this situation. If they don’t, they might associate fishing with not being able to cling onto Mom or Dad, which could negatively affect their interest.

Get a Fish in the Livewell or Bucket as Fast as You Can

This is a common theme on my blog, but it is all the more important with younger children. Your goal is to get a fish–any fish–into the livewell or bucket as fast as you possibly can. If you catch even one sunfish and plop it in there, your baby will fall in love. Kids love water, animals, and slime from a very young age. Even an infant wants to peer into the bucket and try to pet their new fish friend. Just make sure the fish you put in there is legal unless your child also has a thing for game wardens!

Sell Every Moment of It

Remember that you’re dealing with a small little person who gets a big kick out of seeing you cover and uncover your eyes with your hands. Any little thing can be a huge moment of wonder and joy to them, so make sure that every step of the way is celebrated.

You want to be the ultimate cheerleader. Every time your spouse casts, do a little cheer. You can have fun with it and be a little sarcastic: “Yay! Daddy didn’t get the lure stuck in the tree!” You can also show them how the lure “bloops” into the water and make that sound each time it splashes down – “Bloop! Bloop! Bloop!” – your kids will love it!

You want to have a grand performance for your little one. Keep changing it up every 10-15 seconds to match their attention span. Each turtle, squirrel, or bird you see should be named and have a nice little voice or theme song that you sing. If you notice them looking at something, look at it too and make a big deal out of it.

When you catch a fish, make a huge deal out of it no matter how small it is. Act like it’s the greatest thing that ever happened. Go ahead, use whatever high squeaky voice gets your baby amped. If they want to touch the fish, let them. Just make sure you have wipes on hand so you can clean them off before they stick their hands in their mouth.

Bring Distractions for Your Baby, or Have a Short Fishing Trip

Bring along some toys or other distractions in case your full performance isn’t captivating enough for them. Those little teething wafers work pretty well as it seems to take their full attention to eat them. Rattles or other things that can grab their attention and are safe for them to grab are important.

If you don’t have child-safe distractions, you could try showing them some fishing lures. This runs the considerable risk of a meltdown when they reach for them and you won’t let them grab them given the hooks. My son used to absolutely love looking at my crankbaits (through a plastic case, of course).

The bottom line is, bring something to distract them, or plan on going home early!

Know Your Exit, and Factor in the Commute

Babies and even infants can only handle short fishing excursions, and this includes the entire time in the car. Now is not the time to take the kids to that prized lake an hour away that holds all the best fish. The little community pond five minutes down the street is a far better choice.

If boating, you’ll also want to consider the time at the ramp. In a perfect world we’d all be able to spend our 2-3 minutes launching and retrieving and not have to wait for anyone.

Unfortunately as many of you know that is not the case. There are often long lines to launch or retrieve a boat, sometimes filled with people who don’t know what they’re doing. You need to factor this in and give yourself at least an extra twenty minutes or so leeway to get back in.

Failure to do this will mean that you’re gently floating near the ramp with an infant screaming to high heaven, waiting for that weekend warrior to figure out how to retrieve his jet boat.

Long holiday weekends are a bad time to take your infant for a boat ride. You’re far better off waiting for a day that won’t be as busy.

Have a Good Time!

Just remember that there will be plenty of times to go “fishing.” This time, you’re just having fun with your new baby. Think of it as showing them something that is important to you. Taking a walk around a pond with them and showing them their first duck or driving slowly down the lake watching the sea gulls is enough.

Keep things in perspective, keep a good attitude, and don’t worry so much about catching fish. Just try to ensure that they are comfortable, safe, entertained, and loved and you’ll start to build an interest that may last their entire life.

As mentioned earlier, if your baby is a bit older (say, 14-18 months or so) and you want to try to get them involved in the action, I did write a post with some advice on how to do so. You can read that to help your child learn to cast, or catch their first fish.

The purpose of this article was to give you a better idea of some of the little things that you might not consider, while you have time to do something about them (you don’t want to realize you should have brought shade while you’re stuck in the middle of the lake).

I hope you found this article useful. If you did, please consider sharing it so that it can help others. If you’re interested in learning more about taking kids fishing, check out my book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide. You also might consider subscribing to FishingFather’s Facebook page to be updated when new content arrives.

Thanks,

John Paxton

I wouldn’t blame you if you thought there was no way to make fishing with kids stress free. Doing anything with small children can be like moving the president, after all. There’s so much that goes into it and so much that can go wrong, and if you don’t prepare for this as a parent, you could soon find your toddler’s meltdown-fueled tears filling the bilge.

Luckily for you, I’ve lived through a meltdown or two (see the featured image for proof) and have walked away with a few pearls of wisdom to share. Here’s a few tips from a real fishing father that you might not have thought of:

Pack Everything You Can the Night Before

The morning of a fishing trip with kids is going to be hectic no matter what you do. Free up your time in the morning and avoid unnecessary stress before a fishing trip with your kids by packing up the night before. I’ve spent way too many mornings ignoring this advice, and every time I neglect to pack up for my fishing trip the night before, I regret it.

Your tackle should be organized, several rods rigged up, and the boat should be uncovered and ready to go. Several sandwiches and other snacks should be prepared and placed in the fridge so all you need to do is throw them and an ice pack in the cooler the next morning before you head out.

Lay your clothes out as well as your kid’s clothes out. This way you won’t have to run around the house searching for their sun hat. As an added bonus, you won’t wake up their mother: a critical component to relieve tension on any fishing trip with your kids!

Pack Gear That You Can Trust

Don’t skimp on your kid’s gear. Get them products that you know and trust (and possibly grew up on yourself). Resist the temptation to buy the rod with the little princess on it or sports hero. These were designed to catch kids attention in the store – not fish.

Instead, invest in a good rod like the Ugly Stik GX2 or Ugly Stik Elite. You can read why I am such a fan of these rods for kids in another post I wrote, found here. This is the gear I trust my kid’s trophies with and recommend.

Stay Away from Braided Line

Stick with normal monofilament, specifically Berkley Trilene XL in 6lb test. It has withstood the test of time, was probably the first line many of you reading used as kids yourself, and flat out works. It’s also inexpensive if you need to cut through a few tangles that you can’t undo.

If you aren’t experienced, braid can be difficult to use, and it is much more difficult to untangle. Granted, it’s normally less likely to tangle, but this rule does not apply to rods entrusted to children.

Yes, braid is stronger than monofilament when looking at diameter vs. diameter, but 6lb test monofilament is really all you need to catch every panfish in the lake, most bass your kids might hook, and also pickerel and small catfish. Larger fish can be caught too, so long as your kids let the drag do its job (a tough, but possible challenge for a four-year-old).

There’s also the safety consideration. Your kids can slice their hands pretty good with braid. They basically get a rope burn, but the line has such thin diameter that it can cut them deeply if they get excited and grab it while a larger fish thrashes.

It’s just not worth it. If you’re fishing with kids, stick with monofilament.

Bring Your Own Rod

I know this flies in the face of what you’re going to read elsewhere. Most people will tell you to leave your own rod at home, but I disagree with that emphatically. True, the day is not about you, but the fact remains that you’re probably more capable of putting fish on the hook than a young child. If you want to keep their interest, you need the action to be fast.

With that said, you are not to reel in any fish. Your job is to hook them, and hand the rod over to your children. I don’t care if your personal best largemouth is on the line, you hand that over to your kid and have them reel it in.

The only exception to this would be if they actually express a desire to net your fish. They will probably want to be the net man on occasion after seeing you net their fish (they want to try everything out that they can). If that’s what they want to do, that’s fine, but always ask them if they want to reel it in or net it.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

In addition to packing up for the big trip, you ought to have some idea of where you’re going, what kind of fish you’re going to target, and where on the lake/pond/river you have the best chance of catching them.

You don’t want to figure this out as you go. Remember, when you’re fishing with kids, you’re basically acting as the fishing guide or charter. They expect to catch fish quickly. Your job is to make that happen. Fishing with children is very stressful if you aren’t catching anything!

I wrote a detailed post that talks about how to prepare for a fishing trip with kids, as well as another that is an illustrated guide to fishing with kids. I highly recommend that you spend some time reading them. They will show you how to scout good fishing spots to give your kids the best chance for success, and also how to prepare yourself mentally for the task at hand.

There are other great websites that have good information about how to target panfish. For example, this article by In-Fisherman has some good tips for targetting bluegill in the spring.

I would much rather invest a little time in learning where fish tend to hang out later in the day than risking a meltdown just to catch the early bite. It doesn’t really matter what time of day you go fishing for sunfish or bluegill (which are the species you should target with young kids), anyway. They’ll bite constantly if you can find them.

Let Your Kids Sleep In

You’ve probably heard that fish bite best in the morning, and you want to give your kids the best chance at catching one, so it’s very tempting to wake them up before dawn and get them out there.

This would be a huge mistake.

Kids (especially young ones) need their sleep. If they don’t get it, they turn into little Linda Blair’s from The Exorcist out there on the water.

When my son comes racing into my room at 5 a.m. asking that we go fishing, I know I’m in for a long day.

Travel in Packs

Bring reinforcements. You are much better off if you have another adult in the boat or on the bank with you. Having another adult to help out with situations is one of the most important things you can do to make fishing with kids less stressful. Bring your spouse, a grandparent, a friend.

It is enormous help to take turns keeping the children occupied while the other adult handles a tangle, or reties a line. One adult can ask the kids what is in the livewell while the other deals with a snag. One parent can break out snacks while the other applies sunscreen – whatever the case may be, reinforcements are great!

This also allows for rapid fish catches. Two adults supporting a child makes it more likely that fish will be caught and the kid has a good time. I’ve had days fishing with my wife, father, and son where we all were handing my boy our rod one after another. It was all he could do to scramble back and forth across the boat to get to the latest fish!

One word of warning: any adult who is holding a rod and hooking a fish is “fishing” and needs to be licensed. Check your local regulations, but that is the general rule (at least in all the states I’ve fished).

Get a Fish in the Livewell as Fast as Possible

If you want your fishing trip with kids to be full of smiles instead of tears, then your mission is simple: catch any legal fish and throw it in the livewell or bucket as fast as you possibly can.

Do not make the mistake of trying for a “big fish” first. Target little fish. Bluegill, sunfish, yellow and white perch – anything small, common, and easily caught. Get them in the boat and hand them to your kid to put in the livewell.

This will “get the skunk off the boat” (meaning you’re successful as you’ve caught a fish) and will also give you an outstanding meltdown aversion system. Any time you see your little one about to take a turn for the worse, ask them to go check on that fish! They’ll do a mental 180 and run off to check on their “friend.”

Name the Fish and Refer to It Frequently

This goes hand in hand with the above. Your new fish friend in that livewell needs a name. I suggest Ted, personally, but what do I know?

Talk about Ted. Point out how nice it is for him to be here. Encourage your kids to go check on him from time to time and change the water in the bucket or hit the aerator on the livewell pump. Make Ted as much of a part of the crew as anyone else so that when you need to divert your kid’s attention, Ted can captivate it.

Make sure you keep an eye on Ted. If he is the only fish in the livewell for much of the trip, your kids are going to put him through a lot of stress. Get back to fishing to try and make him some friends as fast as you can.

Teach Your Kids About “The Fish Doctor” and “Going Back to Their Mommy”

Once you put one fish in the livewell, your kids are going to want to put every fish in the livewell. This just can’t be so. Some fish are too small, or out of season and would be illegal to possess. Others get injured by the hook and need to be released immediately to give them the best chance for survival.

The problem is if your kids are expecting the fish to go into the livewell or bucket, and you need to throw them back immediately, you’re tasked with saying that dreaded “NO” that tends to go over so well. So what can you do instead?

Enter the Fish Doctor and Fish Mommy.

When we catch a fish that is too small, we say that we can’t put him in the livewell because “He’s too small and scared. He needs to go back to his mommy!” My son, being ever helpful and kind, delights in sending the fish back to go find its mom.

Likewise, when a fish is bleeding and I want to release it quickly rather than stress it more by taking it for a little ride, I tell my son that the fish needs to go see “The Fish Doctor.” Then, my boy just tosses them back without complaint.

After doing this a few times, my son started making the call all on his own. “This one is bleeding, Daddy! It needs to go see the fish doctor!”

This works SO much better than saying, “No,” as every parent on earth can imagine.

Try to Avoid Saying “No”

Frankly, if you want to take some pressure off of your next fishing trip with your kids, you should set yourself up so you can avoid saying “No” as much as possible. Only bring lures that are safe. Pack only bring rods you don’t mind kids using. Avoid having items nearby you don’t want them handling. Do these things and there’s not much you need to say no to.

Obviously, if they are in danger or acting up, fire away the ol’ N-O, but I’m just saying to set yourself up so you can avoid it when possible as there are few words on earth kids hate more.

Let Them Pick Their Lure

Note: this advice applies after you get that first fish in the livewell.

If you read just about any parenting guide out there, they all seem to say that little kids crave control yet get almost none. You can give kids a measure of it while fishing and still have a successful, stress free day if you let them pick the lure.

With that said, if you just hand them your entire tackle box and tell them to pick something, you’re probably going to have an awful time. You’ll also have a very prickly mess to deal with. You don’t want to do that.

Instead, pack a “Kid’s Day Box” with 2-3 different techniques or lure colors that you think would work fairly well. Ask your children to pick which one they want to try first. Reduce the available options but still make it their choice. This will help them feel in control and will increase their pride when they catch a fish on a lure that they picked out.

Do What They Want, Not What You Want

Sometimes, my son wants to troll for larger fish. Other times, he wants to go fish off our dock for blue gills, or even swim in the water and net fish that I catch. A few times, we wind up forgetting to fish altogether and just look at minnows or try to catch frogs.

It’s important to stay open minded. If you try to force something on your kids, they aren’t going to enjoy it. You’re out there spending time with your little ones and keeping them safe. They’re nowhere near a screen, and are having a good time regardless. You have accomplished your goal as a parent for the day. Pat yourself on the back and just go along for the ride.

While this advice should wait until after they’ve caught a fish or two (kids have crazy ideas), your trip will have far less stress if you let them run free a bit and call the shots.

Talk About “Boo Boo Fish”

Every kid should have a healthy respect for “boo boo fish” by the time they’re two years old. This is the name my wife and I gave to pickerel, northern pike, bowfin, bullhead, catfish, and any other species that could maim a child.

My son wants to hold every fish he catches. If it weren’t for our explaining how some were too dangerous because they’d give him “booboos,” we’d risk a fit. Let me tell you,it’s a tough call to determine if it’s worse: standing between a toddler and their jellybeans, or their trophy northern pike).

Labeling such fish as “booboo fish” also helped add an aura of mystery to these species. They weren’t the primary ones we would target, but every so often they would be caught as a nice “bonus fish” and my kids eyes would open wide with wonder. It’s a cool site and makes for some great photos!

Have a Good Fish Story at the Ready

You should have a good fish story to tell your kids before they catch anything. Trust me. You want an out in case something goes wrong. In other words, you want to be able to spin things in a way that keeps your kids itching for more.

Talk about the frumpy Ol’ Catfish McGilliwhiskers, and how he’s been known to pull whole rods and reels out from young anglers hands. Then, if a big fish breaks off the line, it’s not your fault: That mean Ol’ Catfish McGilliwhiskers struck again!

Just today, my son had a monster (to him) northern pike get right to the boat before it cut the line and swam off with some jewelry. I’m proud to say he handled it like a champ! He told me he was happy to have a good story for his mom! Prepare your children for the possibility they will lose a fish or two in life, or there is no way a fishing trip with your kids will ever be calm.

Please note that using this technique does run the risk of creating a minivan full of little Captain Ahabs, or just terrifying them into thinking they’ll be pulled overboard, so try not to overdo it!

An Ounce of Prevention…

Always remember, a prime objective is for your spouse to allow you to take them again next weekend. Bringing back bruised and bleeding children is not conducive to this goal! Just use some common sense and you should be OK!

If you’re interested in more details about how you can fish safely with your kids check out my post here. I go into much greater depth about additional watchouts and safety concerns on the water.

Keep Things Safe

Safety should be your priority. If your kids get cut, scraped, or burned, they aren’t going to have a good time and neither will you. There’s a few basics that you simply must cover to ensure everyone has a good time:

Life Jackets

Most states require children to wear life jackets. Even if you’re in an area that doesn’t obligate this, you should still insist your children wear them. I trust Mustang Survival with my children’s lives. This company makes premium life jackets for kids that are comfortable for them to wear and very effective. I’ve pool tested them with my children and they work. I can’t recommend them enough!

Wear Your Kill Switch

You need to wear your kill switch anytime the outboard is running. If your friend invites you out on their boat, but doesn’t want to wear their kill switch, it’s time to find a new friend. You need to insist on this. So many lives have been claimed because someone neglected to wear a little lanyard clip. It is ridiculous.

Leave the Treble Hooks At Home

A common theme of my website is that I hate pairing kids with treble hooks. They are dangerous and much more likely to catch a little one. If you insist on using them, make sure you pinch down the barbs.

Bring Along Sunscreen and Sun Gear

Make sure you lather up your kids with sunscreen. There’s nowhere to hide from the rays while you’re out on a boat (unless you have a Bimini top, I suppose). These days, they make some pretty good sun shirts and hats that can minimize the amount of skin that is exposed to the sun. Regardless, you should keep an eye on your kids as they tend to twist and contort in all sorts of ways that uncovers areas you wouldn’t expect (they have a habit of lifting their shirt and exposing their lower back – if you notice this, make sure you apply some sunscreen).

Make sure you keep up with this. One application is likely not enough. If you’re really interested in having a stress free trip, you need to ensure your kids don’t get a sunburn while they’re fishing. It will tire them out and make them cranky fast.

Point Out Every Turtle You See

Never forget that the trip is an experience in and of itself. You aren’t just fishing with your kids – you’re spending a wonderful day outside in God’s beautiful, vast creation with them.

Take your time while you’re out there. Point out nature’s curiosities like all the turtles lined up on a log. Let your children pick a lily flower or two as the boat drifts by. Listen to the call of the loon and have a contest to see who can imitate it better.

If you make the trip completely about fishing and the fishing stinks, so will the entire memory. If you make the trip about hanging out together on the lake, anything can be special.

I know from experience how hard this is, especially if you have a competitive streak and love fishing, but it is so important.

Ask Your Kids for Help Constantly

Make your children part of the process on a fishing trip. You want them to feel like they are part of the team and helped to earn any success. Not only does this make them feel good, but divvying up the chores with your kids on a fishing trip will make the excursion much more stress free for you.

• If they aren’t scared of nightcrawlers, their job should be getting a new one each time a hook needs baiting;
• If they like holding fish, have them carry each one to the livewell or bucket;
• Ask them to get your sandwich or drink;
• If they’re old enough and you feel it’s safe, it’s OK to ask them to grab a rod and reel;
• If you’re trolling with your trolling motor and need to stop, let them press the button;
• Never forget to ask them to help you reel in or net a big fish!

If you made a grown adult do these things, you’d come across as bossy. If you ask a four-year-old for help, they feel like they’re being treated as equals.

Mix Things Up

Most kids don’t have a great attention span and will quickly tire of any one thing. Thus, it is critical that you mix things up while fishing with your children. Once you have some panfish in the livewell, don’t be afraid to pull out the spinnerbaits and troll for chain pickerel.

Consider switching spots, or even going tubing for awhile. Drive them over to something cool to look at, like a major bridge or culvert tunnel. Go for a cruise up a creek just to say you did it. Keep things fresh and you’ll keep them entertained for longer. Then, when they’ve had their fill of the distractions, go get some more bluegill in the boat!

Communicate With Each Other

My son and I occasionally forget that we each aren’t psychic. We each have our own idea how the day should go, or what we should do next, and at times he especially gets pretty frustrated with me if I don’t do what he’s thinking.

It should go without saying that neither of us are mind readers, but that’s a tough concept for a child to grasp.

Communication is important when you’re fishing with your kids. Let them know what the plan is. Let them know if you need to swing the boat around before they cast. Ask them if they need you to get the net, or if they are hungry.

Make sure the two of you are talking. When your kid communicates something with you, praise them for their great teamwork in telling you the plan. Having an open dialogue reduces frustration. Reduce everyone’s stress by letting your kids feel free to bring up their concerns on the fishing trip so long as they do so in a positive manner.

Secure Their Buy-In for Leaving

If your kid is really enjoying their fishing trip, getting them to leave can be very challenging. I know that some of the greatest meltdowns my son has thrown have come when it was time to leave.

It’s important to have something else that’s fun lined up for them after the fishing trip. This could be swimming with a friend, wading by the shore, or even getting ice cream. It gets hot out there on the boat so going out for slurpees or a sundae is a great idea and an easy way to get your kids to want to finally leave.

This also makes for more of a tradition. Think back to when you were playing baseball as a kid. I’ll bet one of your favorite parts about game day was either going out for pizza afterwards or at least visiting the concession stand for some popcorn and candy.

Go ahead and make an event out of the entire day!

Give Them Something to Do at the Boat Ramp

Launching a fishing boat alone with a kid can be very stressful. If they’re little you really don’t have any other option than to keep them in their car seat while you do it, and they aren’t always pleased about being left out of the fun.

I solved this by handing my son the remote control for my trolling motor and telling him to help “drive” the car. It is harmless* as it won’t do anything when the motor is stored, and it lets him think that he’s helping out.

*NOTE: I would not recommend handing them the remote for trolling motors that have an auto-stow and deploy, such as the MinnKota Ulterra. It’s just asking for trouble!

Let Them Wade in the Water

This should only be done in areas safe from predators like alligators and sharks, but if you’re in a temperate lake or pond, wrapping up the day by letting your kids walk around in the water a bit is a great way to finish. It’s also a good reward for them if they’re quiet and calm while you load the boat up.

If you decide to do this, just make sure you apply common sense. Don’t let them play on the boat ramp unless you can get them out the instant someone else needs it. Someone launching or retrieving their boat has the right of way.

Improve Your Own Fishing Skills

The better you are at fishing, the less likely little hiccups and problems are going to faze you. Even though it can be tough to leave your kids behind, once in awhile you need to take a “mental health day” and just go fishing yourself. When you do, work on your own skills so that when you take your kids out, they’ll be more successful.

If you need a little help getting over the hump, check out this post I wrote about improving at fishing. It discusses 5 common fishing mistakes and what you can do to avoid them. You’ll also find helpful information on some digital tools and resources you can utilize to improve your (and your kids’) success rate.

Realize that No Fishing Trip With Kids Will Be “Completely” Stress Free

Yes, this whole article is aimed at helping you have a stress free fishing trip with your kids, but just bear in mind that this is one of those “nice goals to have.” The bottom line is that things are going to go wrong and you are going to have to deal with this. The better the attitude you bring along, and the more you keep things in perspective, the better the trip will be for everyone.

Remember that you are just as susceptible to being cranky when you get hungry or a bad sunburn, so make sure you have enough essentials for yourself as well! Try to keep your cool as best you can and remember that you’re out their building memories that will last a lifetime — good or bad — so don’t ruin it!

Conclusions

Fishing with your kids doesn’t have to be that stressful. In fact, most of the angst is self-induced. Always remember that your children love you and want to spend time with you. They just want to be in your company and spend the day running around outside, exploring all the beauty nature has to offer.

So, relax, take a deep breath, and just enjoy yourself out there. Your time with your kids is fleeting. Eventually they will grow up, you won’t be as cool to them, and you’ll have real things to stress about. Never let fishing be one of them.

I hope this article helps you reduce your stress level while fishing with your kids. If you need more help, consider purchasing my book as it attempts to reduce the learning curve with fishing and help parents plan a good day with their little ones.

Thanks,

John Paxton

I suspect that if you’re trying to help your children learn to fish, one of the first searches you’ll Google is going to be something like “good fishing lures for kids.” When you do, you’ll find plenty of sites that claim to give advice on kid-friendly fishing lures.

While there’s a lot of great information out there, I have to level with you – my eyebrows raised a bit at a few of the recommendations.

I always assume positive intent, so I think some of the authors approached this topic trying to write about “Great Fishing Lures” in general and might not have really thought the whole “For Fishing With Kids” part through, but I’m a parent writing for other parents and I feel compelled to set the record straight:

Plastic worms, Spinnerbaits, Roundhead Jigs, and Drop Shots are all great fishing lures for fishing with kids.

Hollow-bodied frogs and crankbaits are great fishing lures, but aren’t great choices for kids or beginners.

I’ll get into why I like the former so much (and give you some tips on how to use them) in a bit, but I’m going to start with the lures I don’t recommend, because after you understand why they are such bad choices for kids, you’ll appreciate the four lures I do recommend that much more.

Quick Navigation

If you’re in a hurry, use these links to reach the part you’re interested in.

• Hollow-Bodied Frogs
• Crankbaits
• Plastic Worms
• Spinnerbaits
• Roundhead Jigs
• Drop Shots

Why Hollow-Bodied Frogs Are Terrible Fishing Lures for Kids

I don’t want anyone to get me wrong. I have a bit of a love affair with hollow-bodied frogs and use them frequently. In fact, I look forward to a few bays in Lake Champlain clogging up with enough weeds to turn the frog bite on. I think they’re awesome, so I own tackle boxes full of them. At some point in your kids life, they should use them. Just do so knowing that they’re one of the least kid-friendly fishing lures on the planet.

I shudder at the thought of a parent who has no idea what they’re doing being told that they’re good fishing lures for a kid to learn on, but some websites do just this. I wouldn’t be surprised if parents who took this advice have kids who never want to go fishing again.

Challenges with Frog Lures

Hollow-bodied frogs are easily one of the more challenging lures for an adult to use successfully, much less a child. Let’s look at some of the obstacles:

• You need proper equipment, none of which is particularly suited for children. A very long and heavy rod, fast baitcasting reel, strong braided line is basically the antithesis of what you want when fishing with kids;
• If you’re fishing a frog, you’re usually in the middle of a field of lily pads or other gunk. This makes it very tough to use anything but a frog. Thus, no dropshots for panfish to keep the action going;
• All but the best frog fishermen have a poor hookup percentage. There is very good chance you’ll be unsuccessful;
• Once the fish is hooked, you need to reel like a mad man to get the fish’s head up and on top of the weeds. If you don’t, they’ll bury themselves in 40 pounds of vegetation. Thus, you can’t patiently wait for your kid to run over so you can hand them the rod.

As you can see, these are serious problems for a parent trying to fish with their kids. Unless your kids are gluttons for punishment, frogs are not, by any means, a good lure for them to learn with.

One Plus: They Are Exciting – If Someone Notices

Now, a few people out there are making the argument that frogs are “exciting” to fish. After all, your kids get to see the swirl, or hear a giant splash, or maybe even watch as a monstrous fish jumps and belly flops all over some lily pads.

Ok… Yeah, I suppose that’s fair enough… If your kids see it, but I have my doubts they actually will.

I’ve said it many times before – most kids have the attention span of a newt. The chances of getting them to hone in with a lazer focus on a frog for an indefinite period of time until something…maybe…happens are pretty slim. I think it’s much more likely that they’re going to be eating a sandwhich, talking to a dragonfly, or peeing in the livewell when the action finally happens.

One More Plus – Your Kid Might Talk to Them

OK – in total fairness, there is one more plus to breaking out a frog around your kids: they’ll talk to them. Yes, long before there was “Forky,” kids were talking to plastic frogs. This isn’t quite what I was going for when I started writing an article about kid-friendly fishing lures, but I have to tip my hat to this.

What You Can Expect

To me, the most likely way that fishing with frogs and children will go is much less spectacular:

• You’re going to spend a ton of money on a rod & reel setup that your kids can’t use;
• You’re probably going to have to do all the casting. Your kids either won’t know how to use the baitcaster, or the heavy-duty spinning reel is going to be way to big for their hands;
• Your kids probably aren’t going to be able to fish at the same time as you. There’s likely too much vegetation around for a sinking worm to not be fouled instantly. Thus, your kids will be bored;
• You’re going to have to mess around with the cadence a bit to see what the fish want. This takes time and reduces your child’s attention span;
• Thus, if a fish strikes, your kids probably won’t see it happen;
• If a fish strikes, you (also being a beginner) probably won’t hook it;
• If you do manage to hook it, and you try to hand your kids the rod, the fish will bury itself in a ton of weeds while you’re waiting for your kid to get there;
• Because of this, your kid probably won’t land the fish, and will go back to being bored and disappointed.

Conclusion on Kermit: Leave Him at Home

I know this seems really pessimistic. I’m sure the comments will fill with people telling me about how they catch frogs with their kids all the time. If you can, good for you! I’m trying to help parents who are brand new to this sport. They should save their money and focus on techniques and fishing lures that are more kid-friendly and likely to work.

I honestly think that if you’re new to this sport and are trying to help your kids catch some fish, you’d be setting your family up for a bad time by fishing with frogs, and I don’t want to see you do that. It’s important to me that you’re successful.

Why I Hate Using Crankbaits With Kids

Crankbaits aren’t as bad of a choice for kids or beginners as frogs (kids could actually catch a ton of fish with them), but they are much more dangerous, and can be a pain for beginners to use.

Most crankbaits come with treble hooks. These are tiny little three-pronged hooks that tend to have very thin wire and are easy to jab yourself with. Case in point, I managed to prick myself just taking a few photos for this post!

I know you’re probably thinking, “But there are a lot of hooks out there with a thin wire – aren’t they just as bad as treble hooks?”

No. Treble hooks are worse because the three-pronged design allows them to stand up and be a constant danger, even when you aren’t using the rod and it’s just laying on the boat. This stand-up design also means that one of the three prongs is very likely to catch someone while being cast.

In contrast, single hooks fall down and lie flat when not in use. They also only have one point, so even if someone was hit by a cast, the lure might hit them the right way to not hook them. I’m not saying they’re fool proof, but I am willing to say they’re much safer.

Why Crankbaits are Dangerous Fishing Lures for Kids

It seems like every year I need to help Dad pull one of these out of his hand, and I don’t want to do the same for my son or daughter, so I tend to keep my crankbait rods safely stored away. If I didn’t, it would only be a matter of time before one of the following happened:

• I was caught by an errant cast and give me an earring or two (I’m not much for the pirate look myself);
• A child grabbed the lure, miss, and stick themselves in the hand with the hooks;
• Someone laid down a rod, forgot about it, stepped on it and had a hook go into their heel;
• My kids might get all quiet like and try to take their fish off of their own hook, have it flop around a bit, and get jabbed that way;
• They might try to take some weeds off their hook and prick themselves with it.

What You Can Expect While Fishing Crankbaits with Amateurs

Even if we managed to avoid bloodshed and screaming fits, I have to imagine fishing with kids and crankbaits wouldn’t be anywhere near as much fun as fishing with crankbaits alone for a few key reasons:

• Crankbaits are like magnets for weeds. They constantly need to be cleaned, often after every cast. This is easy enough to do for your own rod, but would be a pain to do that frequently for someone else’s;
• The only way you’d lessen the trouble would be to stand close to your kids while they’re casting these lures, and that would make you much more susceptible to being snagged by them;
• Speaking of being snagged, crankbaits tend to snag every single rock and timber in the lake, requiring you to move your boat in to try and retrieve them, often with your kids hovering inches away from you, and right where you need to step, when you need to step there.

It’s just a lot of busy work. If you’re teaching your kids how to fish, you’re going to be busy enough.

Conclusion: Crankbaits Work… Once Your Kids are Older

With all that being said, if your kids are a little older and have had a bit of practice casting, crankbaits are dynamite lures that catch oodles of fish. They aren’t all that hard to present effectively, they tend to be small enough that they catch a wide variety of species, and they’re effective most of the year.

I’m not knocking crankbaits. I definitely think you should buy them and try them. I’d just wait a few months and consider them more of an “intermediate” lure than a good one for beginners.

4 Kid-Friendly Fishing Lures That I WOULD Recommend

OK, so I’ve talked about the fishing lures I hate using with children. What lures do I love for teaching my kids how to fish? Plastic worms, Spinnerbaits, Roundhead Jigs, and especially Drop Shots.

Plastic Worms – A Classic Choice

It seems like every article I’ve ever read about teaching kids how to fish suggests that parents buy some plastic worms. I agree wholeheartedly. It’s hard to fish these lures wrong, and I’ve had plenty of days where they beat everything else in the boat. It is not at all uncommon for this to be a “one cast, one fish” lure under the right conditions.

While you can rig plastic worms dozens of different ways, I usually rig mine “wacky rigged.”

The first time I saw this, I thought it looked like something a child came up with – you just stick a hook right in the middle of the worm and call it a day. Well, I’m not sure on the history exactly, but if a kid did think of it or inspire it, then that kid was on to something, because this is a phenomenal presentation for youngsters.

There have to be thousands of different plastic worms out there, but the one I’d suggest is pictured in the photo above, the Senko by Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits. These are exceptionally soft lures that also are loaded down with salt which makes them very heavy. This combination of weight, salt, and texture seems to make them irresistible to bass.

I personally like the watermelon 5″ senkos as seen in the photo, but if you’re new, they do sell a 40-worm pack that has an assortment of popular colors. Pick one up at Amazon and experiment with what works for your lake.

Buy O-Rings to Save Some Cash

As you can see in the photo above, I have it wacky-rigged. You might notice that there is a clear plastic band in the middle of the worm, that I have the hook looped on. This is called a wacky-worm o-ring, and you really want to buy them. The Senkos are so soft that they tear off the hook easily if you just hook them directly. Attaching them via the o-ring as shown above will allow you to get much more use out of them, which is important because they are a premium lure and you don’t want to see them fly off the hook on your fifth cast.

O-Rings are easily available at Amazon. While you’re at it, I would recommend picking up one of the o-ring threaders available. See the Amazon link below? That’s what you want. It makes fishing so much easier and is one of those tools I can’t live without. Go ahead and click on the picture for the best price. Just do yourself a favor and buy it. This is an easy purchase that makes your life better. Without it, you’re going to be cursing and breaking Senkos left and right (and they aren’t cheap)! This is truly one of those “it pays for itself in a few trips” kind of gadgets.

What Kind of Fish Bite Wacky-Rigged Plastic Worms?

Plastic worms will catch most fish that are large enough to fit them in their mouth, but the main species you’ll catch are largemouth bass. I’ve also caught more than my fair share of chain pickerel, northern pike, and even a few bowfin, but you do run a strong risk that these toothy predators will cut through your line.

It’s possible for a plastic worm to catch large bluegills and sunfish too, but you’re more likely to just feel them nibbling away as the lure tends to be much larger than their mouths. This isn’t the end of the world – at least you know there are fish around. Just change your tactics to the dropshot (discussed further below) and go catch them!

How to Fish A Wacky-Rigged Plastic Worm

Cast it out, and let it sink. If there’s a bass near by, the worm will rarely touch the bottom before it’s bit. Instant action. How much more kid-friendly can a fishing lure be?

I’m not trying to be cute. That’s really all they need to do. After I let the worm sink, if nothing bit it I will lift my rod up sharply and reel in some slack. This moves the worm towards the surface again a few feet closer to me. Then, I let it sink again.

Once in awhile I’ll raise my rod tip less high, but do this 3-4 times in rapid succession. These little “taps” make the worm scurry across the bottom towards me. Once I’ve made the taps, I reel in the slack.

At other times I will simply allow the lure to sit still on the bottom, and leave it there for some time. This works especially well in situations where I suspect a bass is lurking nearby, such as near a bed during the spawn, or under a particularly shady boat dock.

When and Where to Use Them

You can use wacky-rigged worms all year long, but they are absolute dynamite during the spawn. Casting near bass beds will quickly produce results, and usually all you need to do to get a limit is to find a good spawning bay and start probing likely areas. If you’re in a healthy ecosystem that hasn’t been overly pressured, it won’t be long before you get bit.

I have better luck with wacky-rigged plastic worms when it isn’t that windy. The one drawback of the lure is that it is a technique where you really need to be able to feel the fish bite and also observe your line moving sideways as a fish swims off with it. Both of these are tough to feel or see in high winds.

This isn’t usually a problem, because I’m usually casting these lures in shallow bays that tend to be protected somewhat from the wind. I like to try and cast in little pockets of clear water between weeds, especially around creek mouths, points, or other structure that fish will relate to.

That can be a little tough for smaller kids, but once they get to be about six or seven, they are able to pinpoint their casts very well and this technique should really shine.

In the meanwhile, this is a good presentation for you to fish and then hand your kid the rod, as you’re normally hooking the fish a few feet away from cover (as opposed to frogs, where you’re fishing in the thick of it). You just need to keep a high bend in your rod while your child is scrambling over, and then they can take command and reel it in.

Recap: Why Plastic Worms Are Great, Kid-Friendly Fishing Lures

Do you remember the bullet lists of doom for the frog and crankbaits above? Let’s break out our crystal balls and look at what you might expect when your kid is fishing a plastic worm:

• You have a lure you or your child can rig with complete ease on equipment that you already own;
• No one is anywhere near as likely to be stuck by the hook than they were with a treble hook;
• You don’t have to mess around with any kind of cadence – you just cast the lure out next to somewhere you’d think a fish would be and let it sink;
• You or your child have a really good chance of quickly drawing strikes;
• When that happens, the two of you have a very good chance of actually hooking the fish;
• If you’re casting for your kids, chances are you can keep the fish away from too much cover while waiting to hand off the rod;
• These lures will catch quantity and quality at the same exact time, in the same exact area.

Yes, plastic worms are a winner. They get the Fishingfather seal of approval.

Spinnerbaits – A Lure for People Going Places

A spinnerbait was one of the first lures my father handed to me when I was a kid. I’d argue they should be one of the first lures you hand to your child as well. It’s hard to find a fishing lure that is more kid-friendly then one of these mainstays. The only drawback over plastic worms is that your kid really has to be good at casting before they use spinnerbaits. These are meant to cast and retrieve repeatedly and (usually) don’t do well if left to sit.

What Kind of Spinnerbait Should I Use?

Spinnerbaits come in many different styles and sizes. Though there is always a new manufacturer trying to reinvent the wheel a bit, the biggest difference is usually what type of blade they have.

While spinnerbaits come in many different sizes, a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz are a good choice to start. These are fairly standard and do a good job of attracting bass and pickerel. You can find smaller ones that are better for crappie and other small panfish as they’re more likely to bite them, but I tend to lose a lot of these to toothier predators. In any event, if I’m going for panfish for my kids, I see little reason to use a spinnerbait over a dropshot.

In the photo below, the yellow spinnerbait has a willow leaf blade and the black spinnerbait has a Colorado blade.

A willow leaf blade tends to sparkle more, making it a great choice in clear water. It also is a better spinnerbait to use if you’re quickly trolling or using a fast retrieve.

A Colorado blade moves more water and makes larger vibrations. This allows fish to hone in on in murky water or at night. I find that it is harder to reel these in quickly as they tend to “blow a tire” for lack of a better term and spurt a bit at speed. They are, however, hard to beat when the water looks like chocolate milk.

What Kind of Fish Will I Catch With Spinnerbaits?

A spinnerbait will catch any fish in the lake that can fit it in its mouth, but these lures that work best or chain pickerel, northern pike, and bass. I’ve caught very large catfish and bowfin on them as well, but these catches are rarer.

I can usually tell if a bass hit the spinnerbait as opposed to a chain pickerel. If it’s a bass, it usually hits the spinnerbait very quickly after it drops into the water. Pickerel and northern pike, on the other hand, will frequently chase after the lure, often right up to the boat.

How to Fish a Spinnerbait

The most important advice I can give you about fishing with spinnerbaits is to constantly move. This is a technique that will allow you to cover a lot of water and to aggressively search for active fish. It will be much less effective if you are constantly casting in the same small area, such as one small stretch of shoreline.

You want to keep spinnerbaits moving, but he exact speed will depend on your situation. Generally speaking, I’ve had better luck reeling them in fast than slow. If I’m “slow rolling” a spinnerbait, it usually means that the conditions are such that I’d probably be better off just using a plastic worm or drop shot.

A spinnerbait will sink if it is not reeled in, and sometimes a fish will hit it while it is dropping, but it would be pretty unusual for a fish to pick it off the bottom. With that said, it’s sometimes a good idea to let it sink for a few seconds to target deeper fish. Once you retrieve, it will start climbing upwards, so this is a technique better used with a long cast.

Spinnerbaits are also great lures for trolling for chain pickerel, which can be a wonderful way to use them when you’re with smaller children who can’t cast very well just yet.

When and Where to Fish A Spinnerbait

I break out my spinnerbaits once the water temperature reaches about 60˚. I don’t put them down again until ice forms on the lake. My experience has found them to be very ineffective in cold water except in the fall. Then, the cooling temperatures raise an alarm in fish that causes them to feed voraciously and attack anything they can.

Spinnerbaits are fairly weed-free, so they’re great in weed beds. I like to find weedy bays that have enough clear water in-between the weed stems or above the canopy to let my spinnerbait move through the water without fouling too often, and I tend to reel them in quickly in these areas. They make for very good lures to cast in larger pockets or alleyways between weeds as this puts them in the strike zone for a considerable time.

I’ve had a lot of success with spinnerbaits at dawn as the sun is rising. My personal experience is they’ve been less useful at dusk. This might just be a result of my favoring willow leaf styles that rely on reflecting the sun’s glare to shine brilliantly, however, but I just think that fish have trouble adjusting to a fast-moving target right while the sun is setting. You’ll read a lot about how night fishing is best after things settle down to darkness, and specialty “night” spinnerbaits are available when that happens. If you’re interested in going out at night sometime, check out this article by In-Fisherman on how to fish for largemouth bass at night. Just make sure your kid is old enough that it won’t be past their bedtime!

There are plenty of people that throw them later at night, but this is after the fish have had a chance to adjust, and these folks are usually throwing Colorado blades as well.

What is My Favorite Spinnerbait, You Ask?

Now that is a great question, and one not easy for me to answer. I’ve used several great spinnerbaits over the years. Here are my three favorite:

Strike King Bleeding Bait Spinnerbaits

Strike King makes a number of great fishing products. Their Bleeding Bait spinnerbaits are some of my favorite. I value them for their simplicity. There’s nothing fancy about them, but they work very well. I’ve taken them up to notorious pickerel ponds on several occasions and they can take a beating. The little bit of red seems to be a nice touch and is something fish can hone in on. You can pick these up at Amazon by clicking the picture below.

Terminator Spinnerbaits

I got into the Terminator titanium spinnerbait craze a few years back. The reason I was willing to fork over a premium for these lures was because I wanted a lure that I wouldn’t have to bend back all the time when a pickerel hit it. The titanium Terminator lures do work as advertised and spring right back.

The only downside (and it is a significant one) is that I’ve had some of them flat out snap on me – sometimes right out of the box. I don’t know if the titanium gets brittle or what. You can have days where you only need to change the skirt on one of these and catch 30 fish. Other times, your lure breaks instantly. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, but the snaps are very rare and I’m willing to work with them.

Terminator also offers spinnerbaits in stainless steel that won’t have this problem. They aren’t going to bounce back like the titanium frames, but I’ve never had one snap on me either. Terminator makes some of the “best looking” spinnerbaits out there, and they are my confidence bait when it comes to fishing clear water. Most spinnerbaits in my tackle box were made by Terminator for this reason. Just look at this thing. It’s gorgeous!

War Eagle Spinnerbaits

Lately I’ve been buying War Eagle spinnerbaits. I’ve had a hard time finding the titanium Terminators I discussed above, and also these are just a bit more compact. Dad bought a few a couple of years ago and I got around to trying them finally. They glide through the water very well and don’t turn on their side like some other spinnerbaits do. They’re probably going to be my “go to” brand for the foreseeable future.

Recap: Why Spinnerbaits Are Kid-Friendly Fishing Lures

If you were to throw or troll nothing other than spinnerbaits for your entire day, you could reasonably expect the following:

• You’d be fishing with lures that you can use with your regular equipment;
• Your children would be casting one of the safer lures for them to use. Spinnerbaits have a single hook which is thicker than most, making it less likely to pierce flesh unless you’re really trying;
• You can make a game out of casting while you’re waiting for a fish to bite. “Let’s see if you can make a perfect cast right in that pocket” is a great way to increase accuracy over time;
• If the conditions are right, your children have a good chance to catch a very large fish such as a pickerel or pike;
• If one of those fish strikes, there’s a good chance that it won’t cut the lin. The the bent wire frame of the spinnerbait offers some protection;
• This same frame allows the spinnerbait to be somewhat weedless and somewhat snagless. It will deflect or pull through most obstacles without hooking them;
• Whenever they get tired or want a lunch break, you can troll with these while you play a game, have a chat, or have a snack.

As you can see, spinnerbaits are a fishing lure worth buying.

Is that upcoming fishing trip with kids stressing you out? Here’s an article to help set you at ease and make it stress-free.

Roundhead Jigs – A Northern Treat

Roundhead jigs don’t seem to get as much love throughout the entire country as they do in the Northeast, but here many anglers have several in their tackle box. I can tell you from experience that they’re great lures for kids as they were one of the mainstays of my own childhood.

Although their hook is generally of a thin wire, it is a single hook and so it isn’t as dangerous as a treble hook. You also might consider bending the barb down or filing it off to make the lure barbless if you have concerns.

These lures work great for bass and panfish but leave something to be desired for northern pike and pickerel. The lures are small and have no native protection from sharp teeth. You’ll lose many! Attempting to use a wire leader would kill their action and I don’t recommend it. They are inexpensive enough that you should just accept losing a few.

Roundhead jigs can be rigged in several different ways, from the marabou style in the picture below, to tipped with small artificial grubs or even live minnows.

They are easy for kids to cast and they work in a variety of retrieves, which is great for kids who haven’t yet mastered taking directions!

What Kind of Fish Do Roundhead Jigs Catch?

As discussed above, these will catch many fish though you’ll have a lot of break offs with the toothier ones.

The nice thing about these jigs is that they will catch just as many panfish as bass, especially if you use a smaller size. A 1/8 oz or lower can easily catch yellow and white perch as well as crappie and bluegill, while still being attractive towards nearby lurking smallmouth.

This makes them a great lure for children, as they can usually get bit fairly easily. If you tip these lures with worms, that increases considerably, as one would expect.

How Do You Fish a Roundhead Jig?

One of the main reasons roundhead jigs are kid-friendly fishing lures is that kids can find success regardless of how they’re fishing them, just so long as they keep them moving.

They can cast them out and bounce them back in, do a straight retrieve, lift the rod and let it fall back down in place, or a combination of all three.

If you were tipping the jig with a minnow, you might even consider fishing one underneath of a bobber. The jighead would provide enough weight that the minnow wouldn’t go very far, and the bobber would keep the presentation up where fish can see it and away from the bottom where it could be snagged.

When and Where to Fish a Roundhead Jig

I like to fish a roundhead jig during the spring. They’re awesome lures for fishing the rip-rap shores that smallmouth often spawn on. When I was little, Dad used to just drift along entire shorelines with this type of habitat and we’d throw marabou jigs over and over again.

These aren’t going to work as well in weedy flats but they could work fine on the weed edge. This is not a weedless design and picking slime off of marabou feathers is a pain you want to avoid, but you do need to cast where the fish are, and the fish are near cover.

These kind of jigs also get some play from ice fishermen during the winter months. Marabou feathers give a lot of action to a lure that is otherwise standing still, which can be a good combination in frigid conditions.

Which Roundhead Jig is My Favorite?

To be completely honest with you, my favorite lure for roundhead jigs is one that hasn’t been sold for years. It’s this special green grub with a spade tail. Dad bought a few hundred of them when he heard the company wasn’t offering them anymore. Unfortunately, this has led me to the conundrum of not knowing what to do next. They kind of looked like the green ones in the photo below. You might pick this up and try it as the lure I used was always a go-to method of putting smallmouth bass in the boat.

Do you have a grub that works wonders for you? If so, leave a comment and I’ll check it out!

Recap: Why Roundhead Jigs are Great Fishing Lures for Kids

This style of jig offers the following benefits for young anglers:

• You can throw this on literally any rod that you own – an ultralight rod can fling this just fine. Thus, it is a perfect match for a young angler’s equipment;
• Even though the single hook is pretty thin, it’s still a single hook and so it is less likely to injure a child;
• You can go for quantity and quality with this lure as panfish will hit it and so will bass;
• They’re easy to use and your child can retrieve them however they wish while still having a good chance of success;
• They allow for customization. If you give your kid a bare roundhead jig and a few different types of grubs, you can tell them they can play around with which ones work the best.

Looking for the best fishing rods for kids? This article explains what to buy to match all these great lures!

Dropshot – The Ultimate Kid-Friendly Fishing Lure

I saved the best for last. The dropshot is hands down my favorite lure to give to my son. It is the old faithful that I know will always catch fish, no matter where I am, and the lure that I’ve used to catch everything from the tiniest bluegill to massive carp.

You simply can’t beat it, which is why it was the only technique I mentioned in my post, The Basic Skills You Need to Take Your Kids Fishing. If you want to learn how to rig one, check out that post and it will show you exactly how. For now, please scroll down and I’ll walk you through why I think this is the best fishing lure to use with kids, period.

What Kind of Fish Do Dropshots Catch?

A dropshot will catch everything in the lake from panfish to monster pike. With that said, it can take some skill to land larger fish. You’re usually using lighter line and a smaller hook with a dropshot. If you try to horse in a large fish, there’s a great chance that the line will snap or the hook will bend over.

I’ve caught bluegill, sunfish, white perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, freshwater drum and carp on dropshots. Smallmouth especially seem to favor the technique as they tend to like any minnow-shaped lure, as many dropshots are.

While this is going to sound strange, you can tell that a dropshot is great for fishing with kids because so many professional bass fishermen complain about the technique. Listen to what they’re saying exactly. They love the fact that they can catch huge bass with one, but are often frustrated because they have to weed through so many little fish before they get the one they want.

This is music to a fishing father’s ears.

When I’m out with my kids, I couldn’t care less about catching a bass. All I want to do is catch a large number of panfish, and a dropshot is perfect for that. In fact, when I don’t have live bait in the boat, I use this technique as a barometer of sorts to test for signs of life. If I don’t feel little fish tapping away at it soon, I know I need to keep moving.

How Do You Fish a Dropshot?

Dropshots can be fished with either live bait or soft plastics. They are one of the few presentations where I would almost argue it doesn’t matter what you choose, so if you have moral qualms about using live bait, pick up a pack of Berkley Gulp minnows and have a guilt-free ball. To be completely candid, I have had days where Berkley’s claim that Gulp outfishes live bait has proven true.

I know my local lakes pretty well from the map study that I’ve described in an article I wrote about why you can’t catch fish and what to do about it. I therefore have a good idea of where many of the underwater boulders are. A dropshot allows me to make a cast to one side or the other of this boulder. I then leave it there and give it a twitch or two to entice a strike.

One word of warning: hold onto your rod. A huge mistake I often see beginners make is casting out and then putting their rod down. You will miss a significant number of fish if you do this. You want the rod in your hand so you can detect bites.

Use the Wind to Help You

My favorite way to fish a dropshot is just to cast it out into the wind or current and then let it sink. I let it drop all the way to the bottom. Then, I hold my rod off to the side slightly to keep the line taut. This lets me detect bites. When I feel a fish has the hook, I sweep my rod backward with some authority to set the hook.

I find this to be a great way to fish because the current or wind gives action to the lure, and I can keep it dangling in prime real estate for a long time until a fish comes over to nab it.

This is a very effective way to catch fish, and a great way for kids to fish because it’s “cast it and forget it.”

If there isn’t any wind or current, or I’m walking a bank somewhere, I like to just make ever so slight taps of the lure by raising my rod tip slightly 3-4 times and then reeling in slack, just as I might do with a plastic worm. This gives a little action to the lure and I’ve found that to be more effective.

When and Where to Fish a Dropshot?

I will fish a dropshot just about anywhere that I can find clear water. It’s not really a good technique for fishing in heavy weeds, but can be great if you cast just next to them.

It’s also a very good choice if you need or wish to fish deep. A dropshot will sink all the way to the bottom if you let it. I will fish it completely vertically under my boat just picking off the fish that show up on the sonar, which is a fun trick to show your kids.

Although I suppose you could rig the actual bait weedless, there’s just too much going on with the line and sinker and if you throw it into cover you’re going to lose a lot of gear or get fouled too often. Yes, the lure might get through without weeds on the hook, but the dangling weight below will wrap for certain.

Ah, who am I kidding? You’re going to get fouled all the time regardless of where you throw it. This is a definite drawback of dropshots and the reason why sinkers made for the technique are designed to break away.

Any technique that is designed to touch bottom has a very high chance of never returning to the surface. You will find yourself re-tying constantly throughout the day even if you’re fishing by yourself, much less taking along kids and throwing in all the tangles and hazards they bring.

What Dropshot Lure Do I Recommend?

I’ll tie anything on a drop shot from a soft plastic to a nightcrawler, but I’ve found that there is little out there that does better than Berkley Gulp Minnows. I find they work better than worms in some waters, believe it or not. The reason for this is because they tend to catch bigger fish, but also sunfish can’t rob you of your worm. This is one of those lures I make sure to restock each and every year. I personally prefer them in the 2.5″ to 3″ range, though they do sell larger ones for targeting bigger fish.

Recap: Why the Good Ol’ Dropshot is a Kid-Friendly Fishing Lure if I Ever Saw One

I truly favor this technique. I’ve loved it long before my children were born and bought my most expensive rod (used, and with confidence) specifically for this presentation. I can’t say enough good things about it.

It does stink that you’ll lose many sinkers and retie many times, but of all the lures I’ve described, there is nothing that will catch as many fish for your kids as this technique. It’s just about perfect in so many ways:

• Dropshots have a single hook that is safer for kids than treble hooks;
• They catch every type of fish in the lake and if you bait them appropriately, they’ll catch them often;
• It’s a lure that lets you quickly appreciate if you’re in a good spot, because if you don’t feel any taps soon, there’s an issue;
• They are easy for kids to cast because the sinker has enough weight to it that it will carry well;
• Dropshots work very well with the ultralight fishing rods that little kids are prone to use;
• They can be “cast it and forget it” in that they’ll catch fish even if they’re just sitting there (especially if they’re tipped with worms);
• They’re adaptable – removing the weight is a pinch if you aren’t getting bit. Sometimes fish want the worm to fall slower, and you can adjust the presentation to test this theory within seconds and without retying.

Wondering what lures catch what fish? Come check out this article to learn which one to use and why.

In Summary

I hope this article helped you better understand what makes a good, kid-friendly fishing lure. I also hope you walked away with a little confidence in four lures that should work out well for you.

The confidence part is key. If you’re just starting, chances are it’s going to be tough to get a bite. There’s just so much that goes into it. If you start with the lures I laid out, I truly believe you have a good chance of lowering the learning curve a bit and having a good first, second, and third time out there on the lake.

Again, it is very, very important to me that you’re successful. That’s why I took the time to write all of this. I’d love to hear that this helped you, and as always, if this article made your life easier, please consider sharing it so it can help others as well.

You might also consider purchasing my book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide (you can see the link below my signature). In it, you will find numerous tips and tricks for teaching children to fish. If you are trying to get your kids into this sport, or know someone who is, it’s worth a read.

Finally, I’d like to invite you to join my new Facebook group to be updated on new articles. I’ve thought about how best to reach folks and decided that I hate mailing lists, so Facebook is the way to go. Please consider liking the page so we can keep in touch.

Thanks,

John Paxton

Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!