Let's Go Fishing, from the river, lake and sea

Ready to take the kids fishing?

I have a couple very young children and am planning to take them fishing come springtime but need advise on the best places to take them. I want them to have fun and at the same time not have to chase the youngest into the water and mud every 5 seconds. I am thinking somewhere remote so I don't tick off other anglers (as my kids will undoubtedly scare off anything worth a cast).

I am also planning to take up fly fishing but from what I understand it takes lots of time to learn and considerably more to master. I plan to live for roughly 90 or more years so the mastering part doesn't concern me as much as the learning. Any help here would be appreciated.

we have great fishing here in Missouri I can show you where to fly fish for rainbow trout in the mourning and take the little ones to catch blue gill in the after noon.
Depending on where you want to stay there are plenty of reasonable motels with kitchenettes, RV camp grounds or primitive camp sites.
As far as mastering Fly Fishing, I have been Fly fishing for more than 40 years and it is hit and miss, no guarantees, but I can teach you all the basics you have to get your on rhythm and form, March to oct. I try to take a 3 day weekend once a month and almost always catch my limit of Trout. On my profile the pic. of me is holding my first speceld(or brown) trout after 40 years of trout fishing(kinda hard to catch).
Let me know when you want to go or let me know where you want to go and I will get you some info for the area.

oh how old are the childeren, my grandkids are 3 and 4 but i started them at 2 and 3.

Missouri is a little further than I think I'll get to this spring, I am thinking somewhere in Southern ID/Northern UT. I have a 4 year old and 18 month old. The 4 yr old I can keep in check but the baby has me running so much I was thinking a nice quite lake with lots of shoreline.

Fly fishing might have to wait a while but I really do want to take it up.

hmmm I'm not sure about where to recommend about fishing. My uncle knows a lot of great spots all over, I'll see if he'll let me know.

Let me take a shot in the dark here seeings what you have listed for realm. Would it be somewhere near the river?

I haven't been that way in a while but I can only imagine how cold it must be right now. I never have been big on ice fish'n.

We found a great place to take our children last fall. Many states have one, some better than others. I would check it out. We took them to a near by fish farm which has a nice lake for fishing and a great trout pond. In the trout pond everyone is gareented to catch a fish or two. Within about a hour each of us had caught 4 nice size trout. You pay only for what you catch. It was a great day and we barely got our lines in the water when we got our first bites. With the little one I would go no where near any water without a good leash or baby harness. Little ones can move so quickly and don't understand danger. We rarely went anywhere and never near water without a harness on our little ones and a good hold on the harness. My eldest, until she was about 3 or 4 always loved to chase the geese and would often end up getting wet but never got away or very far into the water. A child harness or good leash is a life saver and a most have for anyone with toddlers and small children.
Check out your area and see if you have a fish farm nearby. Put the 18month old and maybe the 4 year old on a leash for safety sake and have fun. Young children will go in the water and get wet. The harness and leash keeps them from going too far and possible danger.
RebeccaAnn

RebeccaAnn, that's a good idea thanks! I never really considered doing the fish hatcheries much because I was brought up to think of fishing that way as "cheating" or impure in some way. Could be my old man's way of not having to shell out any $ for what he knew we could do on a lake shore for free.
I think my 4 year old would be fine and would do great with out the need of a leash or restraint I'm just hoping that the youngest will learn a little more self restraint in the coming months.

I am going to try Ice Fishing towards the middle of Feb, not with my kids though.

I was told that fish like WD-40 sprayed on salmon eggs and that I would need some piano wire or something like that to tie around the line since fish are so slow in the cold water that you can barely tell if you got one on. I was also advised to wear waiters since I'll likely be standing in some slush if it is at all warm or sunny.

Does anyone else have some helpful advise, tips, tricks I should know of?

Wow! No one has been fishing since February 2009? I love fishing all seasons of the year. Here on Georgia's beautiful coast the fishing and shrimping season is in full session. I fish year around with friends and grandkids. This fall I have been catching trout, redfish and flounder. I have been catch very large shrimp in my castnet. As the water cools down I will continue to fish and shrimp. Let's wet a hook.

The last time I was ice fishing I used a small "fishing shanty" and a "white gas" heater. I am too much of a wuss to sit in the wind now.

When I was 25 or so I fished with a friend of my father's on a lake on the family farm. I was tougher then and he brought two bottles of cheap sweet red grape wine mixed half and half with whiskey. (half gallon each) I drank the better part of one and since it was bitter cold, I did not notice any effect from the alcohol. However, when I got to the house and warmed up did I ever pay for that one. I was probably fortunate to have survived! I heard about it on a regular basis till dad died nearly 30 years later.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

I have noticed a number of people fishing on the lakes and reservoirs around me. I enjoy fishing but it has been a year since I last got a line wet. I like fish and it is a good way to fill at least part of a freezer.

I wish I were able to catch shrimp!! Here we can catch Bass Bluegills, Crappie Perch, Channel Catfish and Walleyes. Occasionally a Snapping Turtle can be had but since the big ones are older than I am, I have not kept one for a long time. I guess I should not complain about the selection here though. Oh, I forgot Frog Legs!

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Well it's looking like ice fishing season is coming to a close around here. People are saying this is probably the last weekend and if you go out to be very careful.

Think that means fly-fishing soon!

Slainte

My brother has been to montana to open the house in preparation for trout fishing. As I traveled today, I saw a lot of cars pulling small fishing boats and many people on ponds and streams fishing. More than usual I believe.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

I have a fishing pole in the trunk of my car with tackle, bait and a chair to sit my duff on. Unfortunately what I lack is time. Work is such a pain, I get only a few brief hours a week to relax and am usually 45 minutes to an hour from being able to cast off. I am starting to think I should just try some urban fishing.



Hope all those who have read this topic in the last year have had more chances than I to get out and get a line wet!