The Spoonpluggers Forum

This one will be pretty self explanatory once you watch it. The second trip with my niece, Hannah, this weekend.

Watch video here: http://youtu.be/msFduGMFXZE

-Brian

What a great video!
Nice job Hannah!
You to Brian....

Brian,

Excellent video. Hannah is doing an outstanding job of handling rod and reel. I have seen adults that could not do as well as she does.
Nothing like fun fishing for a child or grumpy old guys.

Thanks for taking a child fishing; consider that the trip is an investment in a lifetime.

Good Fishing,

TN Dave

As an addendum to the above post, keep in mind that children do not have the stamina that an adult has, nor does the child have the desire of a full blooded Spoonplugger who thinks nothing of fishing from daylight to dark thirty. (Think John Bales)

The idea is to keep the fishing fun and when the child starts getting tired or hungry take a break or pack the trip in for the day. Same thing applies to wives or girl friends that might be new to fishing. Best to make a fishing buddy for life rather than burn them out on the first trip.

Also keep in mind the necessity of a PFD for the child (and the Spoonplugger also). Depending upon the waters fished and in the state being fished; there can be various requirements for keeping a child in a PFD. Expensive ticket if one is given by law enforcement for a lack of PDF's on the child or in the boat.

Good Fishing,

TN Dave

Very good points, TN Dave. This whole trip lasted just about 3.5 hours, but that was because her attention was mostly held by catching fish. Not much worse for a kid than forcing them to stay out fishing (because YOU don't want to go in) when nothing is biting and they're bored. What wasn't shown were the trips back to shore for restroom breaks, a stop in the marina for drinks and cookies, plus a look at all the live bait, as well as a quick playground stop after loading up to head home.

The life jacket is also a very good reminder. State rules vary, so be sure to be familiar with yours. Some of the video she had it on, and some of the time she took it off and sat on it, but it was always out and available for her. The first fishing trip out with her in June she wore it most of the day (http://www.bigindianabass.com/cinsplgrs ... -kids.html). This trip she got a bit more comfortable with being out on the water quicker. Along those lines, be sure that the life vest for the women and kids actually fits them and isn't just some large adult vest for you that might slip off them easily if they were to go in.

Lastly, especially with the kids, since so many are technology focused now days (everything they play with seems to be in the form of a handheld video game), encourage them to pose or take pics and videos of any fish they catch. Some of the kids really like to ham it up (like Hannah), and get just as much thrill showing off their pictures to other family members or friends after the trip as they do actually catching them (or so it seems). Remember, every fish a kid catches is "big" and important to them, at least initially, so play them all up.

If you do everything right that first time, you'll know it because they'll likely be the one asking you to go fishing again, and not the reverse. That was exactly the case this trip because we didn't over do anything that first trip.

-Brian