A boy and his bass...

[goodfishin]

Been a fun few days of fishing.

First, I took my five-year old out Fathers Day morn to test out his new Abu Garcia closed-face reel (rest in peace, fragile Zebco 33. We hardly knew ye...). Hit Watchung Lake in the designated fishing area and tossed around a few night crawlers expecting to hoist up a few sunnies. Instead, my son cast out, hooked up, landed and released the surprise largie in the pic all by himself. His first completely unassisted bass (with some very proud posing thrown in for good measure).

Then, this morn, after almost getting shanghaied by a flat tire, I took him out to a little lake/pond I've been scouting out. I'd cast out a Senko on my medium-heavy action rod and spinning combo, get a strike and set the hook, and hand the rod over to my son to fight the fish.

We were into fish for a solid hour starting with the first cast. My little guy's Father's Day bass had been a PB for him but he beat that one with the first bass today. Then he beat that one with the one that followed it. Then he topped that one with the next one! Thats the one on in the second picture. Chunky little guy.

I told my son that we just had a special day. Breaking your personal record three times in a row with bigger and bigger fish. Much fun.

Mike

[goodfishin]

Oops. Second pic didnt come through. One of my son's three-in-a-row New PBs... I love his expression. It's like "whoaaa, I just caught a really big fish."

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great job dude. Way to get the kid hooked up!

[flatcreek]

I like that, nothing better that watching the little guys battle a fish.

[Bottomfeeder]

Very cool! How long has he been fishing? Can't wait until my son is old enough!

[Skunk City]

Way to pass on our awesome sport. Classic pictures!

[goodfishin]

Bottom, we started hitting very kid-friendly ponds last year when he was 4. Short trips. Got him a little kids' rod/reel combo and always prescouted a place to make sure there were plenty of sunnies just waiting to be hauled out. Also made sure to use the outings as sort of overall nature trips. The more stuff they see, the better. So pointing out turtles sunning themselves or herons stalking fish actually go a long way toward keeping them engaged.

Last year he had fun. This year, he's into it. Said to me around opening day that we should try to catch 100 fish this year. We caught our 71st today. Since I reel in one for every 5-10 he catches, that's about 60 fish for my little man.

If you ever want to PM me about tips or advice on taking little ones out, feel free.

Mike

[lunkertaker]

B This year, he's into it. Said to me around opening day that we should try to catch 100 fish this year. We caught our 71st today. Since I reel in one for every 5-10 he catches, that's about 60 fish for my little man. Mike

Mike way to get your little man on the fish and the sport and thanks for sharing. Worked through the catch a fish (usually a sunny) every cast years ago with my little man who is now 24! I gave him a fly rod with a bluegill-killer fly (we did not kill any bluegill...just the name of the fly I tie) and he learned to back and forth and caught so many. Now he knows that a few more casts are in order to get the big ones.

[goodfishin]

Lunk, that's what made the past two outings extra fun. Up until now, he has been more than happy to reel in a to of sunnies. Quantity over quality. When he caught the surprise bass all by himself on Sun morn, it spun him off in another direction. The first taste of having to work harder and use more skill and patience but for the worthy reward of a bigger fish and bigger fight.

Good fun.

Mike

P.s. he's going to be 24 in like 5 minutes, I'm sure... Trying to soak it all up while I can.

[MikeNJ]

Good stuff Mike! Nothing better than seeing the look of joy on the little ones faces! I remember fishing at a lake with my daughter. She was tossing night crawlers off the dock at a lake house catching sunnies and some nice panfish. All of the sudden her pole doubles over, also referred to by her as a "pole bender", and she lands her first LMB in the 2.5 - 3lb range!! She was so excited but I think I was more excited for her. Something you never forget...

[njfisherman1975]

Great pictures...thanks for introducing a young angler to the best addiction around!!!

[Bottomfeeder]

Great tips for keeping the little one engaged, thanks!

[AndrewT]

Keep it up. I'll never forget my first bass. That drove me into my bass fishing obsession. Some of my best memories have been fishing with my dad.