A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Kids will be kids both in and on the water, and what could be better than that? Wyatt Mielke of New Richmond, Wis., shows off his fish in front of David Baker. On the front page is Joshua Baker, who had his fun under the water.
Our anchor tethered us to the rocks below. The current ripped underneath our bow and poured out the backside of the Lund. I threaded half a crawler onto my orange jig and plopped it over the transom. The jig tumbled away quickly in the rapids. Lifting my rod tip to the sky, I could feel it ticking and tumbling through the riprap below. The last dozen times the jig and crawler made the journey ended the same way: in the mouth of a walleye.
On cue, I felt the familiar thunk of a bite. I snapped my rod against the weight of the fish. I handed the hooked fish to one of the kids behind me and let them battle it in the current. We had a nice little routine going: I would hook a fish and hand it off; the opposite kid would grab more bait while I netted the walleye; the orange jig would be rebaited and back in action. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
I can't remember fishing without kids. Between my own four kids, their friends, nieces and nephews, my boat is always full. Over the years I've learned more than a few things about keeping them all happy, and me, sane.
The first consideration is always safety. Life jackets go on before we launch and stay on until the boat is back on the trailer. After safety is addressed, kids require a completely different gameplan.
Time
A full day of fishing for me has always been eight-plus hours. With kids, it's best to shoot for much smaller chunks of time. Along the same lines, kids are always hungry. A pile of snacks and a cooler filled with cold beverages will help keep their cranky versions away.
Location
I try to stay on smaller lakes and fish during decent weather. Even if the fish are cooperating, a 9-mile run banging the waves across Mille Lacs is not the best way to introduce kids to angling.
Technique
Simple is best. Slip-bobbers, drifting with jigs, and trolling crankbaits are all staples when kids are aboard. Asking them to run in-line boards, snap weights or lead-core line is a recipe for frustration.
Species
Action is key. The night the orange jig did its damage was fast-paced walleye action. Many times, walleyes are not the best species to target with kids. Panfish, including crappies and bluegills, provide much more dependable and constant action. Casting or trolling for aggressive northern pike is also a good bet.
Fun
Fishing can be a great activity for kids. I have great memories of catching fish with the kids. Most of the time they would be just as happy swimming, tubing, kayaking, or exploring the shoreline. Keep that in mind. Schedule these activities throughout the day or vacation to keep them from getting burned out on chasing the next bite.
Success on the water has a completely different definition when you have a bunch of kids along. Sure, catching a lot of fish is ideal. However, I measure my days in boatloads of kids - the fun, laughter, and memories.
Bret Baker is a lifetime resident of Cloquet. He is a proud husband, father, educator and outdoorsman. Bret began guiding fishing trips when he was 16 years old. Today, in his 40s, his passion is to introduce people to the tremendous outdoor adventures available in our region.
