submitted by Mr_ to Dads4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:24:27 ago (+22/-0) (Dads)
Hi goats, on my list of things my dad did well, fishing is not on it. I want to learn some basics to be able to teach my 3yo and his about to be born brother something, anything really, about it. What my dad did teach me is that lures are made to trick fishermen out of some money, but beyond that I have no clue where to start. I’ll be in freshwater creeks, ponds, some lakes. I’m north Dallas so without a long drive I’m not planing on eating anything from here so non game catching is fine. Blue gill and perch are as fun to me as a small bass but I’ve only reeled in a handful on borrowed rods. My memories from fishing as a kid is tangled lines or hooks caught in rocks and submerged trees. Basically what I’m hoping for is if someone can point me to is a simple guide or first hand pointers on what minimum equipment I can get to take my boy and spend more time in nature and hopefully reel in something to take a picture of.
Start with a kiddie pole, put a bobber and baited hook on it and let the sickness infect him. Those first few fish is all it will take. A small tacklebox with a handfull of sinkers, spinners and hooks. ~$40
I find there are two overwhelming tasks to overcome with kids and fishing. First is convincing them to bait the hook with that slimy/gross worm by puncturing it's skin and basically stabbing the fuck out of it. The second is when they actually catch the fish and getting them to grab hold so that they can get the hook out.
As soon as possible move him on to an open cast reel, under, over and side casting.
Then to a flyrod. The magic, tranquility and art of the sessions will forever curse him to a life of "I wonder if there are any fish is that mud puddle?"
OP you're already on the right track by showing you want to do this and do it well.
Second, you came to the right place because there is a massive wealth of knowledge here and people to point you in the right direction.
I hope that you walk the dad path well. My wife and I have raised 6 sons and they will always be our greatest work.
(It's possible that fly fisherman are, in fact, part of a cult. And steer clear of bass fisherman. There's something about those people that isn't quite right.)
I thought the secret to fishing was to just go fishing. I was wrong. You just can’t walk up to a shore and drop a hook. If your grandpa or your dad didn’t teach you, then you know nothing. Fishing is not something you just do, it’s learned, a lesson passed down from father to son. Well it has to start somewhere:
1. Look for a place where people are fishing and go there. 2. If there is a bait shop go in, don’t be shy, confess you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing, but want to fish. 3. No bait shop, no worries. Walk up to the nearest guy fishing and ask “any bites” and go from there. 4. Just fish, when someone walks up and asks “any bites” confess you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing and go from there.
PSST: the big secret here is people who fish, also love to talk about fishing, but will never admit it, even with other fishermen, shhh! It’s a HUGE secret!
Spinners certainly have a use but use night crawlers and teach them how to hook them. A pond is a great place to teach them the basics and get them used to how everything works. Then graduate to creeks and rivers. Take a skillet and teach them how to clean and cook the fish. I did that and they loved it. and it tastes really good. Bluegill is my fav fish to eat by far.
If you want to get a youngin hooked on fishing then you need to get a kiddie pole, a small hook, a bobber and some earthworms. Go find a floating dock and your kid will rip the perch out of the water until he can’t stand it anymore. You can’t start them out on the bullshit. The kids need action right away and that’s the best way to give it to them.
I always have good luck with small red worms. Bobber fishing with red worms for crappie and bluegill in ponds/ small lakes. Red worms, or salmon eggs, without the bobber, in streams for trout. Cast upstream, and let the current carry the bait down.
I really only fish (Fly Rod) for stream trout. With Trout, It's about being in the water (waders) at the right time, Knowing the Trouts' habits, and their patterns, also trying to guess what they're biting on. Sorry, I can't be more help.
My Dad used to practice casting with a dummy lure. He used an open face garcia reels to better control his cast. He was a hell of a fisherman and used to fish with Bill Dance before Dance got famous. We spent many Sunday night dinners eating bass. I was spoiled and didn't know it.
Creeks, ponds, rivers, inland lakes, Great Lakes, ocean, ice fishing, rapids, slow current...all have their own application, to get serious about fishing you have to understand the water environment, weather systems, seasonal habitats and behavior and then spend $$$$$$$ on trying to outwit a slimy gilled reptilian with a worm or lure...oh and by the way, only fresh water fish are slimy, ocean fish arent.
@Outlawetc...per to your query re the "slimy"....WHAT THE FUCK...HOW IN THE FUCK WOULD I KNOW WHY FRESH WATER FISH ARE SLIMY WHILE OCEAN FISH AREN'T???...I JUST KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, I'm no fucking biologist or scientist....but I did stay at a "Holiday Inn Express" a few times...the closest thing to an answer that I could give you is that if you spent 24 hrs a day packed in a salt brine you'd have no slime either...seriously though, in my professional opinion I would place Arctic Char/Speckled Trout (basically same fish) at the top of it's culinary class, fresh and salt water, then the Lake Trout and Rainbow Trout, after those broods everything else is salt water with Mahi Mahi at the top, then Pacific Coho, and Yellow Finned tuna next...that's your fish menu, but sometimes all that's available is Red Snapper, Flying Fish, perch or walleye, beggars can't be choosy.
[ - ] Hoobeejoo 1 point 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 23:43:20 ago (+1/-0)
Denton Creek in late February to early may is good for catching sand bass and crappie. I use pink jig heads with white or chartreuse grub jig tails. Plastic minnows with jig heads are good too. Rooster tails and other shyster type lures work also. They are spawning out of lake grapevine around this time and are in there really thick in March.
I've fished it for thirty years and it's usually pretty consistent for at least a couple trips of full stringers.
Around the Rail Road Bridge off of 114 and 377 is where I go. There's lots of places up and down the creek for fishing. I even camp is some of the more wooded areas.
Beware of addiction. My son-in-law is an addict. $200,000 boat and custom trailer. Big F-250 diesel truck to haul it around. Every expensive gadget he can find. Ice fishing house for the winter. Trips to Alaska, Belize, Canada, Montana. They can afford it, and his job is such that he can work from anywhere with a phone connection most of the time, but it is such a waste of time.
Nah, he's an equal opportunity fisherman. His favorite is chasing muskies in Minnesota, but he's happy catching crappies if that's all there is. He just loves to fish.
I got this from an old Florida fisherman that was a master of the craft.
He'd probably be pissed off that I was sharing this because he only told me after I knew him for about 10 years.
Fishing for snook (notoriously difficult to catch) off the dock behind his house he would use a permanent sharpie to make shadow lines on the line behind his leader.
It would confuse the fish and result in fish on line.
[ + ] RMGoetbbels
[ - ] RMGoetbbels 11 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 21:18:35 ago (+11/-0)
I find there are two overwhelming tasks to overcome with kids and fishing. First is convincing them to bait the hook with that slimy/gross worm by puncturing it's skin and basically stabbing the fuck out of it. The second is when they actually catch the fish and getting them to grab hold so that they can get the hook out.
As soon as possible move him on to an open cast reel, under, over and side casting.
Then to a flyrod. The magic, tranquility and art of the sessions will forever curse him to a life of "I wonder if there are any fish is that mud puddle?"
[ + ] xmasskull
[ - ] xmasskull 4 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 02:13:43 ago (+4/-0)
[ + ] UncleDoug
[ - ] UncleDoug 10 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 21:27:39 ago (+10/-0)
All knots reduce line strength. The Palomar knot maintains 95% of line strength, so a 20lbs line still has 19lb of effective break strength.
Improved clinch knot would be the next best knot to learn
4-10lb fluorocarbon and a small 6ft light rod is all you will need for lake fishing I'd imagine.
[ + ] JudyStroyer
[ - ] JudyStroyer 2 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 08:50:43 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 8 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:47:19 ago (+8/-0)
[ + ] Mr_
[ - ] Mr_ [op] 5 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:54:12 ago (+5/-0)
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 4 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 02:14:30 ago (+4/-0)*
Second, you came to the right place because there is a massive wealth of knowledge here and people to point you in the right direction.
I hope that you walk the dad path well. My wife and I have raised 6 sons and they will always be our greatest work.
(It's possible that fly fisherman are, in fact, part of a cult. And steer clear of bass fisherman. There's something about those people that isn't quite right.)
[ + ] deleted
[ - ] deleted 1 point 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 10:12:44 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 1 point 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 17:33:56 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Portmanure
[ - ] Portmanure 5 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 23:58:53 ago (+5/-0)*
1. Look for a place where people are fishing and go there.
2. If there is a bait shop go in, don’t be shy, confess you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing, but want to fish.
3. No bait shop, no worries. Walk up to the nearest guy fishing and ask “any bites” and go from there.
4. Just fish, when someone walks up and asks “any bites” confess you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing and go from there.
PSST: the big secret here is people who fish, also love to talk about fishing, but will never admit it, even with other fishermen, shhh! It’s a HUGE secret!
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 2 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 02:15:57 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] WillisJaxson
[ - ] WillisJaxson 4 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 00:14:41 ago (+4/-0)
https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtml
[ + ] HonkyMcNiggerSpic
[ - ] HonkyMcNiggerSpic 4 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 22:00:57 ago (+4/-0)
[ + ] MasklessTheGreat
[ - ] MasklessTheGreat 3 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 21:35:23 ago (+3/-0)
[ + ] Cantaloupe
[ - ] Cantaloupe 2 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 01:03:46 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] jigganiggaboo
[ - ] jigganiggaboo 2 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 21:45:22 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] chump
[ - ] chump 2 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 21:25:20 ago (+2/-0)
Red worms, or salmon eggs, without the bobber, in streams for trout. Cast upstream, and let the current carry the bait down.
[ + ] Master_Foo
[ - ] Master_Foo 2 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:53:52 ago (+3/-1)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 2 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:30:06 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Mr_
[ - ] Mr_ [op] 1 point 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:35:19 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark 2 points 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 20:43:23 ago (+2/-0)
I really only fish (Fly Rod) for stream trout. With Trout, It's about being in the water (waders) at the right time, Knowing the Trouts' habits, and their patterns, also trying to guess what they're biting on. Sorry, I can't be more help.
[ + ] ProudRebel
[ - ] ProudRebel 1 point 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 06:20:15 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 1 point 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 01:32:45 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Deplorablepoetry
[ - ] Deplorablepoetry 1 point 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 00:44:52 ago (+1/-0)
catching simply side note to the day
Trolling all afternoon and then ordering chicken
Dinner either way
[ + ] Zyklonbeekeeper
[ - ] Zyklonbeekeeper 1 point 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 23:46:34 ago (+2/-1)
[ + ] Outlaw_Aryan
[ - ] Outlaw_Aryan 2 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 00:43:13 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Zyklonbeekeeper
[ - ] Zyklonbeekeeper 0 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 01:52:29 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Outlaw_Aryan
[ - ] Outlaw_Aryan 0 points 4 monthsDec 30, 2023 09:13:50 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Hoobeejoo
[ - ] Hoobeejoo 1 point 4 monthsDec 28, 2023 23:43:20 ago (+1/-0)
I've fished it for thirty years and it's usually pretty consistent for at least a couple trips of full stringers.
Around the Rail Road Bridge off of 114 and 377 is where I go. There's lots of places up and down the creek for fishing. I even camp is some of the more wooded areas.
[ + ] Mr_
[ - ] Mr_ [op] 1 point 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 09:09:34 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] TheYiddler
[ - ] TheYiddler 0 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 07:12:15 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] BoozyB
[ - ] BoozyB 0 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 07:09:15 ago (+0/-0)
My son-in-law is an addict.
$200,000 boat and custom trailer. Big F-250 diesel truck to haul it around. Every expensive gadget he can find.
Ice fishing house for the winter.
Trips to Alaska, Belize, Canada, Montana.
They can afford it, and his job is such that he can work from anywhere with a phone connection most of the time, but it is such a waste of time.
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 0 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 21:14:44 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] BoozyB
[ - ] BoozyB 0 points 4 monthsDec 30, 2023 12:16:42 ago (+0/-0)
His favorite is chasing muskies in Minnesota, but he's happy catching crappies if that's all there is. He just loves to fish.
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 0 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 02:14:01 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] con77
[ - ] con77 0 points 4 monthsDec 29, 2023 00:24:01 ago (+0/-0)
He'd probably be pissed off that I was sharing this because he only told me after I knew him for about 10 years.
Fishing for snook (notoriously difficult to catch) off the dock behind his house he would use a permanent sharpie to make shadow lines on the line behind his leader.
It would confuse the fish and result in fish on line.