On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:13:29 -0600, "Tim Apple"
wrote:

My boys are asking about fishing, and though I want them to be elitist
bamboo flinging, dry fly snobs. I know this is not very realistic at three.
I have some old heddon glass rods I could rig up, and maybe just use a hook
and corn and go after bluegill, or would it be better to just get them some
lil' zebcos and give in to the spinning rod. If anyone has gone through
this, any advice on being successful without making the children hate
fishing please share.

Tim Apple

FALSE ADVERTISER! FALSE ADVERTISER!

....I mean, seeing the subject, I was led to believe this was going to be
a thread about ROFFians or the Bush or Obama administrations, but nope,
it's about fishing...

That said, first and foremost, I disagree with Louie about making sure
they catch fish. I don't believe in building false expectations. IAC,
as to the type of gear, that depends on the person, be they 3 or 30. I
think if they show an interest, let them be the guide. OTOH, if it's
only you that show an interest in them fishing, I'd hold off on
anything. If they do show an interest and are able to use it, I see
nothing wrong with a fly rod and a whiff.

Frankly, I'm not sure 3 years of age, generally speaking, is old enough
to be actually casting anything with a hook, but 5 or 6 is, again
generally, about old enough. I was using fly, spinning, and baitcasting
rods, albeit with, um, backlash issues on the latter two, to fish by
about 5 (prior to that, I was only instructed and used nothing but a
whiff). By 6 or 7, I was able to use all three fairly well. I suppose
using a "cane pole" setup where an adult tosses the rig and the child
holds the pole is safe enough for 3 year olds, if you simply want to let
them fish.

TC,
R