Just read Tred Barta's article in this months Sport Fishing mag aboutblue water kids. He makes a lot of sense. You have to make the day fun. Too many of us get too serious about fishing. I have gone with people who are too intense to have fun. The crew I like to fish with is relaxed and out to have a good day. I'm sure that how we act will influence the way children view the fishing experience. I also like his idea that the child should have a job- looking for birds- checking the water temp or some other thing to make him feel important and useful. :ernaehrun
Every time I have kids on a charter I give them something to be in charge of. What ever it is. Make something up if you need too. I'll some times give them a couple things to do. It lets them feel important, gives them something to do between catching fish, makes them think a little and above all adds to the fun. It gives them lots of things to talk about when the trip is over. The other thing I do is to pay as much atention to the kids as I can. Not just the fishing things but talk to the kids, joke around with them, point out things that are going on around the boat. Like birds working, how the fish are feeding. Anything and everything. Ask them questions about things they have lots of interest in. Probably in these kinds of situations the kids are the ones that get ignored. Its easy to talk to the adults the guy that set up the trip. But then 2 hrs into the trip the kid is board and wants to go home then Dad gets mad. Take care of the kids so that they have a blast and everything else takes care of its self. IT WORKS !!
I think you guys hit the nail on the head. As it wasn't that long ago I was one of them. I guess if they are real young then it may be tougher, but if they are at the age of learning and doing then I say let them do. Just reeling in isn't enough. Heck, I use to love to cut bait, and still do. We have to remember that they will be future customers, mates, and captains.
What do you captains do if you have some sick ones on the boat. If its any of my adult buddies I just laugh at them and then drink a beer and eat a hoagie in front of them, but that doesn't work for the kids. I was sick once and felt like dying. I still can image my dad laughing but after a few hours of agony he felt real bad, but couldn't do anything. After that night, I told myself that I would never get sick again, knock on wood its held true.
Tackletrap, only speaking for myself. If I have adults sick on the boat I don't say anything. I just keep working and finding fish. Maybe smoke a couple cigars. I let their buddies bust their butt. If the person can't make it through the trip and THEY ASK TO HEAD BACK to the barn I'll call it a day and go. If that's what the group wants. Most times they will stay out. Because the one that is sick doesn't want it to be their fault that we stop fishing. But if I have a kid sick I might give it a few minutes but I will get dad into the cabin and I WILL SUGGEST WE HEAD BACK. I'll tell him that the kid probably won't feel much better until we get back to the dock. Its not worth being out on the water if a kid is sick. They may not ever want to come back out in the future. I've had kids that got sick on one trip and came back out on another trip and were fine. If a kid is sick and we stay out its just torture for the kid and they may not give it another chance. And that's the worst thing that can happen. Dad loses a fishing buddy, the kid will have no interest in the sport. We all lose in the end.
Everytime I have my kids on the boat they drive me up the wall,They allways complain about something,they want something different for lunch,they want this that the other thing,I guess they are to young?8,10.the 10year old is getting better but the 8 year old drives the fish away,and always breaks something or drops something over the side.My personal favorate is,, when we do land a fish he has to poke it`s eyes till the fish is dead
CAPT CRAIG...........YA HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THE DEAL ABOUT..."GIVING THE KIDS SOMETHING TO BE IN CHARGE OF".........GREAT IDEA
I AM THE MATE ON OUR RIG......AND IF THE BITE IS SLOW.......I DO TRY TO HELP THOSE THAT THINK THEY ARE DYING..........COLD TOWELS....PILLOWS...LAST WILL & TESTAMENT RITES ...ETC......AND I'VE NEVER SEEN DRAMAMINE WORK THOUGH!! THOSE THAT TELL ME THEY TOOK IT THE NIGHT BEFORE STILL GET SICK..........
I NOW KEEP SHAVED GINGER STRIPS SOAKED IN JUICE STORED IN FRIG....THIS HELPS!!!
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