Just a quick warning!! This is a proud dad blog.
Over the last few years we have written, photographed and captured video of our two young boys learning to fish and boat. We have shared what we have learnt during this time. In the hope that it will help other families to enjoy fishing and boating with their children.
Why ?
Why?? Well, sometimes as a parent you find yourself in a position, whereby you are not quite sure if you are doing the right thing. Or if you are going about something in the right way. Sometimes doubts creep in. Why do my children appear to hate fishing? Why do the kids cry when we are on the boat? How do I keep the kids entertained on the water? Why do the kids continuously get wind knots in the line when I give them my fishing rod? Grrrrrr.
We figure by sharing our own experiences it can help other parents through those moments of doubt.
A while ago we published a blog highlighting some family tips for fishing and boating with kids. You can read it – here –
As a quick recap. We follow a proven formula – Plan, pack, launch, fish, beach, play, eat, change, home. The key being to have the kids involved in every step of the formula, keep them active and learning.
Here Comes The Proud Dad Moment
The good news is that with fishing, they can eventually go it alone. Well, we are not quite at the stage of letting Liam hook up the boat, drive it down to the ramp and head off for the day. But we are certainly at the stage where he is mostly self-sufficient on the fishing front. If you ask him, he is completely self-sufficient.
Cast, cast and cast again!! Chasing tuna schools is great exercise and really does prove a challenge for any angler. A few months ago, I was blown away while watching my eldest son Liam tackle his first and then second tuna. He was into it, fighting hard, keen, pumped, full of energy.
The Lesson
What it highlighted for me was that we have gone from simply needing to keep him occupied by catching anything. To him craving to learn how to catch those larger fish. Developing patience and understanding his quarry and how they behave.
This graduation from junior angler to middle school does present some challenges.
Firstly, let’s talk about gear. Liam is currently 10 years old, and about 150cm tall. He is smack bang in that zone where a full-sized tuna capable rod and reel is a tad big for him. But it will not be long before he is thieving my rods and reels from the shed. Instead of investing in expensive rods and reels to match his current size there are options to assist kids while they continue to grow.
To make it a bit easier for him we have equipped him with a rod gimbal belt. Not only does this help him with handling the larger rod and reel combo. It also helps with gaining leverage while fighting much larger fish. Gimbal belts are inexpensive, come in all shapes and sizes and are sometimes referred to as rod pads. I would also suggest light weight gloves as these help with reducing abrasions and protect against fish spikes etc.
Dads Lesson
Next up…. probably the hardest for some of us dad’s…. let them lead!!
Any dad with teenagers out there has been through this. But for those with little kids still, be prepared. There comes a time when your children will shock you with how much they know. In fact, they will stop you in your tracks when they say something that you simply did not know, or had not considered, and …… they are absolutely, 100% correct!!
Maybe it is a male pride thing, or maybe it is just me. But it sure does hit home how quickly they are growing up. When you look back on the moment, it makes you very proud.
Learn Failure and Success
So, with tuna schools busting up in front of the boat the temptation is to yell instructions. When to cast, how to cast, where to cast etc but sometimes you just need to let them have a crack at it. And, sometimes, a lot of the time. You need to let them fail, as frustrating as it can be. You need to let them stuff up the cast, cast the wrong way etc and not say anything to them. So that they learn by themselves.
Remember though. Maybe just sneak the boat in a tad closer. Manoeuvre it so they have an easier shot so that they do eventually hook up and let them claim it as their win. We all know the truth, but let their confidence grow. You won’t hear the end of it and you wont struggle to get them to come for a fishing trip from that moment.
The last challenge?? Getting them to give up the rod so you can finally have a go!!
Congratulations Liam. When is your Dad going to sign over the boat to you?
Sign it over ??
He already drives it more than me !!