Kids at Bennett

[fmcbrandon]

I am taking my two boys, 10 and 9 to Bennett this weekend for their first trout fishing trip.  They will be fishing from the bank since they don' t have waders yet.   Does anyone have any tips or tricks for giving kids a successful trip?  I really want them to have a good time.

[Flysmallie]

 

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for giving kids a successful trip?

They fish and you don't. Keep your attention on them and it will be a good day regardless if they catch a bunch of fish or not.

[ness]

^^ That, plus... Get them set up right -- light tackle, fine line. Keep them untangled and fishing as much as possible and never let yourself get frustrated with them even if they do the same stupid thing a hundred times. It could be worse, it could be 200 times. Oh wait, you said you've got 2 kids, make that 200/400 Also, read  your kids. If they're getting tired of it, discouraged, frustrated, bored, whatever -- go find something else to do. When you all look back on this a few years down the road, the unproductive times will be forgotten and the good things will be remembered.

[Johnsfolly]

I would suggest fishing upstream of the Whistle bridge using a float and microjig. The ones that my daughter has the most luck in getting strikes are the pastel pink, yellow, and white, bright pink, yellow, and white, white with a red spot, or plain white globalls. Also the green body with yellow eye spot John deere jigs work really well under a float. From the bridge, the baits will spend a lot of time in front of fish. You will get some aggressive strikes, but most will be subtle with maybe just a stop in the drift of the float. So make sure that they are able to see the baits as they drift towards them and have them try to anticipate the strike. The fish will often circle the bait before they hit it. Once the fish flares it's gills, have them try to set the hook. The globalls can be a challenge in getting a good hook set, but the fish sometimes cannot keep off of them. The problem with the bridge is that you will need a net to land these fish and preferably one with a long handle to reach the fish.

Also I prefer to fish 2 lb test and think that we get more action than with 4 lb line. The 4 lb will keep the fish from breaking off. so it can be a trade off.

I hope this helps. Good Luck. 

[NoLuck]

3lb test line is the best choice. Especially for over reactive kids. 2lb test you can do it , if you set the drag light enough. 

Also if you fish glow balls, twist the hook to the side just a bit and you'll get more hook ups. 

[gwh]

Pick up a few weighted floats so they can cast them out easier.  

[fmcbrandon]

I was considering just using a normal bobber for them, would this work?  I thought that it would be easier to cast and see.

[Foghorn]

When our kids first started fishing the trout parks, we would often use a wooly-worm spinner with enough weight to cast and keep it down . They caught enough to keep them happy and the casting made for good practice when they started jig and then fly fishing. Did you get them out to Engler park any for the trout fishing? Good spot to practice with enough panfish to keep the catch rates decent and enough other activities if the fishing slows.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Ahh the old wooly worm spinner!   Boy that brings back memories.   To add to the already good advice stop by Weaver's and they'll hook you up with the latest hot lure.

Let them wet wade if they want to.   I know it's cold but my kids would do it anyway and they loved it.

Take lots of pics. 

[fmcbrandon]

Thanks for the advice.  No, we didn't get out there.  Wish we would have though.  I spent the winter fishing Taney.