Kids fishing day suggestion

[Devan S.]

Kids fishing day is this coming weekend. My daughter is 3 and this year we're gonna start fishing. Ideally I would prefer to bobber fish with worms for perch but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Looks like trout fishing is going to be first on the list for simplicity(close to house and bank fishing).

For trout all I've ever done is fly fish, jig fish, and jerk bait. All 3 methods I don't feel super comfortable with a 3 year old trying. 

What is the best rig for fishing eager trout on kids fishing day? I'm thinking something under a bobber since it keeps her focused "watching". I'm certain were not at the point of feeling a bite yet. 

Any ideas from the group? I thought maybe a jig but knowing she is gonna be slow on the take may not work as well. 

 

[Quillback]

Yeah I'd say a worm under a small bobber is best for a 3 yo.  

Don't know if you are interested but there is a kids fishing deal here in Bella Vista on Saturday May 15.  You don't have to be a resident and it is free.  Registration starts at 0730 with fishing to begin at 0800.  Small pond behind the Metfield clubhouse that is stocked with catfish for the event.  

[Devan S.]

I considered worms for RR but real worms aren't allowed in zone 1 where I assume they will be allocated space. I guess maybe power worm or synthetic eggs are my best choice and I've never fished either myself. Do I just rig them the same way?

The BV deal sounds fun if I knew she would actually fish more than 15 minutes which is what I expect this deal to last before we have to go pee, throw rocks, and go get snacks. 

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, Devan S. said:

I considered worms for RR but real worms aren't allowed in zone 1 where I assume they will be allocated space. I guess maybe power worm or synthetic eggs are my best choice and I've never fished either myself. Do I just rig them the same way?

A worm under a float would also be my first choice. A close second would be a small weighted glo ball that is brown or tan to match the pellet feed. Check the regs for that day. I seem to recall that for kids days that they dropped the zone regs to allow the kids any bait choice. If they are enforcing the zone regs, then you are probabaly not able to fish any of the synthetic baits in that zone either. 

With any bait and a child that young consider keeping the fish since it's likely to be a deep hookset. Fish power worms the same way as you do for reg worms. For power eggs I like to use #18 or #20 trebles and put one to three eggs on the hooks, but I fish them off the bottom. Under a float I would go with one and make sure that you have a split shot above the hook.  

Good luck and post photos😁

[Devan S.]

Yep, I am certain there will be deep hookset. We don't like to eat trout but if they are deep we will keep and give to a friend who will eat them. 

[Devan S.]

Well the forecast looked bad for kids fishing day but I think it really kept the crowds down. We started with a pink trout magnet and caught 2 right off the bat. caught=I hooked and she reeled them in. Then boredom set in so we played on the playground and then "rested" in the truck before jumping out and catching 4 real quick to take home. We really had a good day and hopefully she is hooked. The last 4 we caught on a brown egg reeled very fast and then just stop and let em fight over it. pellet pigs they were.  River was full of fish and several good fish were in each pool. 

It's not quite stay out all night in March slinging jerkbaits for walleye but we will get there. 

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Devan S. said:

Well the forecast looked bad for kids fishing day but I think it really kept the crowds down. We started with a pink trout magnet and caught 2 right off the bat. caught=I hooked and she reeled them in. Then boredom set in so we played on the playground and then "rested" in the truck before jumping out and catching 4 real quick to take home. We really had a good day and hopefully she is hooked. The last 4 we caught on a brown egg reeled very fast and then just stop and let em fight over it. pellet pigs they were.  River was full of fish and several good fish were in each pool. 

It's not quite stay out all night in March slinging jerkbaits for walleye but we will get there. 

                 Priceless right there @Devan S. but you know it!

[Johnsfolly]

Congrats to your little fisherperson! Nice trout and a great way to introduce her to fishing!