Ideas for kids

This morning my only daughter (Aubrey) came in to my office and asked, "Will you teach me how to fly fish?" Mind you, to say that Aubrey is "a bit prissy" is probably an understatement. I'll just say, "being a ballerina has been her life's ambition". She's nine and has four brothers ages 22, 18, one that is deceased, and a 6 year old. And only Evan (the 6 year old) has any interest in fishing. So out to the yard we went with my rod in hand, and I imparted what little wisdom I have. I was rewarded after about 10 minutes or so with screams of delight as she began actually forming a "loop" that went (more or less) where she wanted. "I'm doing it!!" was repeated many times with great enthusiasm. I've never seen her more giddy. Not even when she got a lead part in the Ballet she auditioned for. She actually ran in to the house to "get Mommy". Who (reluctantly) came out to see her daughter "casting".

I'm obviously going to get Aubrey her own rod, reel, etc. immediately, and take her fishing as soon as possible. And yes, I'll go somewhere she'll likely be (very) successful catching fish. But I'd love to hear any ideas anyone has to "stoke the fire."

By the way, for the record my better half isn't "enthusiastically encouraging" this venture, but she also isn't "discouraging" it. She's "quietly supportive". Fly fishing just isn't her "thing", but you can probably guess, ballet is.

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The smarter I get the less I know.

[Gardenfish]

bluegills or some such at a pond. Watch them "dance" in the water as she pulls them in. I think that dancers would be great casters - getting their bodies into the casting motion.

[fcch]

Way to go Clueless, ...

One for Aubrey and a for mom . Different strokes I guess.

Just remember, when you go out with her, its her outting. Newcomers may lose (temporary) interest easily. Plan ahead. Make sure the weather is OK, the water levels are "normal".

I took friends kids to a nice spot where they could fish, run around and not get frowned upon by some "Sports" that can't remeber that they too started one day.

Find a spot where they can probably catch something, anything, Gills, trout, bass. Hunt for turtles, make a camp fire (if legal). Roast hotdogs on a fire ... anything to keep 'em out of doors and breathing real air, enjoying the nature.

Have fun .... that's why we do this.

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Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:98f2c]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:98f2c]

[D. Micus]

Find a spot where she can catch blue gills, swim, chase turtles, and all of that good kid stuff. You'll have a ball.

[SteelieD]

Awesome!!

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"Dad can we go fishing?"

"Yes. Of course we can."

Say yes, always say yes.

[fcch]

Steelie,

You got that right ...

We had a thread on this last year: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/011039.html:46f8e]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/011039.html[/url:46f8e]

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Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:46f8e]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:46f8e]

[buna]

I just returned from stocking fingerling browns with my seven year old son. My fishing buddy also took along his two kids, a daughter who is seven and his son that is four. The guys from TU running the stocking let them dip the fingerlings into buckets and generally made a big fuss about them being there. They had a ball. They dumped several buckets in and tried there best to catch them back. LOL. If you can find something like that to attend I highly recommend it. My son told me on the way home, "Dad, I wasn't sure about this when you asked me, but this is the funnest day of my life." I think it was the funnest day of my life also.
Buna

[fcch]

Buna,

Now THAT sounds like a bit of quality time

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Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:49475]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:49475]


[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 23 April 2005).]

Buna,

Great idea! I'm going to have to see if I can make that happen! Being "educational" I think I could even get my wife excited about that one. Sounds like a family field trip to me.

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The smarter I get the less I know.

[William Fitzgerald]

When my 6 grandchildren come to visit they set up 6 vises in the tying room and tie their favorite bluegill pattern---usually a rubber cricket. I teach children so I have the rods and a pond full of fish. Be sure and use dry flies, a rubber cricket for gills, so that she will see the fish hit the fly. I've had the same good times with two of my daughters,both love to fly fish. One now travels around the world and carries a small pack rod in her luggage. Maybe I can talk her into using some of her flying hours on one of her New Zealand trips.

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Bill