How to "Take a Kid Fishing" ~ The Iowa Sportsman Magazine

The lastest Iowa Sportsman Magazine is out, and the highlighted article this month is "How to take a kid fishing".  Here's my article, also a direct link to check out the entire May 2024 issue.

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Fishing has been a huge part of my life from a very early age.  I can remember begging my dad to take me fishing on the weekends.  He worked six days a week, church on Sunday mornings, but I just knew a father of seven kids wanted to take us fishing every chance “I wanted to go”.  Looking back now, I can’t believe we went fishing at all.  However, those times out on the river, ponds and streams always seemed like fun.  As for my dad, I don’t remember him fishing much, but he didn’t seem to mind.  Those early days out enjoying nature and catching fish sparked something in me that has lasted a lifetime thus far.  I have taken this passion of fishing and passed it on to my kids, their friends, extended family members and the community.  It hasn’t always been perfect over the years with young kids trying to fish, but I have found a few things that are a must when taking kids fishing.  I hope my trials will help you have some enjoyable times with kids this year.

Location isn’t just important in real estate, it is vital when taking kids fishing.  First, you must think about an area that has plenty of catchable fish.  Most kids don’t really care about the size of the fish, it is all about seeing that bobber going under the water, or feeling that thump on the end of the line.  Take your time, do some research and pick an area where fish will be caught.  If you don’t have action every ten minutes or so, kids will get bored and lose focus, this is when the mood will turn negative and take away from the outdoor experience.  A private pond or county park lakes are a wise choice when it comes to a nice place to take kids.  Many of the county parks that dot Iowa are small, have great access from shore and typically have a lot of bluegills that are willing to bite.  Private, stocked ponds are obviously a great choice if you have permission to fish some.  Spring is typically best with small ponds, as the warm weather increases many small ponds can become full of weeds making shorelines difficult to fish from.  You will want to do your homework and check areas before loading the kids up for a fishing trip. 

When taking kids fishing it is important to KISS. (Keep It Simple Stupid)  Equipment should be the basics only, spincast, push-button reels are best for young kids, and as they get a little older spinning reels will work well too.  Live bait is great to use, most kids love to play with worms and minnows.  When getting bait, try to get small red worms, not the big nightcrawlers.  Smaller worms work so much better than nightcrawlers when fishing for bluegills.  Live bait rigs with slip bobbers are my go-to when fishing with kids.  They are simple to set up, easy to re-bait and the kids love to watch that bobber.  It is nice to have a few basic lures for the kids who want to mix it up a bit.  Small jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits all are simple to use and will give some extra joy to the kids as they cast them out and reel them in.  

Food and drink are a very important thing to consider when taking kids out.  Plenty of water, fruit, juice boxes, fruit snacks, crackers and other treats are necessary for a successful day.  Trust me, you can never have too many snacks when it comes to taking kids fishing.  First, it gives them energy and keeps their bodies going, secondly, it gives them something to do when the fish are not biting.  Bring plenty of them and a good variety, the kids will love them and hopefully give them a boost in the trip when the fish are not cooperating.

We all know that fish have their own mind and sometimes bite well and other times not so well, no matter what we do it may just be a bad day of fishing.  If this is happening, turn the day into a day of learning.  Talk and teach the kids about the different species of fish that live in the lake or pond.  Another neat topic to discuss is the ecosystem of the body of water you are fishing.  Discuss the small creatures that are food for the fish, perhaps try to catch some of those.  Crawfish, bugs, minnows and worms can take attention off of the negative fish and get their attention on other cool nature items.  Most kids will soak up any knowledge of creatures that may be close to your fishing area.  

The last thing to consider when taking kids fishing is the time factor.  Depending how things are going with your fishing activities, keep a good eye on the time.  You do not want the kids to want to go home, ideally you want them asking to stay longer.  This will set up your next trip nicely and allow you to have a positive conversation on the way home about the next adventure.  

Taking kids fishing can be very rewarding.  When the fish are active and biting things are pretty easy, however I hope you remember a few of the tricks I have discovered over the years to keep kids busy and learning about nature when the fish are not so interested.  I hope you all have the opportunity to take some youngsters out this year, remember, it is all about them and the outdoor experience.  Keep those things in mind and you and the kids will have a great day.

***NEW Fish Sandwich/Snack

 

With the first fresh crappie catch of the year I decided to try something completely different to enjoy them.  I love a good tuna sandwich, fresh lettuce, cheese and dab of mayo, YUM.  So with this idea in mind I decided to take twenty crappie fillets and give it a try.  The idea was to prepare it just like the quick tuna fish sandwich many of us have loved for years our of the can.  It turned out pretty good, totally different taste, but still very tasty.  I also tried it the next day on some RITZ crackers as a snack...I must say this tasted even better than the sandwich.  Either way, this will not be the last time I create this quick, simple, and healthy meal.

~Bake 10 crappies (20 fillets) for 10 mins at 350 degrees

~Flake the fillets to small pieces

~Add flavorings- see picture (I did add some mayo also)

~Fix as a warm crappie sandwich, or let cool for a cold sandwich or cracker topper snack.

The "Crappie Salad" mixture

April BIG BASS

 April always brings another season here in Iowa, sometimes a new season every other day!  As we all know we can't do anything about Mother Nature, but we can and should be trying to catch your biggest largemouth in the month of April.  The water tends to warm around fifty degrees in April, and when you get some consistent weather, that surface temperature can really get the bass biting, especially the big ones.  As you can see from the highlighted picture, bass can get big quickly this time of year.  A couple of key things if you are looking to catch your biggest largemouth bass this month.

1) Watch the weather: consistent weather patterns allow bass to feed up.  Warmer, sunny days will be the best times for you to to chase after your big bass.  Consistent weather is important too, it doesn't have to be really warm weather, just consistent.  Steady water temps will get these bass feeding and actively searching for food.  

2) Baits: This time of year I keep it pretty simple.  Jig and chunk, spinnerbait, and jerkbait for deeper water.  These three baits will cover shallow water, mid-depths and deeper water too.  These work on lakes as well as rivers all around the state.   This time of year you can really keep things pretty simple.

3) Speed: Thinking back to almost all my bigger bass in the month of April, it was a slow retrieve.  Whether it was a jig crawled on the bottom, slowing twitching a jerkbait or slow rolling a spinnerbait.  Keep your baits moving slowly to get those big bass in the chasing mood.

Best of luck to you the rest of the month, I hope you can catch a GIANT too!

Catching Early Crappies

 The Iowa Sportsman Magazine: April Issue

The ice is long gone, the grass is turning green, and the birds are singing, all of these are signs for anglers to get out and go fishing.  Walleyes, bass, catfish, and pike are fish that really come alive in early spring, but as we flip the calendars to April, panfish, especially crappies become the focus for many anglers.  It’s that time of year, so let’s get the gear ready and catch some!

 Crappies bite all months of the year, however crappies in the early spring are very rewarding once you find them.  Springtime crappies can be a feast or famine type of fishing, once you catch one, there are typically many closer by.  Let’s examine where to look for crappies this time of year, what gear you will need to catch them, and how to properly keep, clean and prepare some crappie.

 Crappies are located all across Iowa, from rivers, ponds, small county lakes, state parks and large reservoirs.  No matter where you live, you are not far from catching some crappies in the next few days.  The best resource you have is the DNR website to find these areas.  This site has a lot of information on it, including most every lake in the state and the fish that are living in each lake.  These lakes can be sorted by county, so you will find something close to you very quickly.  As we all know, all lakes are not created equal, especially when it comes to crappies.  Crappies can be very cyclical, meaning that they can do very well for a few years in a lake, then have some bad years in that same lake.  Spawning conditions can vary and create some very good years as well as down years.  There are many good crappie lakes in the state, especially if you are trying to get enough for a meal.  Doing a little homework online will lead you to an area and save you a lot of trial and error.  Getting a good working “network” of friends is probably the best route to go.  Once you develop some friends that you can trust with sharing information, giving, and taking information can lead to less homework, and more fish.  Who doesn't want that?

Early season crappies are probably one of the most sought-after fish this time of year.  It could be because all anglers can have success doing it.  You do not need a boat or kayak to chase these fish down, fishing from the shoreline can be just as effective.  When it comes to rods and reels, these do not need to be fancy either.  Crappie fishing requires some basic gear, but for the most part most anglers will have enough to get out there and catch a few fish.  The best combo for catching crappies is a spinning combo.  The rod should be six feet to seven feet in length and be a medium power with moderate action.  This rod will give you the flexibility to throw little baits, as well the ability to set the hook without ripping the bait out of the crappies’ mouth. Matching that rod with a spinning reel will allow you to throw light baits at the crappies at greater distances than baitcasters or spincast reels.  Spincast reels work well too, it is hard to beat a push button Zebco for a younger child.  Spinning reels should be lined with six- or eight-pound test line.  If you are going to be fishing in ultra-clear water, then a six-pound test is best.  If your lake, pond, or river has a lot of rocks, sticks or logs, then the eight-pound test line would be best.  Both lines will cast long distances and work very well with spinning or spincast reels.  Note, spring is the time for new line, trust me, it is well worth the cost.  I prefer monofilament line for casting to crappies.  Small leadhead jigs and live bait presentations are the best when fishing from shore.  Casting out different colored jigs with plastic tails or tossing out a live minnow under a slip-bobber is so fun this time of year.  If you are in a boat or kayak adding a longer rod, twelve-foot or longer as a dipping rod and or a spider rig rod.  Dipping is a technique when you are near or on top of the crappies, or a brushpile they may be hiding in.  A spider rig is just like trolling, however the bait is in front of your boat and more directly down in the water column.  All these techniques can be fantastic when the crappies are still away from the shoreline and best accessed in a boat or kayak.  Again, jigheads with plastics or live minnows are a crappies dream meal.  As you can see, the tackle and gear needed to get out and start catching crappies is pretty simple.  Get these items together and get to catching!

Have I mentioned that crappies taste great?  I am pretty sure if you are this far in the article you already know that fact.  They are a delicious fish that can be eaten many different ways.  Before we get to eating them, we need to take care of them properly.  Once you decide to keep fish to eat, you need to do one of two things right away.  You can either keep them alive until you process them, or you must get the fish cold.  If you are in a boat, a livewell is best to keep them alive, on the shore that really isn’t an option.  A stringer or a fish cage might keep them alive for a while, but not for long periods of time.  A small cooler is ideal for the shore angler or the boat angler.  If you know you are planning to keep some crappies, plan ahead with ice and a cooler.  If the water temperature is fifty degrees or colder, that will be just fine, and ice isn’t necessary.  Once you have your crappies on ice or in cold water, the next step is fileting them.  Again, keep the meat cold by placing the filets in a bowl of cold salted water with ice cubes.  The cold temperature firms up the meat, while the salt will help to reduce blood and preserve the meat.  One more step to delicious crappies, cook them up!  Frying them in oil is great, however there are a few other ways I like to enjoy crappies.  Crappies make delicious “Crappie Cakes”, as well as “Baked Fish Tacos”.  There are many recipes out there, but those are my three favorites for crappies.  You can get further details of these recipes on my website: www.fishingwithtoddreed.com .  Before you take your next trip, plan ahead to keep the meat cold, you will see the difference, and taste the difference.

 Catching panfish in general is a great way to spend a few hours or a few days.  Focusing on crappies this time of year is a must if you want to capitalize on the spring bite.  Start shallow and work out from there, lake channels and drop-offs are a great way to discover where crappies are this time of year.  Cover a few different areas and narrow down where you are catching them, this will lead you to more and more crappies in the cooler.  Just a reminder that anglers are allowed to keep twenty-five crappies a day in the state of Iowa, but I encourage you to be conscious of the body of water you are on and be a steward.  We all fish the waters, take what you need and let the rest go.  Some days I may keep a limit of twenty-five, while other days I may keep six for a meal.  Do your part to keep our public waters a great place to fish for years to come.

Get out there and enjoy this early spring, typically there is still a lot of ice on the many of the Iowa lakes, this year every lake is wide open.  Have fun and be safe out there!

The FRIST Bass

 

That first outing in the boat each spring is a special one.  First off, you just hope things float, the motors work and the batteries hold a charge.  After those things have been checked, it is time to make those first casts.  This spring was very unique in the way that I was not throwing a Quantum combo.  After using those products for about 30 years, it was time to move on to Lew's rods and reels.  It is always fun trying new models of things each spring, but a new product line was VERY exciting.  I was like a kid on Christmas morning.  The new combos were a pleasure a use, very balanced and overall lightweight, they are going to be wonderful throughout the many years to come.  More details on those will be coming.

The fishing the first time out is always a bonus, just hoping for that one bite.  Also, the first month or so of open water fishing is your best chance to catch a giant, especially a giant largemouth bass.  No giant on the first trip out but some nice fish.  The biggest did come on a jig and chunk pitching to some rocks, pretty typical for March, let alone late February.  A fun time, the boat floated, both motors worked, and fish were caught.  I guess the 2024 open water season is here!