New member to the FishingTN Kayak Fishing Club

[txnative]

My 5 yr old daughter made her official entrance to the world of kayak fishing Sunday 4/6 on JPP. I got her a Feelfree Move SOT, and she used it to chase hybrids with me. Had a great time getting out fished by my little fishing apprentice, and I think I was more excited watching her get towed around by her first fish from her kayak. Not bad for her first time, and her first hybrid ever.


Chris Bryant

[txnative]

Pic of her in the Feelfree Move.


Chris Bryant

[FlipaYak]

Very Cool.

My dad and I are wondering what is the right age to get my daughters (3 yo and 18 mo) their own kayaks.

How did you get your daughter started?

[txnative]

We started off bank fishing when she was 2, wading creeks at 3, then I would take her out in my kayak at 4. She's always loved fishing, just had to wait till she was big enough to hold a paddle to get her out solo. I got her out as much as possible and we've targeted everything from bluegill at first to hybrids now. Her goal is to catch a "big striper like Daddy," but I'm intentionally delaying that until she's more comfortable with hard pulling fish. She's caught plenty of smallies up to 3 lbs, but the fight is different from a kayak and stripers and hybrids pull a lot harder. This trip was a "trial by fire" to see how she'd handle fish that will pull her kayak around. She did good, but will still need more time before she's ready for anything over 10 lbs. I'll also need to upgrade her gear...her poor rod and reel were outmatched, lol.


Chris Bryant

[spottedbass]

That is so awesome. My daughter (now 20) still loves to fish and it all started when she was 2 years old catching bluegill.

[Transplanted Sportsman]

Dang Chris that is awsome!!!, my 7 yo daughter has been asking very often about getting her a kayak and I was also wondering what was the right age and size, well you just answered that for me, she has been on many outings with me but never in a yak, so I guess is time to remedy that, roughly what is the price of one of those yaks??, you can PM me if you care, and yep I have to admit it she outfishe me 9 out of 10 times, congrats to the big girl with a very nice hybrid!!

[MNfisher]

This is great!!

[FlipaYak]

Originally Posted by txnative

We started off bank fishing when she was 2, wading creeks at 3, then I would take her out in my kayak at 4. She's always loved fishing, just had to wait till she was big enough to hold a paddle to get her out solo. I got her out as much as possible and we've targeted everything from bluegill at first to hybrids now. Her goal is to catch a "big striper like Daddy," but I'm intentionally delaying that until she's more comfortable with hard pulling fish. She's caught plenty of smallies up to 3 lbs, but the fight is different from a kayak and stripers and hybrids pull a lot harder. This trip was a "trial by fire" to see how she'd handle fish that will pull her kayak around. She did good, but will still need more time before she's ready for anything over 10 lbs. I'll also need to upgrade her gear...her poor rod and reel were outmatched, lol.


Chris Bryant

I take my daughters out to Williamsport once a week to bank fish. My 3 yo is holding and releasing the fish I catch for her. She wants to catch her own real bad, but we haven't been catching fish consistently enough for me to let her try yet. That'll change the end of this month when we get to fish my father-in-law's pond.

My 18 mo touches the fish and loves playing on the bank. I carry beach toys and fill buckets with lake water so they can play. So far they both love going.

I guess next year we will have to start taking my 3 yo out in the kayaks. We need to get her swimming lessons first.