Next week I'm taking my wife and kids camping and I rented a pontoon boat (my kids are 10, 7 and 17 months) for one day at "Bass Lake".

Every year we get skunked while fishing and my wife catches a trout or 2. I go backpacking and fish trout in high mountain lakes all the time and usually catch plenty of fish with lures and flies and a clear bobber.

But my kids can't use lures really....my 10 year old can kind of, but the 7 year old isn't that coordinated yet...lol. So what should I set them up with? We trout fished at bass lake year before last and only caught 1 fish. Worms, mealworms, and salmon eggs didn't seem to work for us last time out. And neither did rooster tails, panther martins, and cast masters really. Anybody have any tips?

What can I do to make sure they catch some fish? I really don't care what they catch....as my wife and kids tease me excessively about not getting them any fish...lol. As a kid...I remember catching trout like crazy just using worms...I don't care if they catch catfish or trout or salmon or crappie...lol.

Also...where in the lake should we fish using the boat (the boat is most of the fun for the wife and kids after the last few trips)...and for what fish? We will have the boat from 8 am to 1 pm.

Thanks for any help.....:D

I fish up there quite a bit, mainly fishing lures but.........Ill tell you how to get the kids to catch fish! Bring tons of nightcrawlers, just a small splitshot about 12-15 inches about a size 8 baitholder hook on 6lb clear or green line. The fish hold on points alot on that lake as well as the docks. Since you will most likely be anchoring, just stick to fishing points and anchor in 15 to 20 ft of water. Fish the crawlers on the bottom mainly just cast and let them sit on the bottom occasionally moving the bait. You will catch everything on the crawlers, Bass, Trout, Cats, and a ton of bluegill. Thats all the guides really do up there (at least the ones at the Pines resort that fish out of a party boat)
Good luck!!!
Shawn

Thanks Shawn...I appreciate it. I'll give it a try.......This is only about the 3rd time I've ever fished off a boat...lol.

That sounds like the easiest thing for my kids too.....works for me. I might even get to fish too...lol. I'll let you know how it turned out. :D

Rob

In the same vein, you might also get some size 12 Gamakagatsu(SP?) snelled baitholder hooks, size 1 or 2 barrel swivels, 3 to 6MM beads, 1/8 to 1/4oz egg sinkers, 6# Trilene XL line and trout/panfish worms, all available at most Wal-marts. Inside the Trilene box you'll find a leaflet with diagrams of how to tie a trilene (aka improved clinch) knot. Use this knot to tie a snelled hook to the swivel. After you've put the trilene on your rod and reel (again follow the directions in the leaflet), thread the egg sinker on to the line coming from the rod so it slides, then the bead, then tie the line to other end of the swivel. Put on 2 worms with atleast 1/2" at both ends hanging so they can wiggle and throw it out on a rocky point.
Or forget the egg sinker and bead and get a stick bobber. The ones with a body that is about as big around as your pinky, and have a spring work good. To use them pull the spring towards the body until the notch is exposed wrap your line around the notch 3x and let the spring go. You can fish this around docks, brush and weeds as well as rocky areas for a variety of fish but mostly feeisty little bluegill.
Tight lines,
Wade

Well heres my idea and my method on trout fishing, it works good all the time, nightcrawler was a good idea, but, what you want to do is ask the bait house on the lake whats the hot bait charteuse and rainbow powerbait are always good, one thing they forgot about the nightcrawler is that you need to blow some air (need worm blower) walmart or sportmart carry those, sliding egg sinker 1/4oz, size 10 gomagatsu baitholder hook 6lbs, 18" leader and a barrel swivel size 10 (you dont need bead on those size). good luck and have a great time... look on the attachment (illustrated by yours truly)

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/5075-untitled.gif

Attachment #1, (.gif file)

Thanks Guys....I'll give it a try. I went to walmart tonight and bought the tackle.....

I have to ask......Why are the "gomagatsu" baitholder hooks better than the cheaper baitholder hooks? I bought a bunch of them....but they sure cost a lot more than the cheap eagle claws, etc.

We leave tomorrow...:D

>I have to ask......Why are the "gomagatsu" baitholder hooks
>better than the cheaper baitholder hooks? I bought a bunch of
>them....but they sure cost a lot more than the cheap eagle
>claws, etc.
I'll probably get blasted for this but I just need to say it. I've used many different kinds of hooks and have come to the conclusion that they all catch fish. I most often get my hooks from Big 5, the South Bend brand @ $1.19 a package, and when available I buy them in bulk.

The average fisherman misses well over half the strikes he/she gets in part because they use average hooks. Gamie's are some of the sharpest out there and they're tempered perfectly so they don't bend out easily (due to under tempering) or brake under pressure (due to over tempering). They're shaped right for what they are intended for and are just far superior in most every way, except the price tag.
Tight lines,
Wade

Couldn't agree more gamies are the best hook out there Laser Sharp and and tough, I use gamies on all my fishing fresh and salt..

They're alot better than Lazer Sharp which is Eagle Claw's Trade Mark for their butter knife dull "premium" hooks.
Tight lines,
Wade

Thanks Guys....

I just got home. Kids caught lots of bluegill.....we only caught one trout in the lake though.

Thats ok though.....at least they caught fish...lol.

We had weird weather the day we fished the lake....cold, dark and cloudy all day. But we had fun...thanks again for the help.

Rob

Free line a sinko or bob an ika up and down iss not that hard i think