Help a dad out!!!

[Pochanaquarhip]

Ok guys I need help. My fishing experience is limited. My dad took me when I was little but I never got taught how to tie hooks and bobbers and any of that other stuff. Or how to do it as far as lengths go… and weights.. etc etc. When I got older me and my dad only hunted so I have basically zero knowledge of fishing.

I have my own kid now and he’s showing interest in wanting to fish. I bought him a rod and reel today (I also got myself one) but now I need to learn how to do the other stuff involved in fishing.

i got him a Zebco Dock Demon and I got a Zebco 33 (6’ I think?) My thinking is if the reel sucks on the Dock Demon I can get a Zebco 33 micro reel and stick on it… I think at least. I don’t know shit about this stuff.

I also need recommendations on what kind of stuff to buy as far as tackle goes. I’ll need a tackle box as well… help!!!

(Oh I also need to know what license I need and if he needs one. He is 5.)

 

[SoonerP226]

If you’re fishing on private ponds, you generally don’t need a fishing license, but if you want to fish public waters (lakes, rivers, etc), you’ll need one. I don’t think a 5 year old needs one, but the ODWC Fishing Regs will tell you that.

Fishing Regulations | OK Department of Wildlife Conservation

www.wildlifedepartment.com

 

[OkieJoe]

What will you be fishing for? The setup and bait/lure selection is based on targeting a specific fish. A cousin of mine and myself are planning on heading out your way on Nov 30th for a couple days of pheasant hunting. We both fish a fair amount, and we’d be happy to meet up for supper somewhere and talk about it with you. Probably the easiest and most successful setup for little ones is using a round bobber with a small weight along with a hook and bait. I’d suggest starting with worms. Find a pond or lake with perch, and he should be able to get some to the shore. Here’s a very basic video.

 

[conditionzero]

What are the specs on the rods? That will generally determine what you are able to reliably toss with it. What are you trying to fish for? Catfish, lmb, smb, crappie?

Fishing in the winter is tough, you need to know the patterns of your target species. As well, because the fish are slower and less active in these colder months you generally fish more finesse type rigs.

 

[AER244]

The trigger spin 33 micro that you got is pretty kid friendly. Theyre made for throwing lighter lures with lighter line, which is generally better for small kids. Get you some small round bobbers, size 2-6 bait hooks, 1/16-1/4oz split shot, 1/8-1/4oz jig heads, some twisty tail grubs in assorted colors, a couple of rooster tails and/or a box of worms and you’ll be set. 4-8lb line too. I’m fond of the waterproof tray style tackle boxes, but anything to hold your stuff will work. The improved clinch and the palomar knots have served me well- I’d YouTube how to tie the knots. Guymon has a stocked trout fishery at sunset lake- I’d imagine those trout are pretty willing biters on worms/salmon eggs/rooster tails.

 

[Pochanaquarhip]

What will you be fishing for? The setup and bait/lure selection is based on targeting a specific fish. A cousin of mine and myself are planning on heading out your way on Nov 30th for a couple days of pheasant hunting. We both fish a fair amount, and we’d be happy to meet up for supper somewhere and talk about it with you. Probably the easiest and most successful setup for little ones is using a round bobber with a small weight along with a hook and bait. I’d suggest starting with worms. Find a pond or lake with perch, and he should be able to get some to the shore. Here’s a very basic video.

Started watching that fellows videos this evening. Very knowledgeable.

As @AER244 said i think I can fish for some trout here at the local lake in town. A coworker told me he thinks it should be stocked soon. Besides that I think there’s bluegill in it too? I’m not really sure. I’m not very educated on identifying fish but I’ll ask him tomorrow since he fishes it regularly. I think I remember someone saying there’s some catfish in it.

 

[Pochanaquarhip]

I ordered a backpack and some tackle boxes that fit in said backpack tonight.. I’ll go to Walmart and buy hooks and bobbers etc etc once my storage comes in.

Haven’t even cast yet and I’m getting excited.

 

[Pochanaquarhip]

Supposedly there is bass, catfish, bluegill, and walleye at Lake Etling by Kenton.

 

[SoonerP226]

My grandpa always had bluegills, perch, and catfish in his pond. I liked catfish best for eating, but I remember the bluegills and perch being a lot of fun to catch. They put up a good fight for their size.

 

[AER244]

ODWC usually starts stocking trout nov 1 I think, but they delayed it until Dec 1 this year due to drought and heat. You’d need a state license to fish any public waters. For sunset lake, You might need to check with the city of guymon to see if they require a city fishing permit as well. Your kid should be exempt from any license at his age.

 

[Pochanaquarhip]

ODWC usually starts stocking trout nov 1 I think, but they delayed it until Dec 1 this year due to drought and heat. You’d need a state license to fish any public waters. For sunset lake, You might need to check with the city of guymon to see if they require a city fishing permit as well. Your kid should be exempt from any license at his age.

I think the state completely took over Sunset Lake. At least the water and fish rights. IIRC you used to get a city fishing permit but then I think it became to much trouble for the city trying to control all of the immigrants fishing illegally so they handed it to the state. I’ll have to research to confirm though.

 

[jakeman]

Find a nice quiet bank on a quiet piece of water, away from people, and bait him up some little tiny hooks with small pieces of worms. Let him catch perch all day until he gets tired. He's 5. They eat that kinda fishing up. I've seen a lot of kids catching perch with Mickey Mouse poles, and they don't care about the equipment. They just wanna catch fish with their dad. Bobbers and worm pieces, baby.

Creeks, private ponds, city lakes/ponds, park ponds, lakes, rivers etc. almost all water that has fish have perch. They're easy to catch, they eat the hook and they got plenty of fight for a 5 yo. When you can't catch anything else, you can probably still catch perch.

Might see if his rig floats, and if it don't you might want to attach a boat key float to the butt end of it. Don't ask me how I know.

You're a good dad. I never had a better time than fishing with my dad, and then my son.

 

[SoonerP226]

they don't care about the equipment. They just wanna catch fish with their dad. Bobbers and worm pieces, baby.

True dat. I learned to fish with a cane pole sitting near or under an old willow tree on the dike of my grandpa’s pond with my dad, grandpa, or maternal uncle. Those are some awesome memories, and I hope you make some with your boy, too.

 

[Ndenway]

I learned long ago, little blue 5' rod & diawa 202, then it got a 33. Used that rod till several years back when the diecast reel holder broke in two when had a 7lb saugeye hooked. Had to drag in with the line.

Simple little rig, 8lb line, pinch sinker & #2 hook.

Got plenty of penn, ambassitor reels & 7' & 10' rods for the cats and stuff.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

I know very little about fishing. I've been fishing several times but in it's simplest forms...put a worm on a hook and put it in the water kind of thing.

My only bit of advice would be to make the kid(s) part of the learning process. Have 'em there if possible when you're learning what to do, looking things up, etc. I think that would be fun, too.

 

[Trekrok]

My fishing knowledge is about on par with yours. We always had fun with it. The best times were probably at city ponds catching perch and little catfish on bobbers with hot dog weiners.

Never had much luck at red river with trout fishing but was still fun. And up there I didn't even need a rod, it was full time job untangling and unsnagging everyone's line.

 

[danc46]

If you are near Logan County (Crescent-Guthrie area, I’d be glad to let your kid fish off my dock on a lake near Crescent. It is about a 60 acre lake full of nice crappie. I believe I posted some pics in another thread before the key board snipers pissed me off here.
I have gear on the ready for kids to fish.
Depending on a kids temperament and patience, limited gear like a long cane pole can teach a kid to properly fish structure where crappie hang out.
They need to learn in stages, progressing as they show desire.
If you have a boat, watching where the cormorants (water turkeys) raft out in the lake is usually over a crappie school or hang out.
There are theromlayers, particlalry in spring fed ponds and lakes where the fish will hang. That is where knowing the water you are fishing can help the kid catch the fish.
If I’m still here, contact me in March/April when the crappie start spawning.
We’ll make him one hell of a fisherman.

 

[danc46]

My fishing knowledge is about on par with yours. We always had fun with it. The best times were probably at city ponds catching perch and little catfish on bobbers with hot dog weiners.

Never had much luck at red river with trout fishing but was still fun. And up there I didn't even need a rod, it was full time job untangling and unsnagging everyone's line.

Spent a lot of time in Red River trout fishing, from Bitter Creek to Goose Lake to Middle Fork, in the Red River from Upper Valley to the mine.
I’d use a spinning rig with fly below a clear water filled bobber to get out to the trout. Screw those long fly rods. I was there to catch fish, not look cool.
My wife spent some time talking to three or four women while we were waiting to see Michael Martin Murphy one night. My son had taught their kids how to use flys at Fawn Lake. He did a hell if a good job the way those women were smiling and laughing.
He had given the kids all my elk hair flys and clear bobbers and showed them how to use them.
I heard the kids yelling “I caught one” and thought it cool. I didn’t know my 18 yo son was giving them my stuff to catch fish.

 

[Pochanaquarhip]

If you are near Logan County (Crescent-Guthrie area, I’d be glad to let your kid fish off my dock on a lake near Crescent. It is about a 60 acre lake full of nice crappie. I believe I posted some pics in another thread before the key board snipers pissed me off here.
I have gear on the ready for kids to fish.
Depending on a kids temperament and patience, limited gear like a long cane pole can teach a kid to properly fish structure where crappie hang out.
They need to learn in stages, progressing as they show desire.
If you have a boat, watching where the cormorants (water turkeys) raft out in the lake is usually over a crappie school or hang out.
There are theromlayers, particlalry in spring fed ponds and lakes where the fish will hang. That is where knowing the water you are fishing can help the kid catch the fish.
If I’m still here, contact me in March/April when the crappie start spawning.
We’ll make him one hell of a fisherman.

I May have to hit you up! I appreciate the offer, sir!

 

[danc46]

I May have to hit you up! I appreciate the offer, sir!

I’ll be glad to have you and your kid. Look me up on Facebook. I’m a moderator on Sausage Dog Central if you can’t find my page. Message me and we’ll get that kid hooked up - pun intended.