How to get your kids hooked on ice fishing

It has been said that Alaskans are a hardy bunch, and I think that statement is true for all ages of Alaskans, especially our children.

Butch and I were in Wasilla Sportsman’s Warehouse the other day talking tackle with a gentleman looking to break into ice fishing, and I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with his cute-as-a-button 3-year-old. She introduced herself by declaring, “I love fishing!” That’s all it took. I was hooked, so as we talked about how big the fish was that she caught I asked if she liked ice fishing, too.

“I do!” she exclaimed, and then she pointed to a pink rod and shouted, “The pink one is mine!”

Right then I had an ah-ha moment about how important it is to remember the littlest of details when trying to get kids interested in ice fishing.

Butch and I have two daughters of our own, so it’s no secret to us that when they are having a good time fishing we are having a good time fishing. We spend a great deal of time and effort keeping it fun and exciting so that they continue to beg us to go instead of being drug along. We thought since we’ve been through the wringer in this department we might part with some of our list toppers and hope we can help parents and kids out alike.

With all ice fishing trips you must first start by thinking about where you are going to go. When planning a trip with kids, it’s even more imperative. Generally speaking, we don’t plan our most die-hard trips when we want to bring our kids. We look for lakes with easy access, and if the snow and ice conditions allow for us to drive out onto the lake, even better.

The first time you take your kids plan on spending no more than a couple hours on the ice and allow their interest and enjoyment depict how long you stay. If they are cold and bored after an hour, it might be time to pack it up so they don’t burn out. Kids are resilient, but ours happen to have memories like elephants and when we burn them out they are much less excited to go the next time. I’d be lying if I said we never have a conversation with our kids that starts out by them saying, “We want to go, but are we going to have to stay out there all day?”

For them, that’s a deal-breaker. So, whatever the first hesitation your child mentions is probably the deciding factor. If you can, choose a lake that the use of bait is allowed and that has a stocking program. Finger Lake is always a great place to take kids fishing. It has a robust stocking program and the catch rates are high. It also has good access and enough space to accommodate many anglers.

The next consideration is warmth. Make sure to pick a day with decent weather. If you have a portable ice shack but think it’s too windy to set up, it might not be the best day to introduce your kids to ice fishing.

We are fast approaching spring and late February early March are some of the best times to take kids fishing. The ice is thick and safer for them to venture around on, the average temperatures are rising, the sun is brighter — or maybe it just seems that way — and the days are longer which improves everyone’s mood. Make sure to bring a heater or plan on building a fire. And if you didn’t know it, hand warmers are your new best friends. We have a bulk warehouse box of hand warmers and I never regret the expense. Our kids often use them in boots, gloves and pockets. Our kids first complain about cold hands and feet, so focus on the extremities and make sure they have good gloves and boots.

Next we want to touch on equipment. Like my friend I mentioned earlier at Sportsman’s, kids care about the color of their rod. If the option exists, take them along to purchase their gear and if possible pick colors that they point out. It also helps to let them pick out their very own lucky lure. Butch always lets our girls rifle through our tackle and pick out what they want to use the next day. This way they are fishing, wondering if their top choice is working and their hunch was right.

The first thing kids do when we put a rod in their hand is open the bail and let all the line go crazy or start reeling like crazy. When our girls were younger we counted on one rod being out of commission right away due to a tangle in the line and always brought a spare rod.

Kids have a hard time with the familiar-to-fishing concept of “hurry up and wait.” To combat this, when you first put a rod in their hands teach them to drop the line down to the bottom until it goes slack and then let them reel it up and repeat. They might not be catching using this tactic, but they seem to become more patient and will let their rod sit after 10 or so minutes of playing around.

If your kids can catch a fish all on their own, great; but if they are having a hard time setting the hook, we suggest that you hook a fish for them and then do everything in your power to produce. Kids will nod when you explain you don’t catch fish every trip, but kids like catching way more than fishing.

If you are planning to catch and release your fish, make sure you talk about this before the fish is out of the ice hole. Kids have no concept or willingness, most of the time, to put the fish they just worked so hard for back in the ice hole. We have witnessed tears and tantrums over this very issue, so make sure you are prepared and talk about what you’re going to do once you catch a fish. Kids love pictures of their achievements so make sure you have the camera ready and capture the moment.

Other comforts that help make trips enjoyable for our kids are camp chairs or something to sit on, and don’t forget snacks. Nothing will end your trip faster than hunger. When we have younger kids coming along we try to bring items like sleds, shovels or ice scoops. Each of these can easily give kids some time to let off steam and play in the snow and keep things interesting when fishing is slow.

When all is said and done, hopefully your kids will be begging for you to take them Ice Fishing again. This is our hope anyway. There is nothing more important than getting kids involved in the outdoor activities we love so much so that they can continue to pass down the traditions.

Jehnifer and Butch Ehmann are local fishing enthusiasts who live in Palmer.