Help please – getting a child in the boat

So, I borrowed a boat for the weekend hoping to get Cameron into some bigger fish. First time for me getting to haul and launch a boat (thats another story). Get the boat set and pay the launch fee and get Cameron in the boat. BUT, she freaked out and said the boat was too “tippy”. The was a small row type boat. She has been in bigger boats with no real problems. How do I calm her fears that once everyone is in the boat and sitting, the boat won’t be “tippy”? Tried everything and just pulled the boat out and fished from shore. She is going on a guided fishing trip (Christmas gift from my musky buddy)on next Saturday and hope that I can get her back in the boat (it is a bigger fishing rig). She has looked forward to this trip for months now and it is all she talks about and would hate for her not to be able to go. Anyone have any ideas?

same problem with my kids… so we had a 12 foot little lifeguard boat.. we played with it in the backyard. sat in it, got used to it on dry land, fun little play practices.. they we’re 6 & 9 at the time.

Might also start with a little fun in the water with her life vest on to show her she will float with it even if she were to fall out of a boat, not be be afraid of the water, but to respect it.

Never had that problem with my kids Sherry. Had more problems getting them out of the boat. Maybe its more a fear of the water that is stopping here. I like fishahollik’s idea of haveing some fun with the boat and water before you head out. Show her she will float in her life jacket. Let her know if that she was to fall out of the boat it is not the end of the world.
Good luck with this and let us know how it goes.

Well you got closer than I. My little guy (2.4years)hates having his life jacket on. I try to put it on him around the house(to get him used to it) and all he does is cry and pull at it. Anyway, with our 4 year old daughter I would bring along a favorite toy or something good to eat. (bubbles or fruit snacks) Also our 4 year old prefers to feed the fish. So maybe a bag of frozen corn and offer to let Cameron feed the fish as you get things ready and set off. I have even considered putting a make shift sandbox in the boat to keep their attention on something fun. First I have to get that life jacket in place. Have fun and most important make it FUN.

Catfishgirl,
Introducing a young child to the world of fishing can be the most rewarding or the most frustrating experience you encounter. In my opinion, the first rule is to keep the experience fun for the child. You need to be prepared to end the outing when the child wants to go home. Not all kids are comfortable around water. When Cameron did not want to get into the 12 foot boat, you did the best next thing to fish from shore. I would guess your musky buddy would have at least an 18′ boat but may need to demonstr5ate the boat’s stability to Cameron by standing on one side of the boat (while Cameron is on shore) and showing her it will not tip over. No matter what, let Cameron dictate whether she gets in the boat or not. I have two daughters and have had some great times on the water with them when they were younger. When we first started fishing we were fortunate to have a 16′ boat but some of those first trips were real short. Good luck and tell Cameron we would like to see a picture of her next big fish.

Thanks every one for some ideas. I know she does well in bigger boats but was suprised in how she acted in the smaller boat. I just fear that her fear will carry over going into a bigger boat that she felt comfortable on. Because I feel the fear came from the last time she was at a friends house along a little river and they took her out in a caneo. Seems they loaded a couple hyper kids, a hyper dog and her in this and it rocked all over the place and she got really scared. I know she wants to go where the bigger fish are and she keeps saying that this area or that area would be good for fishing but we would need to take the boat. We talked to her last night and tried to show her about what is tippy and rocky and how it would to feel if the boat was really as she said it was. SHe feels alittle bit better. She loves the water and loves to fish, so I hope we can just get past the fear and get her in the boat for Saturday.

I just had my 3 year old grandson out walleye fishing. He caught 3 small ones. This was his first time in a boat. He did good for 1-1/2 hours and than wanted to go home but we had to go fast first. Start them out slow and they will do great.

Might need to beach the boat and have her climb in it and fish from shore [the boat] that way to get her more use to it. Then after awhile [next time] maybe tie it to a dock in shallow water so she gets more use to it. After fishing in boats that aren’t tipsy for years when I bought my 14 ft. jon boat I was shocked at how tipsy it was. Basicly, get in and SIT. It will take time but someday she will get use to it and be okay.
Thanks, Bill