My Son Hates Ice Fishing

All I hear now, repeated about 50 times since his very first ice fishing experience is – “Daddy, ice fishing’s not so fun for me.” Where did I go wrong? I put him on constant action, he even reeled in a few bass and some sunfish. We had snacks and hot chocolate and a 4-wheeler ride and he scooped out the holes…..the whole nine yards.

Truth be told, he was having the best time in the world until just as we were leaving, he wouldn’t listen about being too near the hole…..and ploop! In went one foot/leg.

His favorite line now is…..”Daddy, ice fishing’s not so fun for me.”

I think the only thing wrong is that he’s just as poor a listener and is as stubborn as his old man.

Joel

A cold, wet boot is no fun for a little one ! Looks like he’s having fun in the photo though ! Holds that bass like a champ ! RR

perhaps you should try using a 2nd line? LOL…jk

Nice bass though – as long as you keep putting those in his hand he’ll like it!!

No matter what you do sometimes the smallest incident will scare a kid. Might not seem big to us but in their eyes it’s pretty traumatic…..believe me, I know.

My youngest boy ,who is now 9, pulled the same stunt a few times with the leg down the hole. It slowed his interest down a lot but I kept encouraging and kept things as fun as possible.

Sounds like you are a great dad and I know how important it is to light that fishing fire with your boy.

Keep picking your spots, be patient and keep doing what you’re doing…….he’ll be drilling your holes before you know it

Love that pic btw

Great Pic. He’ll laugh at that picture years down the road. I’m sure as he grows older he’ll catch on to ice fishing. At that age their attention span is pretty short. I remember a coworker bringing his two sons out one day a couple of winters ago – about the same age. He had the coolest setup for them. AFter about 5 minutes they were done fishing and having belly slide contests on the ice

Joel, You did nothing wrong!! He’ll come around.
My girls did the same thing as kids, now they’re in there 20’s & they beg me to get out. Heck, sometimes they even take me out. They even go along & film my hunts.
Just stay on the path you are on with him. It will all be good. Good fishin DOUG

When my son was that age he didn’t care for ice fishing either. He is 9 now and loves it. I wouldn’t push the issue. Like father like son, he will love fishing when the time is right. Pushing them into something they aren’t interested in when they are to young only makes them dislike it even more. At that age my son loved to use the ice scoop to play in the holes much more than fishing. He started to come around about 8.

I’ve got some time then. He’s only 3 1/2, but already knows how to long-arm a fish for the photos!

Joel

My wife hates ice fishing, But then that’s 1/2 the reason I do it.

He’ll come around they always do.

I’m trying not to sweat it either. My 3 1/2 year old has little to no interest on the ice yet. He did okay last summer on the bank…

I was actually out just a few weeks ago and my boys were having a good time. Fish, then go play their batman game. well of course one fell in so now I have one that wants to keep fishing and one that wants nothing to do with it right now. they are both 6. He will come around as he loves his summer fishing.

Broncs

Mine is 3 1/2 as well. Completely wet up to the elbows after scooping out holes his way. Eventually dried off and warmed up. He caught fish and every now and then asks to go fishing again. They will forget the bad and love the good. As dads we just need to hang in there. Patience is more than just waiting for a bite.

Funny Joel. Hang in there. He’ll be beggin to go with in no time. But then just as soon as you get to really enjoying the time with him GIRLS will be more important than anything with Dad.

Or just invite me along next time. I’m always good for a laugh or two.

Just like Broncs, both are 7yr old boys. The one I thought would be the big fisher is not even tho he tries hardest. The other dilly dallies around and pulls in lunkers. If I asked who wanted to go and who didn’t, it would be a coin toss. If I take the twins,I plan not to stay long and bring food and entertainment as you said you did. He’ll come around, I have no doubt.

Yup, been there done that, ah, foot in the hole thing. My oldest was about six when every 30 seconds I’d remind him, “watch out for the holes”. The old, “yea, yea, yea, dad”. Just got the portable set up and I hear the swish and then footsteps toward the house. “Ah, dad, we have a problem here”. But, I always packed double of everything so, we were good to go. Fun times for sure!

Keep taking him. He’ll grow out of it. the first time I took two of my sons, each of them had stepped in a hole within 15 min, but now I very seldom fish alone.

Be patient there Joel. He is young. I remember taking my son at that age too. Seemed every time we went he ended up soaked either by stepping in a hole or slipping on the ice and falling in the water. Soon he will take over your electronics and he will be drilling holes for you too.

He is young. Give him time. Once he can get out and move around a bit more he will like the ice fishing as much as you do. In a couple years you will be handing him a locator so he can “check the holes out over there”.

Quote:

---

I think the only thing wrong is that he’s just as poor a listener and is as stubborn as his old man.

---

Man, I couldn’t have said it better myself…

Give it time Joel. He’ll come around. I was the same way as a kid and now look what happened.

Awesome picture of your son holding the fish!! My 3.5 yr old caught his first trout this past opener. When he went to hold it up for a picture he notice the gills moving and that was it. Screem!!!!! Trout released, a little quicker and harder than normal. Albeit a successful release. We have worked our way up to bait and small panfish. Just takes time…Besides this is the fun part!!

The “KID” and the “Gill Mover”

ya my 4 yr. old daughter stepped in the hole to but now i got her a chair and let her bring a couple toys and she’ll fish all day but it took a time or two of getting back on the ice for her to get back into it