I hope someone can help with my quest!

I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is 
particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea 
fishing would be just the job. However I am no angler and have no idea where 
I should take him...

I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either Southsea or 
Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young lad with a rod, 
reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite short, casting miles 
from the beach is not an option. What do the panel suggest, bearing in mind 
the priority is to have fun (this is a potential hobby so I don't want to 
put him off) and perhaps catch nothing more exotic than perhaps a mackerel?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Andy.

Derek, whats the name of the licence do you knoiw?  My local PO didnt prove 
very helpful. ()local as in salisbury, not reading)

david
"Derek.Moody"  wrote in message 
news:ant241642b49BxcK@half-baked-idea.co.uk...

> In article <dehera$3n9$1@news.mch.sbs.de>, Andy
> <URL:mailto:andrew.macphail@mobisphere.com> wrote:
>>
>> "Derek.Moody"  wrote in message
>> news:ant232201345BxcK@half-baked-idea.co.uk...
>> > In article <defepb$npi$1@news.mch.sbs.de>, Andy
>> > <URL:mailto:andrew.macphail@mobisphere.com> wrote:
>> >> I hope someone can help with my quest!
>> >>
>> >> I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is
>> >
>> > How old is he?
>> >
>>
>> One is 5, the other is 7. I think the 5 year old will have difficulty 
>> with
>> the casting part, but should be fine with the rest. This is another 
>> reason
>> for looking for a place where any fish caught would be small!
>
> Ah, rather younger than I thought.
>
> The 5 year old will have an attention span around an hour, the elder maybe
> twice as long.  They will require considerable attention and I wouldn't 
> take
> them together until they have enough experience to manage the basics for
> themselves - three or four sessions each in all probablility.  You *could*
> take them together if you have another, patient and preferably experienced
> adult with you to take half the workload.
>
> Another - slightly risky ploy would be to make a day out of a split treat
> (Say you take #1 fishing while #2 goes to the pool with Mum then swap over
> for the afternoon.)
>
> <re Crayfish>
>
>> This sound great for the kids. I actually live very close to the Kennet &
>> Avon canal so I would like to give this a try. How do you do this? The 
>> fact
>
> See other post.
>
>> the catch can be eaten is perfect - my kids have the idea that any fish
>> caught are for eating, hence my initial thoughts about sea angling.
>
> With kids that age I would leave sea fishing until you are at a suitable
> seaside venue for at least a weekend.  Try to get in one or two -short-
> sessions each per day a and they'll pick things up much faster.
>
> Tbh I would prefer to start them on a small, really small, stream.
> Otherwise a seaside pier -with railings- would let them dangle a small 
> bait
> down the side with a good chance of a few tiddlers.
>
> They would have as much fun in rock pools with a hand net...
>
> Cheerio,
>
> -- 
>>> derek.moody@clara.net
> 

>
> As it happens I have discovered that the Environment Agency is holding a 
> beginners taster session on a fairly local lake tomorrow. This should 
> allow them to see if it is something they would like to do more of or not.
>


I know it is bad form to reply to your own posts but I wanted to give an 
update to the above info.

I took both my children to the session above this morning and they both had 
a great time. Both caught fish, thanks to the instructor that they were 
asigned to and are very keen to go fishing again. At the end of the session 
they were given a 'goody bag' that included a fishing pole! So thats 
Saturday taken care of...

It was interesting for them both to handle a rod and a pole - it was clear 
quite quickly that for their age and experience that a pole is the better 
option, something that hadn't even occured to me. So as suggested by 
Derek.Moody, sea fishing is probably a little too much for them for the 
moment, although they both still seem very interested in trying it. I guess 
that using the poles on the local river will keep them distracted for the 
time being until they are more co-ordinated and skilled.

Thanks to all who have contributed,


Andy.

"david"  wrote in message 
news:dekst8$7im$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

> Derek, whats the name of the licence do you knoiw?  My local PO didnt 
> prove very helpful. ()local as in salisbury, not reading)
>
> david


Do you mean for the crayfish? If so, a chap at the environment Agency is 
emailing the details and a form to me in the next few days. Would you like 
me to pass on the details?

Andy.

The question is not where to fish, but WHEN.

Where's there's water there'll be fish, as a rule, but they wont take the 
bait if they arent feeding.

Harbours after rain ...bad.

Harbours at a change in tide or ebbing tide  = good, because there's food 
there floating out and the fish come to gobble it up.

With a short rod try the harbours and fish off walls and piers. Load the rod 
with 4 - 8lb line I should think and use chopped mackeral as bait, mayby lug 
or ragworm, maybe a lure.  Fish aren;'t THAT bright and will either eat most 
things or nothing.

In a harbour you can float fish with bait too, which works well.

Wherever you want to go, and as I said, if tyere's water there's fish, pop 
into a local tackle shop and ask them for their advice. then buy something 
from them!

My son started me off this way last year or so, we knew nothing at all about 
fishing (still don't know that much) but it soon comes together and we catch 
most times we go out. As you say, whether it's a tiny thing or a monster it 
doesn't really matter - it's all fun with ones kids.

You'll get good advice here (better than from me too) it's just few and far 
bewteen.

Enjoy, and let us know how you get on.

David
"Andy"  wrote in message 
news:defepb$npi$1@news.mch.sbs.de...

>I hope someone can help with my quest!
>
> I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is 
> particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea 
> fishing would be just the job. However I am no angler and have no idea 
> where I should take him...
>
> I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either Southsea 
> or Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young lad with a 
> rod, reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite short, casting 
> miles from the beach is not an option. What do the panel suggest, bearing 
> in mind the priority is to have fun (this is a potential hobby so I don't 
> want to put him off) and perhaps catch nothing more exotic than perhaps a 
> mackerel?
>
> Thanks for any suggestions,
>
> Andy.
> 

In article <dekst8$7im$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>, david
<URL:mailto:david_perry@btconnect.com> wrote:

<re Signal Crayfish, strictly OT here but...>


> Derek, whats the name of the licence do you knoiw?  My local PO didnt prove 
> very helpful. ()local as in salisbury, not reading)


I too am now confused ;-)

I can find loads of references to the change in regulations and the date
(1st June) upon which they changed - but none to the actual regs...  To be
fair, as it's less than three months since the change it may just be an
administrative delay.

There -is- a reference to licences only being readily available in certain
areas:

"Permission to trap crayfish will be dependant on the local situation in
 particular the presence of the native white claw  crayfish. Other
 determining factors include the reason for trapping, for instance in some
 parts of the country trapping  can only take place for monitoring and
 conservation management purposes."

Maybe Salisbury has a few natives left in odd corners?
(In the 60's we used to catch native crays but that's out of the question
now.  They were never quite so common as the signals have become but they
were first class chub bait.) 

It was always possible to get a licence in the Thames Water area. The chap
I went with works for a boatyard outside Reading and has had a licence for a
long time.  He always used lobster-pot style traps but got indifferent
results and we derived the method outlined earlier based on his knowledge of
successful baits and mine of saltwater dropnetting.  I'm sure he said he got
his ticket from the PO. but he wasn't answering his 'phone this evening. I'll
try him again over the w/e.

There is an Environment Agency form FR2 which does include references to
trapping for personal use but it's ridiculously complex and restrictive -
intended for electrofishing, netting and other major fish-removal efforts
like draining reservoirs...

I don't think this can be the one the K&A narrowboat owners use.  The
quickest way to clear it up might be for someone in the area to nip down and
ask.

OB sea fishing:  Bassing in the morning :-)

Cheerio,

-- 

>> derek.moody@clara.net

Check out the Solent Fishing Guide web site 
http://www.solent-fishing-guide.co.uk/

They seem to give out good info

Dave



"Cliff"  wrote in message 
news:7ivWe.9539$zw1.8648@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...

> Try float fishing off the Hasslar wall,2 hrs before high water & as long 
> as they are interested after HW, you can fish from the back of the car & 
> there are plenty of small fish around close in to keep a couple of kids 
> interested,I live in Salford,Lancs but always have a few hours here when 
> down that way as it always produces & is completely different from my 
> local beaches,its easy to reach & very relaxing as you can just sit down 
> on the wall & let the water come to you.
> "Andy"  wrote in message 
> news:dehg4p$95u$1@news.mch.sbs.de...
>>
>> "malcolm"  wrote in message 
>> news:AKTOe.273910$x96.52764@attbi_s72...
>>> Andy wrote:
>>>> I hope someone can help with my quest!
>>>>
>>>> I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is 
>>>> particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea 
>>>> fishing would be just the job. However I am no angler and have no idea 
>>>> where I should take him...
>>>>
>>>> I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either 
>>>> Southsea or Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young 
>>>> lad with a rod, reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite 
>>>> short, casting miles from the beach is not an option. What do the panel 
>>>> suggest, bearing in mind the priority is to have fun (this is a 
>>>> potential hobby so I don't want to put him off) and perhaps catch 
>>>> nothing more exotic than perhaps a mackerel?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any suggestions,
>>>>
>>>> Andy.
>>>
>>> what I would give for a couple of fresh Mackeral :(
>>> Mackeral are prob the best tasting fish you can catch anyway,
>>> peppered and fried mmmmmmm.
>>> Explain that fishing on the beach is an experience, like an expedition
>>> sand, sun, darkness, food and drink, seagulls, sand fleas etc etc.
>>> and maybe some fish too.
>>> people who just want to catch fish go boat fishing.
>>> Sounds like a day fishing trip, so take a camera and seashore wildlife 
>>> book too, small children can get bored just fishing, wildlife 
>>> exploration gives it a broader meaning.
>>> plus gloves and a few plastic bags to pick up some litter too.
>>> always helps keep the beach clean.
>>> regards malcolm
>>
>> This is my thinking exactly. Given that my son is very keen to try 
>> fishing and my daughter is fairly curious about it, I don't want the 
>> initial experience to put them off. My intention is to keep expectations 
>> low and emphasise the fun aspects. As you say, at their ages, there is so 
>> much more to a day trip that happens to include a bit of fishing rather 
>> than a fishing only trip that, at least initially, is very likely to 
>> yield no fish.
>>
>> I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for the replies so far, 
>> they have all been very informative and encouraging.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Andy.
>>
>
>