My kids might be a bit too young to start.  My boy is 11 months, and my girl is almost three.  I could try with her, but it's almost impossible to get her to do anything uninterrupted for more than five minutes.  As far as my dad goes, I feel guilty about it.  He always tried to get me to go fishing when I was younger, but his type of fishing was never fun for me.  He didn't like boats, or going for any good size fish, won't go in the water.  He has always gone to the same two spots on a river near him, that aren't especially pretty to look at, he sits on his bucket and he uses live bait for crappy or small trout.  I never got the real urge to fish until about 9 years ago when I moved out of state from him.  I am trying to get him to do a yearly fishing trip with me somewhere, but it's like pulling teeth.  He is very stuck in his ways.  Would love to go to Alaska with him.  Sorry for the sappy rant, but the topic brought up these feelings.

I am a hunting, fishing, trapping, and most anything outdoors addict.  Get out there and do all your favorite activities while you can.  I am presently unable to because of a physical disability.  I am recovering and can hardly wait to get back out there.  I survive by watching it on tv and the internet and listening to and reading your stories.  God bless you all and keep on keeping on.

Trobe a push button snoopy rod and a barbie rod could make a world of difference for them... let them have at it in the back yard with the plastic weight, but still try to instill a discipline of it not being a toy (ha, like that's easy with kids!!)

db you bring up a great point..
when I first typed on this thread it was really about "me" ..
As I look back and read some of folks post, I want it to be about "them" , my kids and grand kids..
My grandson is 2 and he loves fishing.. So far to his credit he has landed on his own many blue gills and a nice 14" brown.. He has a spider man pole..
He can cast it but accuracy is not his strong point to say the least yet..lol
My 5 year old grand daughter has the same catches to her credit (12" brown) but seems less interested in the fishing game .. Still we try as long as her attention span allows and I have 2 other grand kids yet to introduce to the sport.. Better yet, have their parents share the same passions so they can enjoy their time with them too..
 
My children 28,28 & 25 were not so lucky growing up with a dad (me) that worked many crazy hrs (like now) and had little time to take the "kids" fishing as it was more about "me" then..
I once took my son when he was 14 to the SR during salmon season and he hated it.. He never went fishing again until last winter with me and again this spring for stripers .. Now that we have all found our way, we do many outdoors activities together and enjoy the time .. My 1 son just got his hunting license last spring at age 28 and cant wait to get back in the woods with me and his brother this weekend.. My other son has shot a few deer in his short few years hunting and also cant wait until this weekend although fishing still is not his fancy..
 
Why I always talk about Ice so often is that I can not wait to get all my kids and grand kids on the hard water together.. .. It's a type of fishing that allows anyone access and ability is minimal..
I don't think I will ever introduce my kids, grand kids to a fishing style such as the SR again but I wish to spend time on the water with them and it being about "us"..  My time is only growing shorter..

Sr is all time and place just like any other "spot". In the last 10 years I've really fell in to my norms here. Kinda stopped beating the water all day long about ten years back. i pick and choose my time and take it for what it is.And now with children, its sure different. I end up taking my son often and in spring and summer we do general fishing pretty much where ever. I do make a point to always leave a rod in my truck though for the spur of the moment action seeking regardless of what species it is.. Its all good, and hats off to the guys that stand out in the rain all day... Christ, my dad used to give my brother and I the keys when it was nine degrees and snowing sideways...he'd yell "turn the heat on because I just hooked a fish and I'm not leaving"... sure as **** we usually ended up pacing up and down the banks to warm up and then start fishing again. I was lucky to get up so many times a year at a young age...now look at me, I've decided to reside in the region. And in all honesty the fishing was not the first reason... as most here agree, fishing is secondary ;)

Tuna, awesome for carrying on the passion to your grandchildren

Kids can be different  than we are and its OK- a big world out there and what we like they may not . Mine liked the outdoor things when young and drifted away  in their late teens and early 20s. One came back to it and the other didn't. They were exposed ,had good times and memories but made their own choices- thats life.
Most important is that they are  achievers  in their fields and great dads themselves.
  One sons son  liked it till his early teens then didn't any more and the other sons son is a real outdoor kid.
 Forrest Gump said something  about a box of chocolates--ya never know what your gonna get- lol. ( but its always good stuff anyhow IMHO)

I think Rich hit it good.   I had and have a great dad.   Had worked his butt off, coached all our ball teams and made every ball game.   What he was not  was a fisherman.   He tried his best took us when he could.   Heck here is a story.    
7th grade our school had a  salmon river tournament. Circa 1982   I remember being soooooo excited about going  and my dad taking me.  Trouble is he had no clue what to do.   We fished with worms behind the Altmar school and in the Ballpark area.   I remember being VERY disappointed about only catching some river chubs when I saw the fish jumping around.   My dad being a smart man saved the 10 inch chubs and we turned them in.  There were a few chuckles but out of all the kids that went only 1 caught a salmon.   I won second place and my brother 3rd as we were the only others to turn in a fish.
 
I do not have kids, but I want to pass my passion to my nephews and niece when they get old enough because there father is also not  a fisherman.   I was so proud of my nephew this weekend tying on his own flies and actually getting into one.  
 He is  very excited about going "hog hunting"   (perch fishing ) on the ice this winter, and talks about it alot.   I cannot wait to share the time with him this winter

Now for the gear junkie addiction:
found a GREAT score on craigslist, Clint keep your eyes open..
Got these 2 for wicked CHEAP !! Some guy bought a storage unit and has no clue about ice..
The 150 is brand spanking NEW and the other great shape..
I'm ready to "do it" , bring on the ice:

 

 
This makes shanties number 4.. Plenty of fun for all :)

good score Rich my eyes are open

And I thought you were set up at Stony's! LOL.
 
Now you have a village to be mayor of!  Great buy!
 
L13