Kids and canoes

[Bucktail]

My son turns two in July, anyone have little ones that they take on fishing trips in their canoes. I have an Old Town katahdin canoe with outrigger and trolling motor so paddling won't be a problem. I say he's ready for a short trip at a local pond, but my wife says not until next year. Appriciate any feed back, and also who makes a good PFD for toddlers.

[JJW]

original message:
My son turns two in July,**snip** I say he's ready for a short trip at a local pond***snip*** and also who makes a good PFD for toddlers.

Reply:
We have taken two year old children out canoeing and had fun.

It helps to see Great Blue Herons, Frogs, Fish or even interesting trash.

I have a "baby" paddle with next to nothing for a blade width.
I let the kids paddle with it.
Sometimes they'll splash, paddle or poke at things, though generally not for too long, at any one thing.

Short trips are the way to go, they enjoy it much more if they go for multiple short rides than long rides (esp. for someone at two years of age).

We do not have any children of our own,
but we do have three different PDFs, toddler to small child sized lifejackets. We take nieces, nephews and friends children out canoeing.

We purchased all the PDFs at Target over the years as we needed them for correct sizing and features.

Have Fun,
John

[redhawk]

Plus they make fantastic bait!!

[forevrwyld]

kids and Canoes

We have a Wenonah Sundowner, comfortably carried myself, wife, kid stated at 1 (the sooner they are in the woods and on the water the better), 70# black lab and gear on many 2-3 day trips. I carried drybag with gear and boat on my head, wife carried the kid. He has (had) a small beavertail paddle just for fun. Always had a blast, used to sleep in the bottom of the boat. Can't recall what we used for pfd. He is 10 now and he rides in front and paddles. Wife sits in middle with dog.

'Ev

[AdRegion]

Regarding PFD's, make sure you get one with the extra flotation behind the neck. This helps keep the little heads pointed in the right direction when taking a swim. Paddling is the only way to go with little ones since they can neither walk very far or carry any load. Both my kids started as soon as the PFD fit, my son started paddling his own kayak last year at 7. Ditto the kid's paddle, but add a big bug/frog net too. Bug Repellant!

[CloudNine]

Mom here: been bringing my daughter (and niece and nephews) along padlding/camping/fishing since about that age - taken my daughter canoe camping since she was just out of diapers. I'll echo AdRegion's recommendation on the PFD with the extra flotation behind the neck. Water shoes are a good idea as well, as you just KNOW there's no way the little bugger isn't getting wet.

Also - consider a drop in (sling type) canoe seat, so you can seat your little one a bit closer to you, and also can seat him lower in the canoe. That should ease your wife's fears a bit. Campmor (they have a website which I've had very good luck with) offers one for not too much $$$ and it's designed to fit any canoe.

Bring plenty to drink and snacks, too, because of course the little ones aren't quite as patient as we'd hope when fishing.

When he gets a bit older and hooks his first fish, be sure to look up NYS "My First Fish" program - you can find it on the DEC website - if you submit info on their first fish (where, when, what) they'll get a certificate of their accomplishment - quite a big deal for a little kid.

[WhatWasThat]

My parents took me and my sister out in their canoe starting when we were very young. They had a beast of a canoe, 16 ft. aluminum grumman that my sister and her family still use today. My dad had pontoons on it for a long time when my sister and I were still at a "squirrley" age. The pontoons were uglier than heck but they did the job. I think taking kids as early as you can is best. Just as long as they are always wearing the right life jacket, you keep a good eye on them and the conditions out on the water aren't too bad.

[canoe_junkie]

I have three small children, the youngest of which is 2. I usually start taking them as soon as they can stand, but I only take the small one's when there's someone else in the canoe to watch her. Typically, my wife will ride in the front with the little one standing/sitting/sleeping between her and the bow, while I paddle and the other two kids share the middle.
Look here for a pfd:

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=10349

[DuctTape]

I have no children of my own, but i grew up in a canoe. My earliest memory is a canoe camping trip. I do know that both my parents were present as well as my infant little sister. I remember being upset that "my paddle" was under the gear and I couldn't paddle. In reality it was the emergency spare paddle but to a 4 year old I thought it was mine. I was stung by a bee on that trip which may account for the memory.

[WinterWarlock]

When he gets a bit older and hooks his first fish, be sure to look up NYS "My First Fish" program - you can find it on the DEC website - if you submit info on their first fish (where, when, what) they'll get a certificate of their accomplishment - quite a big deal for a little kid.

I did some searching on the DEC site for "First Fish" with no luck - any direct links to there to help? My kids caught their first last year on Cayuga and still talk about it - a certificate would really be something for them!



Thanks -

[chairrock]

I did some searching on the DEC site for "First Fish" with no luck - any direct links to there to help? My kids caught their first last year on Cayuga and still talk about it - a certificate would really be something for them!



Thanks -

There is also info on the "First Fish" in the annual "Rules and Regulations Booklet" that you get when you buy your fishing license.

[PEAKSnPADDLES]

We took our daughter on her first extended canoe trip last summer, she was 18 months! Went to Stillwater in the off season (end of August) and had a blast! We took our husky as well which added a lot of fun. Take sand toys, a small paddle with a cord attached so they can "help". Little treats and toys(small plastic animals that came in a set of 20 from the dollar store were a huge hit). A folding chair that a booster seat will fit into was really great too. We look forward to next year!!!

[aft paddle]

I took my kids out when they were very young also. Always keep their PFD's on anytime they're near the water. Met a family on the return of a four day outing on Low's Lake that had one of their little guys take an unscheduled dip at the dock by the upper dam. He bobbed right up and was OK but his Mom and Dad were a little shaken. They were sure glad that he had his preserver on. They kind of thought he was a seasoned traveler by the end of the trip and assumed he'd stay back from the edge.

[serotonin]

I did some searching on the DEC site for "First Fish" with no luck - any direct links to there to help? My kids caught their first last year on Cayuga and still talk about it - a certificate would really be something for them!
Thanks -

It's not listed in the Regs booklet but I found the following info:

"My First Fish"
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Bureau of Fisheries
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

“My First Fish”
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
50 Wolf Road, Room 552
Albany, NY 12233

You could also try calling the people who run the "Angler Achievement Awards". 518.402.8920

We'll send you a special award. Your award will tell what type of fish you caught and where you caught it. You'll be able to show your award to all your friends and tell them how you caught your first fish!

Please print.
Name______________________________________________ _____________
Address___________________________________________ ______________
City____________________________State_____________ ___Zip_________
Phone_____________________________________________ _____________

Type of fish______________________________________________ _____
Size of fish______________________________________________ ______
Where caught____________________________________________ ______

Good luck and good fishing!

[1ADAM12]

My son turns two in July, anyone have little ones that they take on fishing trips in their canoes. I have an Old Town katahdin canoe with outrigger and trolling motor so paddling won't be a problem. I say he's ready for a short trip at a local pond, but my wife says not until next year. Appriciate any feed back, and also who makes a good PFD for toddlers.

My advice is get your son out this upcoming summer. MY daughter is 3 and I wanted her in our canoe since she was one and my wife said no. Now she is deathly afraid and I cannot get her in it. Not even when its sitting in the grass Hopefully in the next few years she will be interested. She loves fishing from the bank

Good Luck!!!!