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Tips and Tricks for Fishing with Kids

Tips and Tricks for Fishing with Kids

Making lifetime family memories on the water is something that just can’t be beat, and what better way to make some of those memories than fishing with the kiddos out of your Starcraft boat?  For some people, this activity can seem daunting.  I got together with Team Starcraft Pro Fisherman, Greg Yarbrough and got some awesome tips and tricks for taking tykes fishing!

To start, safety , education, and engagement are key to a successful fishing trip with the kids.  I know, I know, it feels like people are constantly harping on boat safety, but it truly is an important aspect that we need to teach the kids so that it just becomes habit.  Did you know that on average, a child needs to be told something 200 times before it starts to stick with them? 200 times! That’s a lot of patience, and a lot of “don’t forget your lifejacket!”  And the key to making safety and fun a part of the adventure is ​engagement.

 
1. Having the little ones wear a lifejacket can be a struggle; trust me, I understand! The complaints are endless: it’s not comfortable, it rubs my neck weird, it’s not cool, etc.  But when everyone else on the boat is wearing one, kids become much more likely to feel comfortable with wearing it. Monkey see, monkey do right?  In this case the answer will most likely be yes!  It’s just like a seatbelt in the car, a kid often thinks “if dad doesn’t wear it why should I?” Once they become more comfortable with wearing them they’ll be more likely to be fine wearing it even when you’re not!
 
2. When talking with Greg, he brought up some great points that I don’t always think about because I’m on a smaller lake.  But he fishes on the Great Lakes most of the time, and stresses that it’s very important to teach the kids how to navigate! Simple things like how to read a compass or gps, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, even learning to read the sun!  On larger bodies of waters, these kinds of skills are imperative for safety and the earlier the kids learn the more practice they have. Other important navigation skills include things like learning what different buoys mean and how to follow them, boatus.org is a great resource for this. 
 
3. Okay, now’s when you cast a line and the action starts! There have been many times when both Greg and myself have heard people complain that their kids don’t like fishing and don’t want to go with them.  While that could be the case for some of them, I most certainly do not believe it in most instances.  Engagement is key in any activity you introduce you child to!  If they deem it “boring” they are automatically not going to want to do it again. So what can you do to avoid dooming future fishing trips with the kids? Make it exciting!  My friend Pat from Bert’s Custom Tackle gave me some great insight on this one.  Waiting all day to catch one big fish is boring for a kid, but catching lots of small ones? Bingo! Greg recommends keeping them in on the action by fishing for things like perch, blue gill, crappie, sunfish, or pan fish just to name a few! Hitting a lull? Fire up the fish finder and show them how to use it. It’s always exciting to learn how to use new gadgets, especially ones that show them what’s going on underwater. 
 
4. Last, just have fun and don’t be afraid to change things up! If it’s hot and the kids are getting antsy, reel-in the lines and take a dip! Not all kids are the same, and most of them have a hard time staying interested in the same thing all day. Changing activities for a bit keeps them excited and more likely to want to do it again in the future! 
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Staying Safe on Memorial Day Weekend

Staying Safe on Memorial Day Weekend

On Memorial Day Weekend, everyone has the same idea as you — let's head to the lake! That means that for three days, your idyllic hideaway looks like Walmart on Black Friday.

Basically, you can expect big crowds.

The thing with big crowds is that they're full of human beings, and human beings share one universal commonality — they all love pontoon boats. That means you're going to have a whole bunch of new best friends and everyone in the crowd is going to want to come aboard.

You, being the awesome human being that you are, are going to want to accommodate them all. The problem is, your boat's maximum capacity doesn't increase just because it's a holiday.

In short, Memorial Day Weekend gives you lots of opportunities to overload your boat. Resist the urge to say "one more couldn't hurt."

Next, watch your speed. Excessive speed causes more accidents than anything else on the water, even when crowds aren't at their peak. On Memorial Day Weekend, there are more boats. More boats equals more things to crash into.

Finally, we come to booze. Don't drink and boat. It’s illegal. It's dangerous. Its stupid. It's irresponsible. What else is there to say?

Please keep in mind that just because you're doing the right thing, you can't assume that all the other captains on the sea are following your example. Assume that other boats zigging and zagging past, pontoon or otherwise, are piloted by folks who think the rules don’t apply to them. Be on guard!

So that's it. Be safe on Memorial Day Weekend. Use common sense and exercise good judgment. These are pretty good rules of thumb to follow on a boat no matter the day, but on holidays, surviving the three-day weekend with your body, boat and family intact is a special kind of mission.

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You have a dog. You have a boat. You need MariDeck.

You have a dog. You have a boat. You need MariDeck.

Whether it's a pickup truck or a pontoon boat, there is something inherently wrong about getting into a vehicle and driving away without taking your dog along for the ride. For dogs, a ride in anything mechanized is a little slice of Doggie Heaven.

It’s impossible to shove off onto the lake, steering your pontoon boat out onto the water while watching your dog on land getting smaller and smaller, tail wagging slower and slower as he realizes he's not coming along for the ride. Talk about cruel and unusual! Have a heart. Bring your pooch on board.

Dogs are great. Dogs are wonderful. But wait! Dogs have claws.

Claws present several problems on the deck of a pontoon boat. First of all, without good flooring, dogs don't walk on boat decks. They ice skate. After about a half hour of slipping and sliding around like a drunk figure skater, your dog might start to wonder if he might have been better off back on shore chasing Squirrels or napping.

When you upgrade to high-end vinyl flooring from MariDeck, however, your dog — and your two-legged passengers — have a safe, slip-free deck that's cozy on the feet while offering all the traction any species could ask for.

The other problem with claws is that they scratch things up — yes, even fiberglass. While your dog is slipping and sliding, frantically trying to gain even the slightest bit of traction, he's digging those claws into your deck.

Finally, dogs go to the bathroom — only when they do, they don't actually go to the bathroom.

Even the best trained dog might succumb to his instincts in unfamiliar surroundings. If the worst — or the really worst — happens on MariDeck flooring, a few sprays with the hose and it's like it never happened. If the same thing goes down on traditional boat carpeting, your dog's mishap is now a permanent part of your boat deck. Like, forever.

Or at least until you upgrade to Marideck — which you should right this second! Your dog and your deck will thank you.

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You know what is more fun than a Pontoon Boat?

You know what is more fun than a Pontoon Boat?

The stuff it floats on!

You know the great thing about boats? They ride on the water. You know the great thing about water? You can swim in it.

Traditional boats are great, but when it comes to stopping your boat to descend into the cool, refreshing water for some fun in the lake, there is nothing in this world that can compare to a pontoon boat.

Want to turn your pontoon into a swimming platform? Then you're going to need a swim ladder. The good news is, you can score the best one money can buy for not that much money at all. Our swim ladders are perfect to use either at the transom or side gate.

They easily attach to the deck with Shur-loc catches, which are included at no extra cost. They're coated in vinyl, so both your feet and your pontoon are protected every time you take a dip. You know how ladder hooks are impossible to store? Not these babies — they fold flat.

There are few things better in this world than staring up from the water and seeing your pride and joy bathed in light. Today's LEDs don't get hot and they only gobble up around 10 percent of the energy of a traditional light. So soak your pontoon in the soft glow of amber, red, blue, white or green light to serve as a beacon while you swim and splash.

Finally, there's flooring. When all those little feet ascend back up your new ladder to the deck of your pontoon, they're going to trample your tired old marine carpeting into a matted, dirty mess. If you have high-end vinyl MariDeck, on the other hand, you'll be safe from slips and falls. Even better, you're just a few sprays with a hose away from looking like new — literally. MariDeck flooring makes your deck, and you whole boat, look brand new for years after installation.

You think it's fun on the lake? Wait til you get in the lake.

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