Beginner - Looking for Direction

Hire a guide and/or charter a boat.

By observing and asking questions you can attain a basic knowledge of the fish you are after.

Unfortunately, there's no shortcut in learning when, where and how to fish. Mostly trial and error.



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If you're fishing from the shore, start by asking the bait shop where you might have some success. Also let them suggest proper bait and rigs. They do this for a living and they know how to catch fish.

Thanks both for the guidance and input.

Welcome to the site!

It's great to see you taking your kids fishing! Now you need to catch them fish.

What county are you fishing?

George

Hi George - Thank you for the warm welcome. We're in Erie County ... Lancaster area.

Good thing I asked. I wish I could offer more but I'm not that familiar with the area. I can't add to anything offered here.

Like Jaws1948 said, you definitely want to go to a local tackle shop on a day when things are not very busy. (Rainy weekday, etc.)
I fished freshwater on Long Island before going back to just saltwater and with kids, you probably need to use live bait
at first, worms or minnows, fished three or four feet down from a bobber or on the bottom with a light weight. But you do need to know what is in that lake first and that is where a friendly tackle store guy or gal comes in. As a middle schooler I caught many fish on those same Zebco outfits in a suburban 40 acre lake.

Hi All - Live in Western NY and have two young boys (8 and 9) that absolutely love fishing. Bought them some entry-level Zebco 33 reels (came w/ poles) and I left the stock 10lb test line alone. We generally fish from the shore on small stocked lakes/ponds w/ night crawlers.

We don't seem to have a lot of success. Would love to get better at fishing, but don't really know where to start. Heck I don't know if I'm even fishing the right spots, the right time, the right depth, etc. Kind of need fishing 101!

They both want to go up to lake Ontario and catch a salmon, but just trying to focus on being more successful now in local ponds/lakes first.

Any suggestions on a good resource to get started? Thanks in advance for any direction/input!

Take a trip out to Peconic Bay on the East End of Long Island and go on a Party Boat Out there. The Worst fisherman in the world could fill a barrel with fish out there in MAY/June.

Take a trip out to Peconic Bay on the East End of Long Island and go on a Party Boat Out there. The Worst fisherman in the world could fill a barrel with fish out there in MAY/June.

That is a long commute from the Finger Lakes Region lol.

Like Jaws1948 said, you definitely want to go to a local tackle shop on a day when things are not very busy. (Rainy weekday, etc.)
I fished freshwater on Long Island before going back to just saltwater and with kids, you probably need to use live bait
at first, worms or minnows, fished three or four feet down from a bobber or on the bottom with a light weight. But you do need to know what is in that lake first and that is where a friendly tackle store guy or gal comes in. As a middle schooler I caught many fish on those same Zebco outfits in a suburban 40 acre lake.

Thank you, @pequa1 . That's one thing I need to correct ... I'm not allowing the bait to go low enough!

there is a kind of setup with a "slip bobber" that allows you to cast the bait and bobber out a ways but then the bait slips through and goes deeper. Its on the idea of a fish finder rig that surfcasters that use bait on the oceanfront might use, but adds in a bobber. Your local upstate tackle shop can square you away on that as well. Rainy weekday !

That is a long commute from the Finger Lakes Region lol.

A weekend together for you and the boys? Make memories🙂
?

Couple of suggestions.

1. Hit your local bait shops and ask for pointers & tips. Tell them you’re taking your kids fishing and that you’ll potentially become a loyal customer. Bait shop guys love this. It’s a win-win.

2. Lookup local fishing clubs in your area. With the internet I’m sure you’ll find plenty. These groups are great to get you started. They also usually have activities for children throughout the year to keep them engaged and interested in the sport.

3. Grab a map and look at nearby ponds, lakes, and streams. Many parks tend to have some sort of water in or around them. These public spots should give you some access.

4. Permits & Regulations. If you haven’t already be sure to have permits for you and the children. Also, be up to date on what you’re allowed to keep and when they are in season.

Best of luck and welcome to the site.