Guiding Young Anglers Means Finding the Right Bite

When you take a young angler fishing, success is not always measured by the species or size of fish caught. Sometimes success means finding an active bite, keeping the child involved, and helping him experience the excitement of catching fish on his own.

During this guided fishing trip near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I found a good group of walleyes holding tight to cover. The fish were there, and I could get them to react, but the advanced technique required accurate casting and precise bait placement. That would have been difficult for a young angler who was still learning.

We also tried a jig and minnow, hoping the walleyes would respond to a presentation he could manage more comfortably. Unfortunately, the way those walleyes were positioned in the cover made the jig and minnow ineffective.

As a fishing guide, that is when you have to make a decision.

Do you continue targeting walleyes with a technique that may leave a young angler watching someone else fish? Or do you adjust the plan and find an active bite that allows him to cast, work the bait, feel the strike, and reel in his own fish?

For me, the answer was simple.

The Experience Comes First

We changed our focus and began targeting white bass. They were active, aggressive, and willing to bite a jig and minnow. More importantly, it was a technique Gus could learn and use himself.

I showed him how to cast, work the jig, and recognize a bite. Once he understood what to do, he took it from there.

Gus caught around 40 white bass throughout the day, along with a walleye and a smallmouth bass. He stayed involved, kept learning, and enjoyed the kind of steady action that can turn a fishing trip into a lifelong memory.

Some anglers may say they were only white bass, but there is nothing small about the excitement a young fisherman feels when a fish hits his line.

White bass fight hard, travel in schools, and provide the kind of consistent action that is perfect for helping young anglers build confidence. Every strike gives them another opportunity to practice casting, setting the hook, controlling the fish, and bringing it safely to the boat.

Guiding the Person in the Boat

A fishing guide’s responsibility is not simply to locate the most desirable species in the lake. You also have to understand the people in your boat.

Every client has a different experience level. What works for an experienced tournament angler may not be the right choice for a child who is still learning how to cast and work a bait.

That does not mean giving up on walleyes. It means recognizing when another opportunity will create a better overall experience.

On this trip, continuing to force the walleye bite would have meant relying on a technique that was too advanced for Gus at that point. By changing our target, he was able to participate in every part of the process instead of simply watching.

That is an important part of taking kids fishing. Give them something they can do successfully, help them understand why it works, and then allow them to experience the accomplishment for themselves.

Building the Next Generation of Anglers

Children may not remember the exact size of every fish they catch. They will remember the strike. They will remember the fight. They will remember holding the fish for a picture and the people who were there encouraging them.

A day filled with active white bass can do more to build a young angler’s love for fishing than hours spent waiting for one particular species to cooperate.

There will be time to learn more advanced techniques. There will be opportunities to chase bigger walleyes and develop the skills needed to fish difficult cover. The first goal is to give that young angler a reason to want to come back.

Watching Gus proudly hold up one of his fish was a good reminder of what guiding is really about. It is not always about catching the fish I want to catch. It is about creating the best possible experience for the person standing beside me.

On this day, the white bass gave a young fisherman steady action, confidence, and a story he could take home.

That made them exactly the right fish to target.

Plan a Family Fishing Trip Near Sioux Falls

Tom Tom’s Guide Service welcomes young anglers, families, and first time fishermen. Each trip is adjusted to the experience level of the people in the boat, with an emphasis on learning, enjoying the outdoors, and creating memories together.

If you are looking for a family friendly guided fishing trip in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area, contact Tom Tom’s Guide Service to plan your day on the water