First time with the kids...

[hrlyridr77]

Went out with my 2 kids yesterday...what an adventure.

0800 - "hey kids, wanna go fishin?" (yeah, I know, late start. Kids without sleep aren't any fun)
"Fishin - Ice fishin? today? Oh boy, we're goin ice fishin...yay"
15 minutes of kids running around the house screaming.

Got them dressed and fed, made a thermos of cocoa, got them in the truck, off we go...

0900 - pulled up to the pond.
"is this where we're going? Are there any fish there? what if we catch a shark?"
0915 - truck unloaded, heading to the ice.
"what's that motor thing for? how deep is the ice? Can we walk to the other side? let's go sliding..."
0930 - started the auger, drilled a few holes.
" it's dark down there, can we see the fish? Which hole is mine? Can I have a snack now? Look, over there - some birds...."
1000 - everyone is jigging, 5 tip-ups out. Nothing yet...
"Where are the fish? Why doesn't one of those flags wave? Can I walk around?"
1020 - moved location, new holes, about 100 ft away
"are the fish here? why did we move? This isn't that much fun...."
1030 - decide to walk around, spot a small playground on shore, explore that.
"we want to stay here and play. Fishing is boring. Can we go home now?"
1045 - FLAGGGG!  we run back to the ice, and slip-slide to the tip-up. 18" pickerel, fatty....
"this is the best day ever. Can we name the fish? that's the biggest fish we ever caught. can we stay here all day?"

Stayed another hour or so, no more flags, no nibbles on the jig poles.

But, the kids want to go again after church, enjoyed the fish (fileted, chunked and fried) and are still talking about it this morning.
So I'll miss the race on TV, chase them around on the ice, and hopefully they'll catch something jigging today.

Yup, best day ever.....

[pikehead]

good job dad,  i love the play by play

[Icecracka46]

Yup,Sounds like a day ice fishing with kids.
Great isn't it.
Great replay glad to see they had fun.
Good luck.

[newbraintree]

Nice job getting them out there!  I have on numerous occasions put my son in the car seat with his pajams on and dressed him at the pond just to avoid the ruckas at the house looking for everything.

Keep getting them out there.  Start a fire.  Cut a live well into the ice so they can look at the fish they caught.  Tie a long rope to a sled and spin them around.  Anything to kill the time in between flags. 

As for the race today, its at 3:30, so they won't even start racing until 4:30.  You should be all set to see the 48 dominate again

[hrlyridr77]

Got em out again today after church - 4 perch, 1 on my daughter's pole....
Now they think it's easy, and Dad knows everything......

[THE JIGGER]

Now that's what it's all about.
A great dad

[Danny]

Ice fishing is about the best out door activity for young kids.  They don't have to sit quiet and/or still, plenty of ways to keep them busy between flags.  (I've done the play ground on shore thing too!).  Dress them warm, bring plenty of snacks, and a change of gloves and socks can sometimes save a day.  On colder days, the disposible chemical hand warmers also go a long way in keeping them out there.

Great post!  how about some pics!?!

[bigbry068]

great job dad! My 14 yo still gets bored , have to enertain him once in a while. Experiance of a life hope you have plenty of pics ,make a nice fishing scrapbook.