[bradc]

My sons birthday is next week, and I am getting him a fighting belt. Anyone recommend one? I am usually lite tackle off a boat, can gimbal pins be taken out and rods without the holes be used? Thanks. Or suggestions for other gifts....

This post edited by bradc 08:55 AM 03/05/2008

 

[outrageous21]

Crab trap with line and a float, take him out drop it in the bay, kids love that stuff. Or killie traps or castnet with instructional video, then he can catch bait for you guys too. Very gratifying.

Rob

 

[Bachala]

buying a fishing belt for your 6 year old would be like buying a hunting rifle for the wife. Buy him Legos or something he will really enjoy and if you need to buy him gear to fish then do that but not necessarily as a gift just as part of all the other stuff one buys when owning a boat. Just my opinion but it sounds like you are buying him something you want. I've got a 6 year old and she was reeling in 20+" fluke with a small Penn reel when she was 4. No need for a belt.

 

[clementine]

fighting belt

although i too think your 6 yr. old probably doesn't need a fighting belt, if you want to get one, the reliable is probably the right one. It has a cup that swivels up a down, so rods with or without gimbals can be used.

 

[wader]

planning on having him reel in a shark or two?

No disrespect - but I'd go with what the other posters have said.

 

[mackerelmiz]

If you want to get him into fishing thats awesome. I wish i fished when I was six. Maybe a rod and reel setup would work.

 

[eisey]

how about some crazy glue to keep his butt in the chair. if he needs a fighting belt he is sure going to need to be secured.

 

[mackerelmiz]

AWESOMENESS!!!

 

[NanbayFluker]

I definitely like the minnow trap or net idea. When i was that age i loved catching crabs and chasing minnows and pnuts with a net. A larger net and i would have had a blast. Little kids love things like crab traps since they never know what they will pull up tomorrow. One thing i always wanted when i was that young was a small oar boat to fish in. It might be unsafe though if they go to far off, especially a 6 year old. Hard to keep an eye on them.

 

[bradc]

Although I appreciate the well intended wishes and advice on what NOT to give my son ... I will tell you this. He has been fishing since he was 3 off of a boat. All he talks about, 365 days a year, is fishing. Starting 11/1 when the boat comes out, to 4/15 when the boat comes in I hear the same question at least 3x a week. Dad, is the boat going in today?

That being said, he loves messing with the schoolies and snappers etc. Friend of mine has a lite tackle fighting belt on his 6 year old son and it has been great for him. It is tough to hold on to a big blue for these little guys. All he can do is hold the rod with both hands..without reeling. Well, now he can reel the bigger fish in. The rod in no way will be strapped to him...obviously. Or at least I thought obviously.

"buying something that i want" ?? please

To those who replied in earnest, thanks.

This post edited by bradc 09:02 AM 03/06/2008

 

[ihavegills]

I agree with you 100%

I have my son using an old 7' berkly roughneck fast action that I use for flounder as his eeling stick. He can't hold on to anything heavier and enjoy it. We set the drag and he is still over powered on bass over 12lbs. I was trying to get or make a belt so he would be comfortable on a 1/2 day Montauk bass trip. Obviously not too many here are experienced with a 6yr old 50# kid pinned against a 25# or 30# bass. That would be the equivelant of an average man on a 125# tuna. Time to get the belt??? Definitely! And my kids no slacker. I've had to run him down many times as he would jump on a bass deadsticked from the surf and almost get hoisted into the surf. At least on land he has a better footing. Which leads me to my next concern, a teather. If he has a belt on, even though the rod is not clipped in I would stand over his shoulders and have a teather on him just incase anything got caught up in it. Good luck and I'll PM you if I come up with anything. My kid has been asking for waders, a fighting belt and all sorts of stuff like that since he could talk. His first word was FSH! He would tell you to keep the baby toys.

This post edited by ihavegills 10:05 AM 03/06/2008

 

[MakoMike]

I went through this when my son was young. The problem with fighting belts is that they are too big for the kids. You're best bet is to buy a cheap one and cut it down to the right proportions. As far as a tether goes, I just got a big caribiner clip and cliped it to my son's belt and passed a line through it.

 

[bradc]

ordered this. was told that velcro a must

I like the caribener idea. tks for that.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s..._-1_10001_104154?cmCat=CROSSSELL&cmid=PP_P1_1

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s..._-1_10001_104154?cmCat=CROSSSELL&cmid=PP_P1_1

This post edited by bradc 10:41 AM 03/06/2008

 

[northsider]

Just a suggestion, the Skiff Belt from Cabela's might work.


"The Skiff Belt provides a stable rod-butt platform perfect for beginners or even seasoned fishermen. Quick-release adjustable belt, leather gimbal, heavy-duty nylon-covered 1/2" foam pad."

 

[634329]

get him the belt and some shades...he'll love it.

 

[oldmud]

Brad I LIKE your idea !! Some of my best memory's are still talking about, Thinking about fishing when i was young. I would spend Hours going through MY tackle box. Cleaning, Separating and touching everything !! Dreaming. I still think about those days today. (68 years old).

GO FOR IT !!!!he will NEVER forget it !!

Don

 

[gmann]

There is nothing wrong with buying him a soft padded fishing belt for his birthday along with some fun 6 year old stuff as well. My son Anthony has been offshore with me since he is 7 and loves the sport.

Today at 12 he is a tournament winning angler that still loves the fun things as well. Buy him something cheap, cut it down to size and have a tailer stich the wraps so its fits him

This post edited by gmann 04:05 PM 03/06/2008