Best chance to catch fish kayaking with a little one?

Other than planter trout. This can be a challenging time of year to keep short attention spans in the game. Spring time is the best time when all the lakes wake up with sunfish, gills, and bass. Just remember, it's more important for them to be having fun rather than success. Start with the right attitude. The trip is for THEM not another opportuniy for you to get on the water dragging them along. You may get there and start checking out bugs, minnows,frogs and stuff...and not get past that.  Bring tasty treats. The kinda crap mom won't let em have... Don't put ANY expectations on it other than quality time together. Bring the right clothing for em. Nothing sends em home quicker than being cold or hot. Get em a rod outfit that's easy to use, and fits them. I'm thinking a zebco here. Use bait. Take breaks for snacks, critters and anything else that comes along. Remember, if they take to it, you could have a life partner. If they don't enjoy it. It may be your first and last time out.... Have fun. 

Beautifully stated!!!

X3...read that paragraph above, then read it again and again.  Fishing with a 3-yr old is a challenge.  Fishing with a 3-yr old in a yak takes it to a whole new level.  My advice from someone who has been there is to wait for a nice warm spring day with voracious bluegill...as close to a 'sure-thing' as you can get.

I am getting inspired my girl will be 3 this April. I took an old clip on table chair and modified it to fit in the front hatch of my T13. Probably wait for a warm sunny day, fishing would just be a bonus. I am planning on being the mother ship and have my wife in the 9.5 ft perception as support in case of bail out. Got the life jacket bu maybe a tether too could not hurt.

take him to lafayette reservoir bro.  that lake is loaded.  It's the rich people lake si it is always stocked!

I would go for pan fish at Lafayette. I used to go there every Fathers day and rent a rowboat when my kids were young. Never caught anything but it was fun.  3 year olds are tough so count on a short trip.  Bring lots of snacks and some toys. Squirt guns might be fun. You may want to turn his seat around so he is facing you. The first fish I caught was a bluegill at an awful lake in the middle of LA called Echo park when I was 4 years old. I remember how exciting it was.  My kids are adults now but we still get together to fish. We went to the ranch 2 years ago and pulled on 50# tuna till we were exhausted. They still talk about it.

Hagmans trout farm. It's about 5 minutes from Doran. Took my son there to catch his 1st fish.
Just stand on the dock next to the feeder with a worm and bang! No yaks and they charge by the inch. Pretty much guaranteed a fish.

Anthony

Trout and bass have been pretty steady at Layafette. When the Gills start hitting Your going to want to get out there. Some of my fondest childhood memories were made there, and i reflect upon them Now as i paddle around that little pond

I used to take the kids to Loch Lomond for sure catch bluegills plus its a beautiful lake but that was 25 years ago. I don't believe you can put your kayak in the water anymore.

......or you can go to the Bay for sharks and bat rays. Just wait for  a moving tide, find a deep channel, anchor down, drop some squid and HOLD on 

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the suggestions. First, let me say he LOVES going kayaking.  One morning I tried to sneak out for half a day at Lafayette. He saw me through the window and threw a FIT until I unloaded the single, and loaded up the tandem so he and my wife could go along too. He has fun out there, seeing the sights and everything, but he absolutely went nuts when I landed a trout ( the only fish of the day), yelling at me to "put the fish in the net daddy, put the fish in the net!" I'd just like to be able to have him reel something in too. 

I freely admit it.  When it comes to freshwater fishing, I suck!  When other boats are pulling fish in, I get nada.  That's why I'm looking for places where there is going to be action off of a kayak so he can drop a line in too, and have the fun of reeling in his first (of many) fish.  I already know we will enjoy years of father and son fishing!

Looks like I'm going to have to head back to Lafayette again, maybe I need one of you guys as a guide next time to show us how its done!

I have never pan fished LR but the people I have seen pan fishing there are fishing the reeds south west of the launch and in the south end. There are some big cats in the south end when it warms up. You may want to bring an anchor if it is windy. If the worms arent working try a casting bobber with a bead head hairs ear nymph or crappie jig. Here is an article on how to fish the spring crappie and bluegill spawn. Water temperature of 60 degrees or higher increases the probability of finding them in shallow water on the spawn. It has been a mild winter but not sure is over 56 degrees yet.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&mode=article&objectID=32071

http://www.bobberstop.com/bluegill_fishing_tips.html

A couple of suggestions:

1. Troutmere Fishing is sure catch trout for anybody.  They don't open till May.  Its located on La Honda Rd. which ends on Hwy 1 if you're going west.  Lots of beaches you can choose from or go get bite at Duarte's in Pescadero which is famous for the artichoke soup.  While in Pescadero you can go to Harley Farms to check out their goats and different variety of cheese.
Any kid would have a blast on this road trip.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/troutmere-fishing-la-honda
http://www.harleyfarms.com/

2. I take my daughter my to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, the fishing is generally slow at this time.  We give it a try for about an hour.  As long I  give her a fishing pole she doesn't get too bored. Then we head over to the amusement park rides at the Beach Boardwalk.  Kids rides are only $3 each.  We do about 5 rides then she wants to play at the beach.  The weather has been gorgeous lately and the crowds are non- existent. All day parking is $6 or $8. 

Look for Trout Magnets people laugh at me all the time for useing them they look just like a small piece of rubber with a split in the tail end but with that tiny 1 inch piece of rubber ive caught every thing letterally. 4lb 13oz lmb, rockfish in morro bay, surf perch, monster slab crappie, blue gil, trout ect... my 5yr old nephew loves them an there is no wrong way to fish them in my opinion. u can toss em like a jerk bait which youngers alrdy do when they reel cause they swing the pole so much, run a bobber an give it a twich every now an then, drop shot, make a sabiki rig with some. or throw some 1-1/2 inch curly tail grubs they just gotta caste let sink an reel in the tail does the work. just some tips on what ive done with my nephew in the past.  Point out structure to him to just point out little pond weed patches tell em thats the fishes kitchen u gotta throw it right by there for him to see it an even though hes young he'll remember that kinda stuff. best of luck