Best place for kids?

[skrewflanders]

I'd like to take my 3 and 5 year olds out this weekend but don't want it to be a disaster. I was thinking the little ponds like bountiful or kaysville but I'm not sure of conditions. Anyone have suggestions, reports or words of warning?
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[Jackin_Jaws]

If ur kids just want to catch fish and be entertained, scofield.. U'lll catch the chubs and cuttysnakes, but it is fast and keeps the kids entertained.. My 6 year old loved it when we went there, she didn't know the difference between a chub and a trout, so it made it fun and kept her attention the whole time..
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[MACMAN]

Here is my advise- try to NOT make it about catching fish. Have them help you prepare. Let them pull each other around in the sled. Take snacks. Keep them warm. Go back home before they are ready. Make it fun and they will beg to go back. Save the focused serious fishing for you and your buddies. Before you know it, they will beg you to take them. When they are old enough then you can go "fish". Last weekend my eight year old out caught me...almost brought a tear to my eye. Made all those years of sledding instead of fishing worth it. I've created an ice fishing monster. I'm still working on the five year old, it'll come.
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[makinawfisher19]

Pineview is a good place to keep kids entertained if the fishing is good. I haven't been there this year but we have a blast catching even the smallest of fish there.
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[icerman]

I totally agree with MACMAN. I know this is not the answer you are looking for but having 6 kids myself, I have, "been there, done that", MACMAN is correct. Their attention span is so short, even when they are catching. If we were nailing perch right and left, I would head there, you will need something that doesn't require much skill and is easy to catch, size really doesn't matter, numbers do! Even if they are catching, they will get bored. Finding a location with a good sledding hill they can go down, bringing some hot chocolate and teats, etc will keep them entertained, FOR A WHILE. Definitely do not stay too long, YOU MUST LEAVE WHILE THEY ARE HAVING FUN, NOT WHEN YOU ARE READY! Don't travel too far, don't go too cold. Fish Lake has been awesome for catching, but, depending on where you live, it is a long drive.

I made the mistake of going fishing early in the morning, fishing all day and leaving just before the sun went down. I expected them to fish. BIG MISTAKE! Soon the question was, "How early are we leaving and when will be be coming back?" when asked if they wanted to go fishing. I learned too late the value of making it really fun. I ended up bribing them them by buying treats, finding sledding hills, etc. Unfortunately the memory of 6-8 hours of fishing still haunts them, (2 hours is often plenty)!

I have not found any lakes close to Ogden/SLC area that have been consistently "hot" this year. Read the posts, cast your dice, and go for it; if you happen to catch fish, well good for you, but make it fun anyway!

I question the ice at Kaysville ponds. I broke through the edges (waist deep) 2 Saturdays ago. The ice was 3" and cloudy, only 1 bite, not worth the risk. I would look at higher elevation with thicker ice.
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[triton21]

If you don't mind the drive, starvation is on fire. my boy and his friend each caught 30+ in 4hrs of fishing and they take off pulling the sleds around and goofing off. Hit rabbit gulch straight out from the main parking lot out to 21ft of water and have fun.

They will be hooked...
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[SBennett]

MACMAN and Icerman nailed it.
I always wanted to be the first to launch and the first for my kids to limit. I was the equivalent of todays parents who push their kids in team sports to where it is no longer enjoyable. It darn near ruined them.
They will go with me once or twice a year now but I think it is mostly out of guilt. Both my kids are married now so that does not help, maybe in the future.
The treats, sledding, leaving prematurely are all excellent tips I wish someone would of taught me 20 years ago.
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