FlaGaitor

I got the reel from Amazon - 142.18 Prime. Still loving that combo...and so is my daughter when she is with me. I really was going to make this just her combo, but it is way good of a setup to not take and use when I'm out alone. I really like it.

Just back from a fairly long break and trip to the lakehouse, which happened to fall out over the 4th! Kind of a funny year of celebrating this year, no one seemed to know exactly which night to blow up their (money) fireworks so we went out on the lake each night for some pretty good shows! I really appreciate all the input into my original post. I look back and chuckle as I have bass fished for a long time and colors and accents have never been a thought for me. So I looked at dang near every rod and reel and absorbed all the suggestions given. This is a good way to dig into what is really out there for purchase and it is a LOT more than you see in the Bass Pros or Cabelas. For my daughter, I purchased to reels and one rod. The rod was the Okuma Helios Mini Guide. The reels, well, I wanted to give the Kast King Assasin a look given it's review on this site and also the weight. It is indeed a nice reel and noticeably very light. This would be an awesome reel for a beginner, which is where my daughter really is with the baitcasters, but I will also be using the setup as I thought it would be dumb to dump money in such a nice setup to only be used at her frequency. Although the reel is small, lightweight, it is just not that smooth and made a noise when winding, reminiscent of line rubbing even with no line on the reel. So, I went with the Okuma Helios HS-273Va, which matches the rod in color. This is my first purchase with Okuma products. It got a great workout over the last week or so. I have to tell you that I love this set up and would without a doubt recommend it. I mostly have Lews BB1s. My daugther is casting this like a pro (almost) and the wt and balance is good as well. So thanks for the help fellas!

I do some work and research to do GrumpyOlPhartte, your right about that. I spent some time today looking up the rods/reels from the suggestions here and you know of course this gets you off on rabbit trails... I've been in and out of bass fishing since I was 11. I learned how to use a baitcaster very early and that is what I have always stuck with. I usually keep on spinning outfit serviceable and ready to go, but never seem to pick it up. FishNKamp got me to thinkin about that. I still have the same spinning rod/reel that I got a long time ago, a Mitchell (308?) on an ugly stick. So, no, I haven't really given the spinning reel a fair shake especially with the modern equipment available. And FishNKamp, I have never thought about using braid but that sounds like a fabulous idea. I am just so in love with baitcasters, that my confidence and passion is in those guys. And...I want my girl to have a love for them too. She is really casting them well, just gets fatigued quickly, which is why I went on this search. Today, I had almost decided on the Okuma Helios Rod/Reel. Then, I noticed the KastKing Assasin reel in the 'headlines' of BassResource today, which made me take a deeper look. I'm thinking now, that I just may try the reel (which has blue in it) and the helios rod (which has green in it). The colors don't mean much to me, but to a 14 yr old girl, I think there may be an issue with them matching. BTW, she liked the green. I have 3 St Croix rods, 1 Avid and 2 MoJo Bass. The Avid Pearl is a thing of beauty (the one Angry John mentioned) but it is not the lightest an may be overkill for what I am trying to do here. So, I think I may sit on the KastKing Assasin reel, (and possibly the Helios rod), and keep looking for a good, light rod with some blue in it. Hey, if this doesn't work, I know I can put it to use and I have some good ideas on the spinning reel front now! Thanks fellas

Geez, as New2bcforbass noted, this is my first post. I really didn't expect this good of response. I will update profile soon. There have been a lot of suggestions thus far, and a lot to consider. So, as I pick thru all the replies, there seem to be some really good questions that I need to ask my daughter first, and some more trial with the my rods/reels keeping in mind some of the things pointed out in this thread (meaning, I have a new set of questions to ask while she is trying out some of my gear). This should get me down to what will make her happy and functional. There definitely is some gear mentioned that I was not aware of and I so appreciate the suggestions. She has fished with me on and off over her years, and we are just finishing up a 3 year long project in a lakehouse on Lake Sinclair, Ga. So, the fishing time is increasing. She would probably tend more on the 'girly, girl' side, doesn't crave going fishing, but when she gets that 'tap, tap, tap', or a topwater hit, you can image the smile. When her wrist (yes, one handed cast), get tired, I invite her to the front and lay down my rod, make cast for her and then give her the rod. When I get a bit more time and update my profile, I will also post a pic of her with the 4-5 pounder she caught 2 weeks ago. The smile on her face makes it where the cost of whatever I get her, does not matter. Even if she only goes out with me from time to time. I want her to have something that she can alway's have (past HS into College), that is hers and familiar. She is past spinning gear and the tangles are frustrating (even for me). Sorry so long, but I really appreciate the great response from my plea for help!!! BTW- I have used BassResource for a long while, just never registered.

I have a 14 year old petite girl who needs a rod and bait caster that is not too heavy. When she uses mine, her wrist get tired very quickly. I am thinking a shorter rod, say, 5.5' might be the ticket, but who makes them light weight and a matching, bait caster that is also light weight. I am looking for quality as well. A good sensitive rod and a smooth, easy to cast, reel.