Kids Rod/reel combos

[GoRavens]

My nephew wants to go fishing and asked me to take him. He has never been and is turning 8 soon. I need opinions for a good combo for him.  I thought about the zebco but I taught my wife with one and she always wanted to get it out a little bit further than what a spincast can do. This is why I'm leaning towards a spinning setup. I learned on one before I was 8. And I think the spinning setup will be good for him to master. He's already in gifted classes and robotics. So just pushing the zebco button might bore him. What you all think? 

[Dan_the_fisher]

I always thought to go straight to the spinning set up, if he is capable that's what you should go ahead and do 

[Darren.]

If you think he's ready to go for a spinning outfit, 
get one! Zebco makes some neat ones with cool
color combos.

http://shop.zebcobrands.com/zebco/combos/splash.html

[Josh Smith]

My boy was using a spinning reel when he was five.

Josh

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'd skip the spin cast and go for a spinning setup. They're not that hard to use and will remain useful as he grows. 

[new2BC4bass]

18 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I'd skip the spin cast and go for a spinning setup. They're not that hard to use and will remain useful as he grows. 

X2.  My first reel at age 6 was a Mitchell 300.  A Pflueger President is a reel he would still be using years from now.  See if there is a spinning rod at FFO that you'd like for him.  The 6'7" Aetos should be a great rod.  However I don't believe its rating of 1/4-3/8 oz.  A MHF should be 1/4-3/4 oz.  Could be why the rod is for sale at FFO.  It has the wrong rating listed on the rod.

[GoRavens]

All good stuff. I seen a combo in dicks called the Ike Jr. I think. That a good rod? Those zebco spinning look neat. The more options Ihhave for him the better. He can look at his cool rod when the bite gets tough

[Darren.]

6 minutes ago, GoRavens said:

All good stuff. I seen a combo in dicks called the Ike Jr. I think. That a good rod? Those zebco spinning look neat. The more options Ihhave for him the better. He can look at his cool rod when the bite gets tough

Almost anything would be good for a kiddo staring out.
I would say if it is a good price, give it a try. I bought
Daiwa Samurai for my kids at DSG, but we ended up 
selling them in a garage sale.

[tstraub]

I have 4 boys and have bought several different low budget combos over the years.  All of those low cost combs seem pretty similar in cost and preformance to me.  Personally I would probably let the kid decide what combo they want.  My twins are now 8 years old and one of the loves to use a spinning reel and the other is perfectly happy with a spincast.  Both kids can use either if they have to but they just prefer different reel types.  If you go with a spinning combo that comes with line on it you might as well plan to reline it or at very least do the drag the line behind the boat trick. I have had line twist issues on almost every spinning reel I have ever bought with the line already on the reel.  They always fish OK if you can get the line on straight.  Dealing with tangles right away can really take the fun out of fishing.

Tyler

[ww2farmer]

Both of my kids have the Abu Garcia "Ike" kids combos................I am pretty impressed with the bang for the buck with these. I have them spooled up with 10lb braid for them, and they use them for everything from dropshotting panfish, to throwing wacky rigged baits for bass, to tossing little crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

[Crestliner2008]

I have 5 grandkids now; the oldest 3 are in the 5 - 8 yo age group. They were all started on closed face spinners (which I bought for them), but soon graduated to open face spinning. Even the youngest boy. So, I don't really see a "need" to start them off with closed faced reels any more. Kids are pretty sharp. Give 'em a chance and they'll surpass your expectations.

The reliable Pflueger Trion is a tough, low end open spinning reel which "will take a beating and keep on ticking"! (For some of you younger folks, that's a reference to the old Timex watch commercials, when everyone had a watch instead of an iPhone!)

 

[brantley5]

On March 6, 2016 at 9:17 PM, GoRavens said:

 

[Dan_the_fisher]

Get him started right with a Calcutta 400D 

[GoRavens]

10 hours ago, tstraub said:

I have 4 boys and have bought several different low budget combos over the years.  All of those low cost combs seem pretty similar in cost and preformance to me.  Personally I would probably let the kid decide what combo they want.  My twins are now 8 years old and one of the loves to use a spinning reel and the other is perfectly happy with a spincast.  Both kids can use either if they have to but they just prefer different reel types.  If you go with a spinning combo that comes with line on it you might as well plan to reline it or at very least do the drag the line behind the boat trick. I have had line twist issues on almost every spinning reel I have ever bought with the line already on the reel.  They always fish OK if you can get the line on straight.  Dealing with tangles right away can really take the fun out of fishing.

Tyler

This is trUe

1 hour ago, Dan_the_fisher said:

Get him started right with a Calcutta 400D 

I thInk someOne been drinkIng JJs Magic

[Bluebasser86]

My son is 2 and is starting out with a Zebco Dock Demon. It's a pretty solid little setup for $10, but you'll want something a little bigger I'm sure.