Best Spincast Reel for a 7 Year Old

[Brett's_daddy]

I'm looking for an inexpensive spincast reel for my son. He's 7 and just getting into fishing, last year was his first. I want something with a better drag system in it so he can catch bass too. Right now he has a Zebco 33 Micro and just using it myself i can tell if he got a big bass it'd run him out of line and strip the gears in that thing.

[Log Catcher]

I bought a couple of spincast reels that BPS makes for my wife to use. They are around $25 to $30 bucks apiece. She hasn't used them a lot but they seem to be decent reels. I was looking at some others but the guy a BPS recommended them as they are a little smaller and would fit with small hands better.

[new2BC4bass]

Think he can handle a spinning reel?  I started at 5 with a cane pole and went to a Mitchell 300 the next year.  The Pflueger Trion would make an excellent low cost reel that he wouldn't outgrow.

[ratherbfishin1]

1 minute ago, new2BC4bass said:

Think he can handle a spinning reel?  I started at 5 with a cane pole and went to a Mitchell 300 the next year.  The Pflueger Trion would make an excellent low cost reel that he wouldn't outgrow.

Might as well hop up to a baitcaster.  The Shimano metanium dc is an amazing low cost reel also... but if it has to be a spinning the shimano Stella is an amazing reel for the money.  

 

Just kidding (surprise) the Pflueger Trion is an amazing reel and will last forever. I started with a spinning around 8 and I caught on really quickly and so that’s the way I recommend to others.

[Jaderose]

Diawa Silvercast is a VERY nice spincast reel for around 30 bucks.  I still toss mine occasionally at a local park

[Boomstick]

I think you could teach him to use a spinning reel at 7...

[LCG]

Just got my 7 year old and ugly stick gx2 youth model spinning rod and he can use it no problem. Spinning rod and reel would be better in my opinion. 

[FishDewd]

Yeah, ditch the micro. Sounds too modern. Older Zebco 33's are quite a bit beyond the modern ones, imo. I've caught some nice fish on those old reels. Still have the same one I got when I was younger than him. Some other considerations might be an older 404 with the star drag wheel (have one, it's great) or a feather touch one classic. Yes, these are all Zebcos lol. I wouldn't really consider any other spincast reel as I've had others break long before these will. But yeah, if he takes a liking to it and gets good with it I would step him up to an open spinner. I don't think there is many wrong choices for those at this point considering they are such simple mechanisms. Some may be a little smoother than others, but still pretty much all the same thing.

[islandbass]

Is that zebco 33 micro smaller than the regular 33 platinum? If you want to teach him how to use a spinning reel then do that. The smallest abu Garcia cardinal Is the perfect size. Only about $30 and Walmart should have it. It only weighs like 6.95 oz. both my kids learned to use spinning reels before age 7. My daughter learned to use a casting reel at 7 so it is definitely possible. However, you need to be cautious. If you let them use a bc reel or a spinning reel you’d be afraid to lose, then go with that abu g cardinal I mentioned. My son dropped a good number of his rigs into the lake never to be seen again.  Had one of those had my curados on it, I’d be forced to jump into the drink lol. 

 

Id rather lose a zebco 33 or that tiny abu g spinning reel than a curado, lol. 

 

[Catt]

Zebco 33 Platinum, 4.1:1 gear ratio, 5 stainless bearings, aluminum frame, continous anti-reverse, mirco fine drag control all for $35

 

Can handle Hawgs ?

 

 

[grub_man]

Take a look at the Zebco Rhino spincast reel.  It's a remarkably nice spincast reel for the money.

[Brett's_daddy]

I'm not adverse to teaching him to use a spinning reel...just want to keep his confidence level high and frustration level low so I can continue to nurture his interest in fishing!

[Crankin4Bass]

I got tired of clearing tangles on cheaper Zebco's and wound getting a Zebco Omega Pro z02. It's actually really nice, but it's $75. Got it on sale for $60. Haven't had any problems with it. 

[drew4779]

I have 3 daughters who all have been using spinning reels since they were 5.  It took them around 20 minutes to figure out. I'd bet your 7 year old would figure it out quick.  I took the two older girls (9 and 12) on a 3 day fishing trip this last weekend and they out fished their old man.  My 12 year old kept reaching for my bait casters cause she says she's sick of line twists.  

 

The 9 and 12 year old tie their own knots, take off their own fish (except on trebles... My rule, not theirs), and t-rig their own plastics. These aspects took a lot of instruction and many days of me teaching class on the water instead of fishing myself but using a spinning reel took them 20 minutes of practice in the back yard. 

[new2BC4bass]

21 minutes ago, drew4779 said:

I have 3 daughters who all have been using spinning reels since they were 5.  It took them around 20 minutes to figure out. I'd bet your 7 year old would figure it out quick.  I took the two older girls (9 and 12) on a 3 day fishing trip this last weekend and they out fished their old man.  My 12 year old kept reaching for my bait casters cause she says she's sick of line twists.  

 

The 9 and 12 year old tie their own knots, take off their own fish (except on trebles... My rule, not theirs), and t-rig their own plastics. These aspects took a lot of instruction and many days of me teaching class on the water instead of fishing myself but using a spinning reel took them 20 minutes of practice in the back yard. 

Danger, Will Robinson.  Danger.    My youngest grandson...at that time...wanted to use a baitcast instead of a spinning reel.  Original Lew's Tournament Pro and Cabela's XMLTi.  Total MSRP $400.  (Not my cost thank goodness, but still.)  10 year old kid.  I now have it back because the boys can't stand the boredom of seldom catching a fish.

[drew4779]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Danger, Will Robinson.  Danger.    My youngest grandson...at that time...wanted to use a baitcast instead of a spinning reel.  Original Lew's Tournament Pro and Cabela's XMLTi.  Total MSRP $400.  (Not my cost thank goodness, but still.)  10 year old kid.  I now have it back because the boys can't stand the boredom of seldom catching a fish.

I may have let her if I would've had some tape for the spool on hand.  I told her it would be best to practice in yard first.  I'm all for it.  What better way for her learn? Also, gives me an excuse to buy another reel. 

[WRB]

When my son was 6,  made up a 5' ML spinning rod with baitcasting guides and Omega Gold trigger spin reel because he could 2 hand cast with small hands. 

Today the Omega isn't available, the Zebco 33 Gold micro trigger spin looks like the same reel. Tommy caught some big fish on his outfit; 26 1/2 lb channel cat* and 7 lb bass using 3" reapers split shot rigged.

Tom

* In-Fisherman Master Angler award.

[tkunk]

Does anyone know if it's possible to use braid on a spincast reel? I imagine that it'd eliminate line twist.

[WRB]

Just run the line behind the boat without anything tied on a few minutes at walking speed to untwist line on any spinning or Spincast reel. 

Braid could damage the a Spincast reel if the parts are not made for braid and your child may cut their hands trying to pull on the line, not a good idea IMO.

What is important with a child is being a good fishing partner and parent. Make the outing fun experience, not all about catching fish.

My son and daughter both liked getting up early with dad, having hot chocolate while I had my coffee, getting thier things together whatever they choose to take along. We always stopped for breakfast, they loved it. My son caught lots of bass using a slip shot rig, the bass hooked themselves most of the time as kids tend to get distracted watching everything and talking. Remember getting skunked happens, it's part of the fishing experience. Enjoy this short time period, kids grow up fast.

Tom

[Brett's_daddy]

On 4/25/2018 at 1:02 PM, WRB said:

What is important with a child is being a good fishing partner and parent. Make the outing fun experience, not all about catching fish.

My son and daughter both liked getting up early with dad, having hot chocolate while I had my coffee, getting thier things together whatever they choose to take along. We always stopped for breakfast, they loved it. My son caught lots of bass using a slip shot rig, the bass hooked themselves most of the time as kids tend to get distracted watching everything and talking. Remember getting skunked happens, it's part of the fishing experience. Enjoy this short time period, kids grow up fast.

Truer words haven't been spoken! I sometimes get caught up in trying to fish myself and trying to help my son and sometimes i lose my patience if he doesn't follow what I say. Of course I feel really bad after I snap at him and apologize and you are absolutely correct that I need to realize when I bring him my own fishing needs to take a back seat and i should focus on making it a fun outing for him so he grows to love it like I do. I know he idolizes me and wants to be just like me so I need to do better at realizing not to take these fishing excursions with him too seriously .