Best Spincaster for youngster

[fire22driver]

My 5 year old loves to fish as much as I do.  The problem is with his spincaster, every time he reels in (without a fish) the line must be pulled out so that the pin can grab the line.  Do they make any spincasters that use something besides those darn pins???

[Catt]

Zebco Rhino RSC3 Line cap.:12 lbs./80 yds. Gear ratio: 3.4:1. Reel weight: 12.2 oz. Line recovery: 16" per handle turn.

[ABC123]

I have both the Rhino reels and the Zebco 33 and 11 platinum series reels. I forget the set up on the Rino's, but the Zebco platinums are dual pin (180 deg from each other). ALL the reels have worked flawlessly since removing the line they came with and puting on Trilene XL 4lb and/or 6lb line.

[islandbass]

Get him or her a small spinning reel. My daughter learned to use one at 5 and kids being what they are, are very fast learners.  She took my old green curado away from me at 6 1/2.  Besides, you will be making such a purchase somewhere down the road for him or her anyway. There are a few decent spinning reels out there that can be had for about the price of a good spincaster, like the abu g cardinal that are easy on the wallet.

If not, the the reels already suggested will do.  You kid might outlive that reel very soon though.

Good luck!

[FishTank]

Zebco 33 is a classic we all have owned at one time.  It would be great for a youngster.

[fish-fighting-illini]

Fire22

Which reel are you presently using that you are having trouble with?

They also make some underspins which are kind of a cross between a spinning and a spincaster. Pflueger makes one (Trion I think) and maybe Diawa?

Johnson makes a spincast and so does Diawa. I'd try the Diawas before the Johnson.

If you go with spinning you might consider braided line it helps a bunch with line twist as far as I'm concerned.

Let us know what you decide and how it works out so we can share with others.

[Catt]

The problem you'll have with spincast reels is slow gear ratio, your kid will crank until his arms fall off trying to use anything but a worm and at 5 years old I don't think he's ready to fish a T-rig.