Premium rods and reels for children?

[vicdotcom]

I was looking in the resume's section of the forum today and read about some fishing phenoms that are only 13 years old.  This started me thinking about what a great opportunity this may be for fishing and fishing companies.

If you think about it,  Kids are the next advertising gold mine in fishing.  Right now who are the target audiences for high end or even middle of the road rods and reels?  Its mostly older males.

Now take this to the next logical step, Fishing with the kids.  How many dads fish with the Shimano reels and Loomis rods?  The kids get stuck with the ugly sticks and those "rocket" poles!  Now have a kid advertise these higher end rods and reels to other kids, then you really have a whole new market opening up.  Of course they will need to have their parents buy the rods but heck id buy my kid a $100 rod if he would care for and appreciate it. Id rather buy that then those pokeman cards.

Its a good idea for fishing companies and for fishing in general by creating a whole new generation of anglers.  Get ready for children size Curado's and 5'5 Loomis rods!  

A new generation of bait monkeys?

Would you purchase children size equiptment designed specifically for kids?

Vic

[ptomacbass]

I'm 14 and i use baitcasters with ease and do fine with adult rod models because i'm tall, though i do think companies could make some money with high end rods for children.  imagen a four foot child with a 7 foot 6 heavy action flippin stick!

[bkoguy07]

I don't know, I wouldn't buy a 5'5" rod for my kid that I knew he would grow out of.  I was using baitcasters and normal sized rods when I was 12.

[hawgchaser]

I would like to keep the emphasis on enjoying fishing for what it is and not how cool your rod is. It is just something that bugs me about fishing today. I will buy my kid good equipment but hopefully he/she will enjoy fishing for the art and the appreciation of nature and not b/c he has a cool looking rod/reel.

I actually see on a daily basis people trying to make their reels match their rods. My grandpa would roll over in his grave.

But I realize i am a 32 y/o stuck in an old man's body.

[billbrum]

I have been using baitcasters since I was 9, I am 16 now and I have had top of the line stuff since I was 12. If a kid really likes fishing I see no problem with them having nice stuff.

But i have always used rods from 7' to 8'6", rod length has to do with what is comfortable to the person using it.

[RLinNH]

I would love to see something along those lines. My son is 6 and needs a new Rod/Reel. I'd like to buy him something nice, but it's a tough find for a kid.

[Chad.]

I would love to see something along those lines. My son is 6 and needs a new Rod/Reel. I'd like to buy him something nice, but it's a tough find for a kid.

pfleuger supreme 25x and a 6'6 ml st croix priemere very similar to my first good set up ever when i was 7-8 years old 14 now been using higher end gear (150)$ and up since i was about 8 I enjoys fishing now and have been serious for bass fishing starting last year. It's much better than video games.

[Jimzee]

It's much better than video games.

You are one of the few.

[crappiekid24]

I am 16 myself and started using baitcasting equipment a few years ago and just recently started getting higher ended equipment. I just recently bought myself a Shimano Crucial. I agree though if a kid relizes the importance of being careful with higher end equipment and really likes fishing then I see no problem with them owning high end equipment. A video game will entertain you for a couple hours or a couple of days while fishing will entertain you for a lifetime.

[.dsaavedra.]

high end gear is easier to learn with.

IMO the only reason anyone should use low end gear is when they are trying to see if they going to like whatever it is they are buying.

many people will buy junk when they start out, not like the junk, and then not continue with whatever it is they were starting.

i fished with a procaster and lightning rod for a few months, got the hang of baitcasting pretty good, saw that it was time to upgrade, and got citicas and avids.

higher end gear = ease of use = pleasureable experience

[Grey Wolf]

Designer rod and reels for kids , the bait-monkey would love it!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Boss]

I would like to keep the emphasis on enjoying fishing for what it is and not how cool your rod is. It is just something that bugs me about fishing today. I will buy my kid good equipment but hopefully he/she will enjoy fishing for the art and the appreciation of nature and not b/c he has a cool looking rod/reel.

I actually see on a daily basis people trying to make their reels match their rods. My grandpa would roll over in his grave.

But I realize i am a 32 y/o stuck in an old man's body.

I agree 100% I learned fishing from my father and used his hand me down Ugly Stick and Mitchell 300 reel. When he realized that I was taking care of that rod and reel and not abusing it he took me to a bait store and let me buy a brand new set up with money I earned. It was a Quantum reel and a Ugly Stick, that I still have to this day. I learned my love of fishing and how to take care of my equipment from my dad.

Now days we have graduated to St. Croix rods (I have a Premeir he has an Avid) and better reels (He has a Revo and I have a President) It always makes me laugh when I use my backup $19.99 Daiwa combo and catch more fish than his setup which costs about $300.00

My son is 4 years old soon to be 5 and he caught his first fish on a shakespeare superman spincast combo. When I see he doesn't treat the pole like a toy anymore I will give him one of my old favorites, a Mitchell 300X and a Berkley Lightning Rod. Someday I hope to take him to the local tackle shop to help him pick out his first rod and reel with money he earned just like my dad did.

[Chad.]

It's much better than video games.

You are one of the few.

I have a ps3 and a bunch of games i hardly play it :

[macjiger]

I got my good first rod about 7 years ago when I was 10, a Fenwick HMG 6' M with a quantum catalyst pti, I have enjoyed fishing so much more with it. I have used friends and families equipment but its not the same. I have been upgrading all my equipment over the years to finally have a decent line of rods. I know I enjoyed myself more that my dad decided to buy me quality equipment. Its also nice to know that its nicer than any rod he owned up until recently when he bought himself an avid.

[slomoe]

quantum has a youth line.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0053384122831a.shtml

split grips and all  ;D

[vicdotcom]

I would like to keep the emphasis on enjoying fishing for what it is and not how cool your rod is. It is just something that bugs me about fishing today. I will buy my kid good equipment but hopefully he/she will enjoy fishing for the art and the appreciation of nature and not b/c he has a cool looking rod/reel.

I actually see on a daily basis people trying to make their reels match their rods. My grandpa would roll over in his grave.

But I realize i am a 32 y/o stuck in an old man's body.

I completely agree about the emphasis on enjoying fishing.  But I do have to point out that I do think there is a difference between "cool" and "quality".  Having a cool rod is more like gimmicks I think.  But having a quality rod is something completely different.  

I think having quality gear would help emphasize the enjoyment of fishing.  For instance, rocket pole=cool rod.  Avid Rod with a 5 bearing reel=quality.  I enjoy flyfishing and bamboo rods are very "cool" but not all of them are quality.  So I do think there is a difference.

Vic

[vicdotcom]

quantum has a youth line.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0053384122831a.shtml

split grips and all ;D

Ha!  that is great, see they are on the ball!  5'8 and 6'2 rods.  Gotta market it better though.

Vic