Teaching 11 Year Old To Use Baitcaster?- Any Thoughts?

[lou304]

Hey guys I need some opinions. Am i asking for trouble trying to teach my 11 year old son how to throw a baitcaster? Should I wait a couple of years? Any thoughts?

I also posted this on another forum.

[B-Dozer]

If he's interested in trying, go for it. Like anything else, practice and positive comments (advice from Dad). Every kid wants to be "just like Dad". Make it fun, for him and yourself

[B-Dozer]

Using a known productive lure can't hurt either!

[J Francho]

Why not? Here's my son at 7 after literally stealing my spinnerbait rig:

[s13john]

i think i started using a baitcaster around that age.. get a c3 and ok rod and let him have at it

[BrianSnat]

I see no reason not to. Heck, I learned flycasting at 10 and that is a bit more complicated than using a bait caster.

[IneedAnewScreenName-515156154]

I just started teaching my 7 year old. The hardest part about it all is MY patience, and not being able to fish for some stretches. But, that's part of being a parent, eh? I put on some good mono line, a lure with decent weight, and adjusted the reel as much as possible. I'm letting him practice in short sessions, then he goes back to the spinning gear. My son has excellent hand/eye coordination and is making good progress. I say try it and see how it goes.

[BrianinMD]

Would suggest, if possible, to let him try on a rod/reel you are comfortable with that you know how to adjust. Then its just the usual, practice, practice, practice, especially in the back yard. No pressure to catch anything there.

[Chris at Tech]

As mentioned above, use a reel that is set conservatively with a plug of decent weight. Also to minimize backlashes, take a cast with this rig yourself. At the end of your longest cast, strip off another 10 yards or so and put a piece of electrical tape on the spool. This way, backlashes won't go too deep and will be easy to fix.

[hatrix]

I saw some new reel i think its a daiwa and it is supposed to stop backlashes. It has a bar that snaps down if the line come off to fast. I guess you can throw it at a wall and it wont backlash.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Kids learn easier than we do. They don't have the pre-conceived notions and expectations that often hamper our learning. If he's showing interest, why not let him try. Keep it fun and he'll pick it up in no time.

[Siebert Outdoors]

set the brakes a little tight/heavy and have him go for it.

[Jigfishn10]

My son was 5 when he learned a baitcaster. I had him starting with a spincast at first just to get the feel of it with a crankbait and no hooks. "Push the button, cast, release." Then I set a target up in the yard. I had him push the button, cast release, keep the thumb on the button and "push the button in (stopping the spool) at the target." Next was the baitcaster. I cranked down the spool tension knob so the lure barely fell to the ground. "Push the thumb bar, hold the spool with your thumb, cast (like you did with the other reel) stop the spool when you think you're gonna hit the target." I put those in quotes becasue he recites it while he casts...LOL

He's now 6 and hasn't looked back.

[tomustang]

Well if he's not willing don't force him

[B-Dozer]

Bad news everyone. The bait monkey also has a son

[lou304]

As mentioned above, use a reel that is set conservatively with a plug of decent weight. Also to minimize backlashes, take a cast with this rig yourself. At the end of your longest cast, strip off another 10 yards or so and put a piece of electrical tape on the spool. This way, backlashes won't go too deep and will be easy to fix.

Thanks for all the input guys, and I really like the electrical tape idea!!

Biggest issue is, he's a lefty, so he can't even use my stuff. A buddy of mine loaned me a lefty quantum accurist so I think i'll give it a go.

[islandbass]

Hey guys I need some opinions. Am i asking for trouble trying to teach my 11 year old son how to throw a baitcaster? Should I wait a couple of years? Any thoughts? I also posted this on another forum.

Absolutely not! I taught my daughter when she was 6 1/2. The first thing she said to me was, "Papi, this reel is so much easier to use than the other (spinning) kind."

The major key I taught her was that she had to stop the spool from spinning with her thumb BEFORE the lure hit anything. That is all I told her. Her first ten casts with birds-nest free. She even claimed one of my curados as hers.

I certainly didn't mind. She is now 11. Sometimes I think we forget how quickly kids can learn something new.

Just keep it simple and don't get too technical.

8'6" rod with an abu rod, jigging for salmon.

[fishingkidPA]

I see no reason not to. Heck, I learned flycasting at 10 and that is a bit more complicated than using a bait caster.

i started both about 1 year ago, i actually thought using a baitcaster was more difficult

[MarauderYak]

The BPS Enigma reel is a good reel for teaching casting. You can set it so that a normal cast requires no thumbing at all, and then slowly free it up as they get comfortable with casting. If you start off with 4+ of the inside breaks turned on it eliminate that huge backlash that requires a re-spooling.

[Sam]

Sent PM.

[Hojo]

As to being LH'd - I learned on my dad's RH epuipment which Kent I didn't have to change hands to begin reeling. Of course this was before people started realizing it was actually advantageous not to switch hands...