So my boy is old enough to take fishing now!

fast14riot

fast14riot

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Oct 27, 2010
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The boy turned 5 back in September, I feel that he is old enough and capable enough now to go bream fishing with me and not use the rod as a power ranger sword and hook me or himself, lol! He's a handfull!

Anyone else here recently gone through this and have recommendations on gear? I don't want to just buy him a Mickey Mouse rod/reel from Target or anything, I would like it to be tough and properly designed but easy enough for a smart 5 year old to use.


-Xander
 
Zebco 33 reel, Ugly Stick rod, bobber, hook, and worm. Great combo for a kid.
Thats how I started mine out.
 
Owen has a Zebco 33 on a half length rod (I don't remember the maker). I got him a range of inexpensive lures (top water floaters, and some rattle jigs, etc), then I debarbed the hooks. He can have fun, and even if miscasts into himself, or me, there is not much damage done.
 
IMO there is nothing wrong with the Mickey Mouse rod. Been 20 years since I started by boys on fishin, but I made sure it was warm out and they had fun. I took them out when the Bream were in the shallows spawning; guaranteeing action, on the Mickey Mouse.:D
 
I've got plenty of tackle for bream fishing, rod and reel was more what I am concerned about. With crappie out here getting north of two pounds I'm not sure how well a Mickey Mouse type rod will hold up. I would like to get him something that the reel can be transferred to a larger rod later on and even be worked into the kit as a light tackle rod later on.

I'll start looking for a Zebco 33 locally, been a long time since I've shopped for a reel like that. Surely I can find a used one.


-X
 
I started my daughter out with a cane pole.
After getting used to that she got a zebco mini barbie something (read: crap) from a well intentioned relative...
When that broke on the second outing, she went straight to one of my ultra light spinning setups.
In the beginning I'd cast for her and she'd crank the fish in.
We worked our way up gradually... baiting hooks etc all little by little...

My best advice, something that worked well for me...
When my daughter was fishing, I left my fishing rod at the campsite.
Total attention was on her.

When she was old enough to do everything on her own is when I started bring my setup.
Now...
The last 3 times out, she caught all the fish :)
 
Ebb, the singular attention is already at the forefront. I'm also planning to start his first few times fishing the stocked lakes at a local park, so if he loses interest there are many other things to do.

I'm going to ask my dad if he still has my closed face under spin reel somewhere, it's what I remember using for several years when I was young. I might also start on a custom rod for him, probably a 4.5' light/fast action rod. I think I have a couple smaller blanks still and a few reel seats that should work. It wouldn't be for his first rod, but for when he's capable. If he enjoys it (he's still young enough to want to do everything daddy does, hope that never goes away) he will no doubt want one like daddy's. He's already got his own camera.


-X
 
Wait till he wants to go hunting dad :)

(My daughter just got her first handgun to compliment a new folder for her pocket this time around.) she turns six next tuesday

She loves fishing, hunting both firearms and archery and really loves to be able to carry her classic Mora with a wood handle around when we are camping. (she has already had the obligatory cut to the hand or finger and is quite safe)

Bravo, yall are proving there are good parents out there!
 
Already got a new stock just for one of my .22 rifles, to cut down just for him! :thumbup:


-X
 
He likes the kid, why saddle him with a spin cast reel?

;)

Really, a tiny UL spinning reel is just as easy to learn.
He'll feel the line to make the cast and won't be fighting gravity to hold the thing.

Or go with a cane pole and leave the reel for later.
 
Ebbtide said:
He likes the kid, why saddle him with a spin cast reel?

;)

Really, a tiny UL spinning reel is just as easy to learn.
He'll feel the line to make the cast and won't be fighting gravity to hold the thing.

Or go with a cane pole and leave the reel for later.
Click to expand...

Because hes 5 . LOL
 
My first new reel was a Johnson Century spin-cast I got with a coupon from a Wheaties box. Used it until college where my friends had open-face spinning reels, but I kept using it some after that and have bought two more since then. Almost all my fishing is flyfishing now, but I still like the old Century and use it now and then out of nostalgia. On a more practical note, you might want to mash down the barbs on the hooks just in case somebody does get hooked. Turns a major accident into a minor one and makes releasing fish much easier. I mash down the barbs on all my flies because I do still stick myself now and then and because I release most of my fish unharmed (and without hurting my flies).
 
It's a great age. Get 12' shore rod with bait caster. :P jk. I'd go with what everyone has mentioned here zebco. Much better than those Disney rods and cheap enough that broken eyes tips and sandy reels aren't a major punch to the pocket. With my boy I take him to creeks most of the time giving him some time to learn just side casting out maybe 10' give him and the feel and actions of a rod as leverage. Probably this summer I get him over shoulder, I just picture my eye flying out into the water. He's quite the handful to but seems like he really stays on target and just chills when we go fishing.
 
Something I have been thinking about, the lakes at the park are stocked with catfish and trout. I've seen cats over 4# come out if there. I can envision the whole new rig getting dragged into the water on accident. Anyone ever use a tether to something like a tent stake for "just in case?"

We won't be fishing specifically for them, but if using worms on a drop shot rig with float, it's not out of the question that he gets one.

After a few times out and seeing how his attention span does, I may take him to one of several dozen rivers/sloughs here in town. Better chance of catching bream that way.


-X
 
Closed face spinning reel and casting rod. I started with a Zebco and recommend such. There are lots of cheap combos available at places like Walmart to get them started. If you are serious about them really fishing, I would take along some extra line so when they get things really tangled up in their reels, you can just cut it off and load some new line.
 
Good evening Xander. Yes, I went through the exact same thing a few of years back when the boy was three or four.
My choice was a low-price ultra-light rod and reel combo from a local discount department store. Quantum Snapshot.

k2-_b951332a-735e-4455-9d22-2c3fa7b9712f.v1.jpg


Unlike most other trigger-casting spinning reels, this one is easy for small finger to reach and not too hard to pull. And it has a little 'nub' that catches the line so the kid doesn't need to hook it with his finger. So easy! And if (when) he gets a tangle, you don't have to take it apart to get to the line.

I've never fished for bream, but this combo is good for trout and panfish (bluegill, crappie, etc.).

---------------

Now that he's nine, it's time for an upgrade. These are really nice for the money, and available in different sizes.

shimano-spirex-rear-drag-4000-rg.jpg
 
Ebbtide said:
He likes the kid, why saddle him with a spin cast reel?

;)

Really, a tiny UL spinning reel is just as easy to learn.
He'll feel the line to make the cast and won't be fighting gravity to hold the thing.

Or go with a cane pole and leave the reel for later.
Click to expand...

Oh… I see… he's got to pay his dues
Click to expand...

I feel the same way.

Yeah sure, we all started with Zebco 33 reels... First off, like most four-year-olds, I didn't know any better and someone else bought it for me. Second, based on nearly-unanimous reviews the new Zebco reels are nothing like the old ones, "junk," "terrible," and "sucks" being the most common adjectives.
 
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