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| Hey all, My son is five and can cast a spinning rod and reel very well. He'll cast for bass and panfish all day long. I have just expanded his tackle collection with numerous small bucktails,small topwaters, and cranks, and swimbaits. He's stoked about fishing muskies with Daddy. Any advice on a one piece spinning rod for him that can still handle baits like a hawg wobbler , mepps musky killers, etc. He doesn't like the pushbutton reels he says those are for babies  I was going to pair the rod up with a 2000 series shimano spinning reel and 50# superline. |
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Posts: 38
| My ole man bought me a baitcaster when I was six, "you" may not fish much your first few outings but its quality time. Try Shimano or St. Croix Triumph series if your set on a spinning combo. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | My youngest (now 5), wanted desperately to have his own baitcasting combo. He's been on a spinning outfit for a year now and is not happy with it. I think it's easier to tailor a bass-sized, low profile casting combo to small hands than bigger spinning combos. He's obviously not going to be chucking pounders and double 10 bucktails with it, but the majority of the baits we are going to be routinely using will be delivered and retrieved quite nicely w/ a low profile casting reel. Most rods already have an 'extended butt section' for a five year-old anyway! He now has a 6'6" MH rod w/an Okuma low profile reel. Seems to work just fine.
S. |
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| Thanks for the insight. I have had him out a few times already teaching him the art of the backlash LOL. He's coming along with it, but it will take a little time. I've got an old calcutta 200 with an old St.croix legend heavy bass rod for him to use. I wonder if he realizes he's using a setup I spent close to 400 bucks on ten years ago. HAHA |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i got my kids started with 250 sized calcuttas starting around age 5 or 6. the only limits of a child are the ones we place on them. you'd be surprised how they will learn if allowed to. start with baits that will float like topwaters ... other favorites for me teaching my kids were swim-whizes and cranes.
a rod with a faster tip helps too so they don't have to work too early timing the loading of the tip ...
if you do stay with a spinning outfit you can get a larger reel and put it on a baitcaster rod ... just grind off the trigger on a bench grinder.
good luck and have fun. |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | Abu 5500 size I believe. that's what I used pictured below - I was 6.
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | My boy at six was casting a 5500 with an old 6' st croix. Caight his first muskie with it while casting. Your first few trips are learning experiances and don't expect to fish much yourself, but the young ones do catch on fast. The lost time is nothing vs the great memories of your son enjoying a day "big guy" fishing.
This season (eight in Aug) he has moved up to a 6'-6" St Croix I had laying around and he casts this much better. As sled mentioned the softer/faster tip helps a lot on the shorter rods. He has tried a 7'-6" croix I have, but figure eights are difficult.
His little hands get sore after a few hours on the 5500 and we may move him up to to a Rev Toro. The lower profile and "smoother" operation should help to extend time on the water.
Best feeling in the world netting your sons first.
Edited by Hodag Hunter 5/12/2009 4:47 PM
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Posts: 4266
| My daughter was using a 5501 when she was 9. We spent lots of time practicing, but only 10-15 each session, throwing a hookless lure in a nearby field getting used to casting up instead of out like with a spinning reel. Then when she got in a boat, her casting was never as good. She finally confided that she was a bit scared in the boat and was more worried about staying in the boat than she was about casting. Now she has a huge back deck and is looking forward to fishing skis this year. Now she has 6601C4's. One thing that is great about kids with baitcasters is that it's easy to get them to reel left-handed with no switching hands. That's a great habit for her to get used to because I can't reel left handed. |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Matt my son start at 5 with a 6500 and 7'6" rod, but with the next reels out there I would look at a Curado 200 or 300 or a Revo Toro on 7'6" to 8' mh rod. I like the longer rods for them this allows to make longer cast, might be tougher to figure 8. These reels are designed for this, and can also be used by you when he is not out, the curado is probably the smaller of the reels.
Troyz |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | I would make sure that the crank of the baitcaster is on the same side as his spinning reel is now. It will make the transition to the baicaster so much easier if it is. |
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Posts: 130
Location: Chicago | My seven year old is using an abu 5500 SSC3 and a 7' ugly stik lite mhf it really is amazing how fast they pick up on things. I don't remember my first use of a baitcaster being that easy but, he does well and likes it. |
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Posts: 692
Location: Pelican Rapids, MN | It's great to hear about kids already trying their hand at musky fishing. I now have hope for future generations! |
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| Jerry, My kid already sleeps with his musky box, and carries it around the house asking me if this or that lure is hard to find. It's awesome!! Yesterday he was casting lizards at spawning bass for about two hours and wouldn't come home for dinner. |
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Posts: 80
Location: Clintonville, Wi | I got my wife a 7'10" Med/hvy toothtamer with an Abu Revo toro 60 this year which i got to beat up a little this week very impressive reel. I think it would be a perfect setup for any youngster.
Edited by vanertski 5/13/2009 12:15 PM
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Posts: 1710
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I have a couple 5600 Anti Backlash reels that I am looking to get rid of if anyone is interested for some beginners. |
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Posts: 531
Location: Hugo, MN | If it were me, I'd start a kid out with a 7'6" Heavy Okuma Evx rod, and an Okuma Induron IDX-250a There just so happens to be that exact combo for sale on the buy/sell forum under Okuma Rods, reels and shirt.  |
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