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Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Reel choice for seven year old?
 
Grog
Posted 5/11/2004 12:19 PM (#106440)
Subject: Reel choice for seven year old?




Posts: 25


My oldest son, age 7, wants to start Musky Fishing with his dad! We bought a 6 ft medium casting rod but have not chosen a reel yet.
He has used one of my 6500's in the past on a limited basis but it is a little large and his hands got tired quickly.
I'm not opposed to a spinning reel, but I already have the casting rod, but what's one more rod.
I saw Garcia has a 45 or 4600 with a thumb bar that might fit him better. But concerned about line capacity and durability during a fight with a ski or two. Also, looked at some of the lower profile bass baitcasters but I don't have any experience with any of them.
Would appreciate any feedback from those who have had young ones starting out and what worked and didn't work you.
Thanks.

Gander Mt Guide
Posted 5/11/2004 12:29 PM (#106442 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?





Posts: 2515


Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI		Try an Abu Torno. It' has the guts like a C3 or C4, but it's low profile. We have them on Clearance at Gander. Or you can try the Shimano Curado. Either way, you can always tell the wife that when he outgrows the low profile, it wont go to waste, because you'll use it.

Edited by Gander Mt Guide 5/11/2004 12:32 PM
Troyz
Posted 5/11/2004 12:29 PM (#106441 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?




Posts: 155


Location: Watertown MN		My son has had his own rod reel combo since 5, he has used a 7'6", with 6500 high speed, he struggled a little but handles it well. A good low profile bass reel might be another solution, giving him a little higher gear ratio and easier to handle.

Good Luck

Troyz
lobi
Posted 5/11/2004 1:06 PM (#106447 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?





Posts: 1137


Location: Holly, MI		My seven yr old has been practicing up a storm in the yard with his bait caster. They can catch on quick. I bought him a low profile Shimano on ebay (cheap) in case it didn't work out. The reel functions perfectly but has a lot of boat rash, he doesn't care. He thinks he is cool because he can use a bait caster like dad. The low profiles are much nicer for the little hands. A quality reel should hold up regardless of size.
Slamr
Posted 5/11/2004 2:17 PM (#106456 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?





Posts: 7119


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs		My father started me at age 8 with an old pfluegger supreme of 1930s vintage....no break, no drag, worked fine and I cast relatively well now. Lots of hours of practice in the street and in the fields pulling backlashes out of dacron line...fun fun fun. They were pretty small reels, but I would think an Abu in a 4600 or 5500 in the C3 line would probably do just fine. I would personally go with the 5500C3 for the little guy because once he learns to cast, he's going to want to cast the big stuff like the old man.
Rockin' SV
Posted 5/11/2004 9:45 PM (#106488 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?




Posts: 425


Location: Elkhart, IN		My vote is for a Shimano Curado, I've caught several muskies on my Curado when bass fishing and its performed flawlessly. Secondly the reel really is very user friendly, and my 7 year old is using my Curado like a champ and he just started baitcasting a few weeks ago.
ToddM
Posted 5/11/2004 10:27 PM (#106494 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?





Posts: 20281


Location: oswego, il		My vote is for the garcia torno in the 3003 model. It's a 5.3to1 ratio. The rest of the torno reels have a 6.3to1. He will like the lower ratio better. I have one, it will toss anything my 7' st croix bucktail rod will. It will also outcast any reel you own, hands down, even the curado. I have one of those also, I know. You can get them on ebay cheap or at gander too.
MuskieBum
Posted 5/14/2004 7:34 PM (#106839 - in reply to #106440)
Subject: RE: Reel choice for seven year old?




Posts: 236


Curodo 201. Start him off right. low-profile Left handed baitcaster.

He'll thank you someday for the left-hand style. trust me
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