My two oldest grand kids want to go fishing with me again this summer. They have outgrown the little kid rods and I would like to purchse them something they could use for a few years. They will be 9 and 11 this year and both can use a spinning rod fairly well. We will fish for panfish and whatever is biting so mostly bait or power bait. I tried an Ugly Stick Light at BPS and thought it was too heavy but I am not looking to spend a bunch on these, maybe 30-50 or so. I was thinking maybe a 5'6" in a light power? I will put a Shimano 2000 reel on each with 6 or 8 pound line. Suggestions on power, action length, brand. I thought about building them one too so good blank recommendation will work too!

Nothing better than fishing with the kids!
I just built my son (4yrs) a bluegill rod from a forward tip to a fly rod. Anglers Workshop (sponcer left) has them for WAY cheap. I think with the blank, guides, and handle I have less than 25.00 in it. It is 4.5 ft with a very light rating and a blast with the gills! I put a Zebco 11 on it for him and it is a nice match. I am just finishing my matching one now done for spinning. Hope this helps.

Eric

Take a look at the MudHole custom builder blanks. They come in different colors and lengths. I've built several kids rods out of them and they work great. They're inexpensive yet good blanks.

Bill in WV

Mudhole has some better quality kits at very good prices that should be about perfect for older kids.

Sorry Bill typing at same time

I would also go for the Mudhole Custom Builders blanks. I have built a bunch of kid's rods on those blanks. And the girls love the Pink or Purple ones.

Ditto on the Mudhole Custom Builder blanks. I have done three of the 5' 6" lights and one 6' light. Nice blank for the money!

Bill-
If possible-involve the kids in the building process. Fishing with them using rods they helped build would make for some memorable moments.

BATSON

SPG601 GB 5’0” 1 2-4 lb. 1/16-3/16 oz. 0.365 4.5 Mod UL 0.86 oz.
SPG720 GB 6’0” 1 2-6 lb. 1/16-3/16 oz. 0.460 5.0 Mod XL 1.30 oz.

Again, check out Mudhole. I use their custom series quite often for inshore guides and their "kid" sized blanks would probably be a great start.

Mudholes CRB's absolutely. Built 3 for my grandkids (ages 3-5-7) They love them, in fact their mother has one and their uncle and his girlfriend have them also- I used the 5'6 blanks 1 to 4lb line rating.

I figured there were enough of us senior builders that could give me some suggestions! Letting them "help" will be good as well as they really like to be involved. Thanks for great ideas!

If they're not quite ready for a spinning reel you can build the same rod and mount an underspin reel. When they're ready for the spinning reel you just swap out the reels. I've put together a few of these for my younger nephews and they learn the underspin much more easily than the thumb on top spincast type.

Oh... don't decorate the rods with their current cartoon characters and stuff; they won't want to use them once they "grow up".



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2009 07:03PM by James Hicks.

Following that last thought...Many of the rods I've built with the favorite colors of the kids' current favorite team, etc, instead of the characters themselves. The color choices tend to last longer than the cartoon.

My wife and I founds some fun fish stickers at wally world. Click on the picture to expand.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

One more suggestion for rods for kids: Get them GOOD reels!!!! If you just get cheap plastic reels, they will have all kinds of problems with them casting and retrieving, and it will stifle their enthusiasm and interest. Even though they are kids, they still deserve good quality gear that works!!

Bill in WV

I'm going to be building a rod soon for my 5 year old granddaugher, and I've been thinking about what kind of reel I should use. What are some GOOD - but not too expensive reels for kids? I was looking at some underspin reel reviews today, but all of the ones that I saw at Cabelas and BPS seem to have problems.

Jerry,

I just bought 2 Diawa Procaster 100's to put on rods I am building for a 7 yo nephew and 4 yo neice. They are very nice reels all metal, yet fairly inexpensive especially when purchased on the popular @#$%& site. They also make them in the underspin models. Another nice underspin model is the Johnson Scorpio, cast real easy and smooth.

Bill in WV

Bill,

Thanks. I'll look at those reels you suggessted.

Jerry

Any suggestions on blanks for a 4 year old to go snapper fishing in the panhandle. We are going out on a party boat