Hey Guys,

I need some ideas on blanks for kids rods. I need them to be durable and would really prefer that they be short, something between 6' and 6'6" would be ideal. I intend to build them as fly rods that will be going for small trout. My other criteria is that they be travel blanks, each piece being under 30". What are my options? I am thinking about the Batson 662-4, but would like to know if I have other options. I would love fiberglass if I could get my hands on something like that, but I have not found anything yet. Is there multi-piece fiberglass blanks out there? And as much as I hate to say it, I have a pretty small budget on this as I will be building 4 in one go.

Rodney

I don't have a specific blank recommendation but I would go with a longer blank. I've settled on 8ft 5wt for my kids and don't have any regrets. Anything much shorter is asking too much of them from a casting stand point. I've used 2 piece blanks so I can't help you with 4 piece options. I chose 2 piece due to cost figuring that it would eventually get broken and I would not get upset over a $25/30 blank.

Quinn

I would also suggest a longer blank. They are VERY light and the kids won't have an issue ... I didn't. The Forecast F804-4 would be ideal and the sections are 24" long.

I built a spinning rod for my daughter on a pink 9' 8wt. 4 piece blank I bought from roger on ****. She has no problem casting on it and fighting up to 18" largemouths at the local pond has been easy. The blank cost me $22.00 (@#$%&).

It is just me and maybe I am a bit slanted here but I would build it as a switch or spey rod. Kids are going to naturally pick it up with both hands, it is easier for them. Let them do it, I only wish that I would have learned spey casting (single or double handed) 20 years ago!

Hey Guys, good points on the value of a longer rod. I guess the reason that i shy away from them is how much brush there is stream side. As it is, they have a hard time just getting along the stream, so I figured that a shorter rod would help out in that aspect. Also, it seems that it would be easier to manage the line with out so much rod out there. Is that a correct assumption? I have used short rods on streams for so long that I am not even sure what a longer rod would be like... Is it easier to roll cast with a longer or shorter rod? I do great with my 6'6" 2 wt, but I am open to options.

The reason for multi-piece is that I am overseas and will have to get someone to agree to carry the blanks with them in their luggage for me. So, it is easier to do that if I am not asking them to carry something that is longer than normal airline luggage sizes.

Eric, I let the kids play around with my 2 wt in the yard and also on some of the larger pools. They do much better for casting accuracy/direction of cast (as accurate as a 7 &5 year old can be) when they only use one hand. That second hand on the rod just pulls it the wrong way every time.

Rodney

Rodney,
The best option for Kids rods is to go to wall mart or fleet farm and pick up a nice kids fiberglass rod for $10.

Really not a lot of either need or desire on the part of the kids to have any money at all into a childs rod.

Good luck
Roger

I'll respectfully disagree. I first bought my daughter a 6' $15.00 Shakespeare spin casting outfit at walmart. She actually casts better with the 9' custom I built and has found it easier to hook more sunnies with the faster line pickup of the longer rod. Plus the 9 footer weighs about half as much as the wally world rod. I believe now that even a beginner should have competent equipment. If the beginner finds the outfit easier to use, lighter, and is able to catch more fish that is one more person hooked on fishing and one more person who will always appreciate the value in a custom rod.

John: I agree with you. I started casting a spinning rod when I was 3 years old. My Dad had me casting in sportsmans shows in So. CaL That was 56 years ago. Good equipment, and good instruction. You can have the best of the best rods, and without good instruction on how to use it, you might as well have a $15.00 Shakespeare. Buy a $15.00 Shakespeare and then get good instruction on how to use it, and you will soon out grow it. I still have the Sila-Flex rod that I started casting with 56 years ago. I cleaned it up a while back, and took it out in the back yard to cast. It still works very well.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

I could have my parents pick up something at Wal-mart and hand carry it to me out here when they come to visit at Christmas, but I would rather build something for the kids.

Well, I was really hoping that some of you guys were aware of some blanks that I had missed as I look for an appropriate blank for the kids rods. Anyways, thanks for the input as I really do appreciate it.

Rodney

How about these. Good price and pretty colors [www.mudhole.com]

Bill - willierods.com

Good luck Rodney!

Bill he wants travel rods not 1 pc.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.