Looking for suggestions on a blank for a kids first rod- something for panfish. I was thinking about maybe an ice rod blank? I prefer something solid color.

Try here
[rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com

If you're considering an ice rod blank to get something on the shorter side, take a look at the Thorne Brothers 36" Panfish Sweetheart. It might make a nice rod paired with a 500 class Shimano or Tica Cetus.

Blank: [www.thornebros.com]

Info and video on rod applications for the blank: [www.thornebros.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2013 11:44AM by John E Powell.

Ice Blanks:
[www.mudhole.com]

Value blanks for kids rods:
[www.mudhole.com]

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Team Mud Hole Custom Tackle
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I've built some of the Mud Hole blanks mentioned above. I recommend the 5'6" length. My 4 year old daughter had no problem casting it, and can continue to use it the rest of her life. I think an ice blank is just too short for regular fishing, and difficult to cast.
Match it to an underspin reel, and built the rod as a spinning rod. An underspin reel is kid-friendly, and you can always put on a regular spinning reel later.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

front half of a 2pc 3-5 wt fly rod works great you can get scraps for like 5.00 each. I have built a bunch for like a cost of 12.00 each or so. Kids are tough on stuff and do not care much about cool wraps and stuff. My son is 7 and just broke the one I built at age 4 or so. This year we built his new one together and NOW he takes nice care of it.

Keep in mind that kids grow fast, and that little cute rod will very quickly not be appropriate. It also may not work well at all. Keep in mind that the act of fishing is about the same for children as for adults, and a really short rod that you would have trouble with, kids will have trouble with. Far better in my opinion is to build them a real rod, on the short side, but still a real rod they can use for years. If you are worried about how they will treat it, use an inexpensive blank. Or buy an inexpensive Walmart rod and Zebco 33. Both options will fish so much better than an ice rod.

I built my grandkids first rods on St Croix SCIII blanks. 6 1/2 feet long. The rods were beautiful, styled with their interests in mind. They loved them, took care of them and are still using them, one after about 4 years, the other two.


But don't kill their fishing desires with a tool that just cannot work and that will just frustrate them. IMHO