what’s a good fishing setup for my little one

[UphillHabit]

I’m thinking about taking my 5-year-old out fishing for the first time. I’ve seen some basic kids' fishing rods at the local store, but I’m not sure if that’s the right way to go. I didn’t grow up with fishing, so I could really use some advice on what to look for in a setup that’s simple and effective. Mostly, I just want to make it a fun outing for my kid. Any tips on what kind of gear or bait works well for beginners?

 

[xchecker]

Do you fish? You make sound like you're a beginner too...not that I'm much better, but I fish once a year for a week.

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

I had look up if they still make it, Zebco 202 with a pole can be had for $20.
Put a worm on a hook, sinker and a bobber for the kid to watch. Stay with a smaller/medium bobber, the red and white kind. Mickey ones tend to go down hard.

 

[xchecker]

I had look up if they still make it, Zebco 202 with a pole can be had for $20.

Was thinking the same thing! Great Minds!...lol. I think I used one of those when I was 7 or 8. I would pass on the worm and just use some power bait or salmon eggs. Also helps to know what kind of fish are in the lake. Make sure you bring a net and some fish gloves.

https://www.amazon.com/Zebco-Quantu...82da01b6c5a5&qid=1756518147&sr=8-2&th=1&psc=1

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

My old man started us on free bait casting reels. He soon learned that spending some $ gave him some fishing time.

 

[Eastenerwesterner]

For giggles I looked up my next kid fishing set up
My grandparents bought me a Zebco 444 trigger reel and rod. Had an issue with it and Zebco replaced it. Although they didn’t make the 444 anymore, they replaced with a FL44.
EBay prices for 444-$49. FL44- $194. Still have that 44 and use it as my ultralight.

My grandparents probably didn’t pay more than $15 for the rod and reel 55 years ago.

Sorry to OP for the thread hijack. I hope that Zebco quality is as good as it was.

 

[Bigfoot 16]

I’m thinking about taking my 5-year-old out fishing for the first time. I’ve seen some basic kids' fishing rods at the local store, but I’m not sure if that’s the right way to go. I didn’t grow up with fishing, so I could really use some advice on what to look for in a setup that’s simple and effective. Mostly, I just want to make it a fun outing for my kid. Any tips on what kind of gear or bait works well for beginners?

I like the Ugly Stik sets for kids that Walmart sells. They are simple to use and scaled for kids to use. They are also difficult foe kids to break.

 

[Bigfoot 16]

Was thinking the same thing! Great Minds!...lol. I think I used one of those when I was 7 or 8. I would pass on the worm and just use some power bait or salmon eggs. Also helps to know what kind of fish are in the lake. Make sure you bring a net and some fish gloves.

https://www.amazon.com/Zebco-Quantum-Spincast-Tackle-Length/dp/B07L4JCR8Z/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=1225955775755425&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.quXbTN_U9Q0eLo64IjjXw6XJA_yAY7Xam52xtyjx3w8LgIsg0nA_0TmZVgWZ4D9wc_wmi0JTajjnRlEqNTYG4EpHnnRd074M-pLTUhVMe0hBNFTz93cWjQPuRtA5Dx9iq-ogS4H-IZH-_UumLsLb9l907Z6MBCDp_o7qYkzH_Er00cvAlzJ8s5DERzXEBBqyNd_15Ft9w9ZjDBp36aQ5vadUNLS9n_opMZdhMrKq4xk.zSncU9xQqoCZPfqN2FrlJQT6SLMjJdYPwTc16uwkQ4I&dib_tag=se&hvadid=76622402610556&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=84044&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-76622477339098:loc-190&hydadcr=3555_13640924&keywords=zebco+202&mcid=c472115a05a63ae2ab1b81d3cebd6e07&msclkid=17f1ea6857061f958cc182da01b6c5a5&qid=1756518147&sr=8-2&th=1&psc=1

You want to go into the store with him and try out the fishing rods. One you buy online may too big or small for him.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

I can tell you what not to get him, don't get him a Penn reel. My dad got me one as my main fishing rod, as he took me ocean fishing a lot, but I hated it as I wanted to cast. It's an acquired skill to cast those Penns. I had a small pole I practiced my casting in our backyard pool. It was always getting caught on the neighbor's fence. It wasn't until later I bought myself a spinning reel, and that's when fishing changed for me for the better. I have a light trout rod/reel (reel is a Daiwa) with 2 and 4 lb. test.

I use a cheap $10 K-Mart rod with a Garcia Mitchell reel, I bought close to 50 years ago, to fish bass. I lived at Lake Sherwood in Thousand Oaks for about 3 years. That's where I first fished for bass.

My casting rod was like a Zebco 404, not the 444. Mine had the thumb release on the back, but it wasn't a Zebco, and I don't have that pole anymore.