spin casting

[timberhall]

Does any one know of a spin casting reel that really works? My son is approaching fishing age. For a small kid, a spinning reel and bait casting reel are hard to handle. A spin casting reel would be easyer. I have just never seen one that realy functions properly or has a drag that works.

[fsh4fun05]

Abu Garcia makes a spin cast reel that's called an Abumatic. I bought on of these for my Mom after she banged up her elbow and couldn't cast very well anymore. Simple to use, good drag, good quality. I ended up buying one for my seven year old, I think I paid $44.00??? Quite a bit for a spincast reel but you get what you pay for and you know that your kid is going to catch a big fish when you're not catching anything so best to be prepared.
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[jaybird77]

My kids all have Zebco reels and they work fairly decent. They're probably not the best but the good thing about them is they are cheap and easy. I probably have a half dozen of them in different degrees and working order. The good thing is when (and I do say when and not if) one of my kids drops one in I'm out what $20. I grew up fishing with one and I turned out ok, well kind of.[laugh]
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[Wasatch801]

The Abumatics are good reels. But don't forget the spincasters made by Daiwa. Also, the Zebco Omega looks to be a good reel as well.
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[Troll]

I, like many others started my son out with a Tigger rod by Zebco. This was not actually for fishing but for playing with. We would stand on chairs and cast all over the house.
We would try to cast under tables, over chairs, into the dog bowl.
He learned to cast that way, learned how hard to swing the rod, when to release the botton, learned thet the lure goes where the rod tip is pointing.
That spring we moved him up to a Zebco in what is now their Gold series (about $20 at Cab's or SW) That reel has lasted over 3 years and caught many panfish and his first solo LMB (15") ever.
After the 1st year with the spin caster we progressed to an underspin to get him used to his future with a spinning reel, I think that was about $30.
This year he is 8 and I am going to start him bait casting. I have a very small low profile magnetic controlled bait caster that I am setting up.

Now a word about rods. Long heavy rods are hard for kids to control, they turn and the long rod sweeps several feet, they try to cast and the long rod is cumbersom for them. I started with a 5' ugly stick, practicly unbreakable, slow action for throwing bait and forgiving fighting of the fish. I cut the back foot off and installed the needed casting handle.
This 4' rod was easy for him to handle, even in the boat.

He's 8 now and has 3 rod/reel combo's of his own for open water and 2 for ice. He uses all and is beginning to undertand when to use which for the situation we are fishing.
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[jaybird77]

Speaking of the unerdspin rods I know at sportmans as well as other places they have a 4'8" rod with an underspin reel for $29.99. It looks like a pretty good setup for a kid. I will probably be buying a couple for my boys this summer.
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