Best one-stop-shop combo for a kid to learn and grow with for a few years?

[PNWTO]

Nothing dramatic, mountain lakes and rivers, trout-centric.

Thinking the Ugly Stik kiddo combo but seeing if there’s any user experience of “better” options?

 

[Pete Correale]

St. Croix makes some nice little light set ups that don’t break the bank….

St. Croix GXR Lite Spinning Combo

The St. Croix GXR Lite Spinning Combo delivers lightweight sensitivity and smooth casting performance for finesse anglers targeting bass, panfish, and trout.

www.fishusa.com

 

[robmcleod82]

Depends on the age of the kid and how careful they are. One of the carbon ugly sticks would be a decent kids rod. I love my St Croix rods but they seem to break very easily any little knick and they snap when you cast. I will probably keep buying them cause I love the feel but gonna have to start keeping them in rod tubes. Another brand to look at for cost effective spinning rod that wont break the bank is Berkley ive had a few of them over the years and they are surprisingly good especially for the price point. I would focus the bulk of the investment on a good reel. Hard to go wrong with something like a shimano Vannford ect. A better quality reel with a good drag will help the kid get more fish to the shore.

 

[boulderchild]

My daughter comes fishing with me almost every week, she is 5 for reference. I found her a pair of boot foot waders on amazon, and three rods. She has one rod with a spincast and 5lb mono we use for trout, one lightweight ugly stick with a small penn spinning reel she uses at the beach with 20lb braid (great for pompano and whiting in the surf) and she has a cricket fly rod and reel combo from cabelas. She can cast it fairly decently but needs pretty open space so we usually stick with the spincast for trout.

Biggest thing thats worked for us is go cheap on the rods and spend more on the reels. She doesn't always pay attention and we have been through a few rods but the reels are still going strong!!

Im looking at the simms kids stocking foot waders now and want to upgrade her as soon as they fit, her waders are the most used piece of fishing gear she owns. Also, thick socks and thermals for any time the temperature dips.