Advice for rod/reel setup for new 8 year old angler!

[jerconte]

Figured I throw this out there to experienced anglers who have been in my shoes for advice...

I've got friends who have a kid that loves fishing, but they don't. I took him fishing on a party boat and he was catching fish all day and now he's seriously hooked and won't quit talking about it. Basically I created a junkie haha. Anyways, his birthday is coming up and his parents want to get him a fishing pole and reel and they asked me for advice on what they should get him. He's 8 years old, strong for his age. I'm just not sure what to get him... he's young, probably gonna abuse it so it doesn't really make sense to go expensive, but I also know that having the right set up from the get go saves a lot of headache and I want him to have fun and be successful, and proud/stoked on his gear... he'll mostly be fishing out of Morro Bay for rockfish with this rig on charter boats. Any advice is super helpful and I'm sure his parents don't want to spend a fortune

[Bill B]

For vintage gear I would look for a Penn 320GTI.  Basically the same gear train as a 113H in level line. Parts readily available from Mysticparts.com.  For a rod I like the Californian by Turners Outdoorsman.  Just find one in the weight class of line you plan on using.  The 320 is good for 30-40# line.  Bill

[JasonGotaProblem]

What did he use last time?

[jerconte]

daiwa sealine 50h on a daiwa vip 6' 25-60lb. it's my loaner reel/rod combo. could go used route but was thinking new/affordable/bullet proof if that exists...

[JasonGotaProblem]

new/affordable/bullet proof if that exists...

Man that's the reel version of cars "fast, cheap, reliable. Pick any 2."
I vote for a jigmaster. But I really like jigmasters so I'm biased.

[foakes]

Jigmaster is readily available new — match it with an Ugly Stik.

He will learn how to fish and won't pinch his fingers in a level wind.

Best, Fred

[jurelometer]

The 320GT that Bill mentioned is a good choice.  Plenty strong, the right gear ratio for drop fishing, durable, and a levelwind, so one less thing for an eight year old to deal with. Graphite frame and sideplates, so less corrosion problems.  I never saw a customer jam a  finger in a levelwind when I was  deckhanding on the same sort of trips.  But I saw plenty of issues from customers screwing up manual line lay.  Having said that, the Jigmaster that others are recommending is not a bad choice. It is not a very strong reel, but it is much better casting reel than a 320.

I would go with something durable like sort of Ugly Stik for the rod, but don't know which  model to recommend.  If you want to get a bit fancier, Okuma has some good rods at lower price points.

Even as a grownup, I would not feel disappointed if I went on a rockfish trip and got handed an Ugly Stick with a 320 (or a Jigmaster)  on it.

And good on you for getting a youngster into fishing.

-J

[oc1]

Just give him your loaner outfit.  Everyone's a winner.  He gets the rig he's used to and already has some memories attached to.  You can put together a new loaner outfit, spend what you want on it, and not have to feel guilty about it.

[jerconte]

Just give him your loaner outfit.  Everyone's a winner.  He gets the rig he's used to and already has some memories attached to.  You can put together a new loaner outfit, spend what you want on it, and not have to feel guilty about it.

Unfortunately I have sentimental attachment to the 50h... but I do have a Penn 555 that's just been sitting around. Thinking of giving that to him.

[Gfish]

Agree with Bill and J. If a deckhand doesn't clean your catch the kid will have to, or learn to. After that a FW rinse is easily ignored—-graphite helps. Also though, a conventional with bushings instead of ball bearings, such as the Jigmaster, helps when the internals godda be cleaned.
My rods are cheap for SW fishing on purpose and I just pay attention to weight/line rating.

[Jenx]

Look for a used Calcutta 400b. They only weigh 11.7 ounces. The combination of line capacity and weight is hard to beat. It's a very versatile inshore reel.

[jurelometer]

Look for a used Calcutta 400b. They only weigh 11.7 ounces. The combination of line capacity and weight is hard to beat. It's a very versatile inshore reel.

Lots of rock fishing trips are in deeper water due to the newer restrictions. Not sure if a Calcutta would be up to dropping 16oz leads all day.  It might have to be a special purpose setup. I don't think that I would have kept a Calcutta in fishable shape very long when I was eight.  Somebody would have had to take care of it for me. I would have been better off with a reel that could be tossed in a bucket of fresh water for maintenance until the end of season.  Not sure if a 400 would have the line capacity  for all rockfish trips.

But if you are right about the reel size, there is a smaller version of the Penn 320 (310), and a there is the TR100G and TR200G from Shimano. The TRG is a great graphite levelwind for trolling and drop fishing  that does not get the love they deserve. The TRG is sort of the Calcutta for folks that are drop fishing or trolling and want a low maintenance option.

Come to think of it, something that a kid/smaller person is probably going to appreciate most is having a lower retrieve rate, which means a lower gear ratio and/or a smaller spool diameter.  It takes a lot less strength and endurance to do the winding if the retrieve rate is in your favor. And nowadays with more deep drops on the rockfish... Along with durability and low maintenance, retrieve rate might be one of the most important factors for this kind of fishing.

I would put the Penn 3x0GTs and the Shimano TRGs in the sweet spot for retrieve rate. That 555 is getting out of the ideal range but doable.

-J

[Keta]

When is his B day?  I am in Canada now but I can dig around for a useable Diawa reel when we get home.  A Ugly Stick is a good choice for a low end rod.

Can't go wrong with Diawa reels but I would go with a 500 Jigmaster or 113H Senator but I am a "Penn Person".

[Jenx]

Look for a used Calcutta 400b. They only weigh 11.7 ounces. The combination of line capacity and weight is hard to beat. It's a very versatile inshore reel.

Lots of rock fishing trips are in deeper water due to the newer restrictions. Not sure if a Calcutta would be up to dropping 16oz leads all day.  It might have to be a special purpose setup. I don't think that I would have kept a Calcutta in fishable shape very long when I was eight.  Somebody would have had to take care of it for me. I would have been better off with a reel that could be tossed in a bucket of fresh water for maintenance until the end of season.  Not sure if a 400 would have the line capacity  for all rockfish trips.

I have actually fished the Calcutta in 500' waters with a 16oz sinker. Granted I have only done it two or three times, so I can't say how well it would hold up over time to that type of fishing, but I have heard heavier weights can wear out the clutch on a baitcaster. That reel wouldn't be my first choice for that depth, but it's a great reel for water under 200'. I'm not sure how deep they are going up there. I know down here in San Diego the afternoon half-days typically stay closer to shore.

[Keta]

For your needs a Penn or Diawa reel the size of the Penn 113H would be my recommendation.