I'm thinking a 5'4" baitcasting rod with a bullet proof zebco reel for now?

What do you think. I could add a baitcasting reel down the road. I hate to trust him with a spinning outfit right now. I therefore think the closed zebco reel won't give him any problems. For now anyway.

Try it.  My first rod was a bamboo cane with a length of mono tied on. 

 

Spincast is the only mechanical reel I would be willing to give a lad as young as your grandson.  Congrats on getting him started young.  I foresee a Zillion in a couple more years. 

I just hook the fish at first, and hand the rod and reel over to them. After some practice, "pushing the button, and reeling up slack," You can try a spincast setup.

I still remember the day my dad brought me home a Zebco 33 with my own little tackle box. I was thrilled to say the least. I was also a little older than 3. Probably 5.

My 3 yr old uses a spin cast, my 6 yr old started when he was 4 with a spinning reel.

The 3 yr old turns the spinning reel upside down if he uses it lol. Spincasters are nice and easy.

My 3yr old loved the cars one, and went with that. it is a little 2 or 3 foot pole, came with a rubber tire to tie on and he picked up casting crazy fast. My 6 yr old is hauling in bass and catfish now. Here is the little one last summer. Once you give them the opportunity there is no stopping them, they get it fast. a grub, or something cast and reel, rooster tails I add some wieght to help them cast.

 

Guys I hope the little guy catches on quickly. Grandpa will have his new fishing buddy I'm sure. He already says my tackle box is his.

I just got him all the dirtbike safety gear. My son rides him on a 50cc quad. He loves quads, dirtbikes and my tractors. Now if he gets hooked on fishing too he has it made. We do it all. Camping too. He looks like robo cop with all the safety gear on. The rules are no safety gear no riding.

Get him whatever it takes.  My 8 y/o Grandson started fishing with me when he was 3 y/o.  In a couple months he was using a spining reel and by the age of 5 he was using a baitcaster.  At age 5 he caught a 8 and 1/2 lb LM.

He now is into large swimbaits such as the 8" Hudds, 10" Triple trouts.  I had him 2 custom swimbait spinning rods made to keep from getting backlashes and breaking off the expensive baits.

He has not bettered his 8.5bl LM but has come very close with a 8.3,

It was tough at first fishing with him but I was never happier and more proud than when he landed his PB LM.

The boat is not allowed to leave without him in it and I would not have it any other way.  Teach him to fish and take him fishing all you can.  This will be the best fishing time of your life.

We have to keep these kids busy and away from the tv and video games unless it's fishing or motorcycle, gncc racing. My grandson hit the lotto and doesn't know it. Activity wise anyway. I'll give him the life most of us never had. Fishing always took me away from the bad things in life. I'm happy I went fishing instead of getting into trouble, drugs etc. I'm a better man today for it.

I took my son dirtbike riding to keep him out of trouble. Dad took the hit on this one I broke my ribs three times, twice in one year but it kept my son out of trouble. I'm a hurting unit today. It was fun chasing my son thru the woods. I wouldn't trade my wounds/scares for anything.

My wife complained about the cost of riding. My neighbor heard us and said try paying a lawyer $1,000 to go to court. I told the wife it was worth it.

Both my son's and there spouses love fishing. I'm truly blessed.

Remember, a three-year old's attention span is very short. They will get bored and sooner or later not want to go with you as fishing and not catching anything is no fun.

 

May I suggest using a bobber and live bait so he will catch something on almost every cast?

 

Kids don't care if the fish is a largemouth bass, a bluegill or Flipper. They just want action and to catch something.

 

As he gets older you can graduate him up to the tackle you use and the lures/presentations that you like.

 

Please post pics of his catches.

I depends on my kids mood. Sometimes they would rather cast and reel, sometimes they would rather use bait.

Either way your right sam, be prepared for short outings and wondering minds. But as long as you keep it fun they will come back for more.