I've got a couple of short Zebo combos my son uses. He is only 6 and is hard on his gear. He has been asking to get a longer rod for a few weeks. I put his 33 on one of my 6'8" rods and he was tickled pink. I think it was way to much length for him, but I really don't know. How do you tell?

 

 

If holding that rig is making him tired then its probably too big for him.

Id take him to walmart and let him pick out one under 40.00? 6FT . maybe an ugly stick,lighting rod,or them cool looking shock rods.It would be a great father and son outing...........

I started my grandson with a 5' ultra light with an under spin reel, he had that from the time he was 4 to 6 and then I got him a 6' spinning rod and spinning reel and he is now 12 and he prefers a 6'6" to 6'9", he isn't comfortable with a 7' rod yet. If you want to know if what he is using is too much rod just watch how he holds and handles the rod, if he struggles keeping it at a 1 or 2 o'clock position or he has trouble trying to cast then I say give him a shorter rod, something around 6' to 6'6", the perfect length may be 6'3" to 6'4".

I started out with a 5' rod with a zebco reel when I was 11yo. I would go to "fish and save" on the net and look at the zebco bait casting rods there is a nice 5'4" rod there that I'm using today. It's very affordable as most of there rods are.

I think its more of what they are capable of managing. If they are struggling to keep the tip up and cast, its probably too long. I would stay under 6'6", and most likely stay around 6'.

My son has been using a 6-3 medium power rod since he was 5 or 6.  I think the key is a medium power, and not length - within limits.  Once they get older and stronger, they can move up to MH and H power gear.

Nothing wrong with a 6'6" Medium spinning rod. I still have both my Mitchell set ups I used as a kid.