Hi,

Will be starting my 5-1/2 yr old Grandson out for the very first time.

Small Pond fishing.

Would you recommend at his age, and for the first time(s), I get him the typical

spinning reel like I use, or one of those Push-Button spinning reels like the Zebco ones that

seem to have been around forever ? I think they are call Spincast Reels. I've never used one.

    Why ?  Which is "easier" for a beginner ?

    What dis-advantages perhaps ?

Or, just bit the bullet, and get him the typical kind ?

Don't want to turn him off on the sport if he has to spend all day trying to untangle the reel.

If the Pushbutton type you suggest, which ones ?  Why ?

Much thanks,

appreciate the help,

Bob

If you want something that will last, the Zebco Omega is a very nice spincast reel.

 

What i would do is keep it simple and easy to begin with and get a zebco 33 combo.  Its nothing fancy but it works and easy for him to learn with. I would start him out crappie fishing with minnows n bobbers and then move to rooster tails and moving baits. Make sure he really enjoys it before i began spending very much money.  

When my oldest son was roughly the same age,  my father-in-law took him to the park.  The park has a popular pond.  During the week, the older fellas would be there trout fishing or just sitting, dunking worms.  My son would asked if he could try.  Usually that request is met with a "well,  I don't think so."  

This time,  the old guy says "sure".  My son takes the spinning reel and gives a respectable heave.  The old guy looks at my father-in-law with disbelief.  "His dad is a fisherman",  he says.

Moral of the story?  Test his dexterity with one of your spinning rods.  If he seems like he will get it,  start him early on spinning tackle and skip the spincasters.

My first reel at that age was a Mitchell 300.   Obviously the push button is a bit easier to learn, but if he has any coordination at all, it won't take long to learn the spinning reel.  I know a couple guys that fish with a push button, but in my opinion a spinning reel is a better tool.  I don't like the heavier weight of the push button on top of the rod.

Either is pretty simple to use, but see if he can cast one of your spinning rods, if he can that might be the route to go. 

I would go with a push button. Seems the easiest for most kids to use. Spinning reels are easy to but can be more tricky with line twist, flipping a hail and holding the line and such. I always see it as a progression. Start them using something simple and as they master it or start to enjoy fishing more slowly introduce better equipment to them. You just don't want them to have sift through problems and frustrations which will sour them on the sport. If they can cast it themselves, get bit, and catch and reel in fish they will he happy.

Spincast combo for the youngsters.  Easier for them, and less that can go wrong for you to mess with.  I went through this with my oldest.  He's 15 now.  Didn't get him a spinning combo until he was almost 11 and developed a little patience.

I think you might be surprised just how many of our older members still fish spincasting equipment.

 

My daughters had no problem with spinning reels at that age.  I just tied a washer on the night before and took them out in the back yard for about a half hour.