I'm in search of a spinning rod that my nine year old can use in the thick stuff. Naturally all of my heavy gear is casting. I'd like him to be able to throw the smaller frogs including something like the teckle but the rod not be cumbersome or too long. It would be matched up with a diawa LT 4000 that I have with braid. I'd love to use the st. Croix warranty and swap out an old unused avid but I don't think the MHs of the avid or avid x would be stout enough. 

15 minutes ago, Chief250 said:

 I don't think the MHs of the avid or avid x would be stout enough. 

... I do.  You'll want the rod to load a little bit.

 

oe

Do you have a budget in mind? I have a few options

 

5 minutes ago, JLewis134 said:

Do you have a budget in mind? I have a few options

 

$150 or less. Was looking at the avid warranty because I can trade an unused avid for a new one or avid x for a total out of pocket of $95-$105. Will consider other options though and price points 

St Croix Premier 7' H, Mojo Inshore 7' H are options. But St Croix Hs are powerful a MH may suit you well. I would stay with St Croix due to the warranty deal

 

A little above your price range but Dobyns has this:

 

http://dobynsrods.com/rod/sa-705sf/

9 years old...how big is this kid?

Tom

1 hour ago, WRB said:

9 years old...how big is this kid?

Tom

He's not huge, why? He just needs something for the grass and topwater in general. All my rods are finesse 

Size 4000 spinning reel is a big heavy reel with high line capacity that most 9 year olds would have a difficult time handling.

Major Craft NAS WJ 701 MH spinning rod balances well with size 2500 spinning reel. Using 30 lb braid would cut through aquatic vegetation like a knife through butter and good line for top water.

Tom

 

20 minutes ago, WRB said:

Size 4000 spinning reel is a big heavy reel with high line capacity that most 9 year olds would have a difficult time handling.

Major Craft NAS WJ 701 MH spinning rod balances well with size 2500 spinning reel. Using 30 lb braid would cut through aquatic vegetation like a knife through butter and good line for top water.

Tom

 

Thank you for the recommendations. You must have not seen the tatula LTs. The 4000 tatula lt is just a smidge larger in overall size than shimanos 2500 offerings. It also is equal to or lighter by several ounces that any shimano 2500s with the exception of the ci4+. I would think a small reel in the LT range wouldn't balance at all with a MH-H action spinning rod. Fyi not that it matters but I'm a big shimano casting reel fan boy. 

Daiwa Fuego rods seem heavier than their stated power. I have a 6'6" medium that I can fish plastics in vegetation with no problem. They're also real light and a good deal at under 70.00.

 

 Spinning 6'6" MH/F Premier its only rated to 14# line and doesnt have all that much power it flexes down the rod rather easily so it would be iffy for frog use IMO. Has an ABU Cardinal 4000 on it (9.2oz) so balance is fine wouldnt see an issue handling wise just the amount of power, I would say get a Heavy. I have MH/F casting rods that have more power than the spinning Premier MH/F.  I dont use a heavy rated rod at all though.

My son when he was 10yo used this set-up a few outings didnt have issues with it.

How about an Ugly Stik GX2 4'9" heavy? I saw a video on youtube of a guy using this with a diawa bg and 50lb braid for frogs. (sorry I can't find the video.)

 

If you like the Avid, I have the 6'8'' MH X-fast.  It works great for topwater.  I use it with an older Shimano Stradic 2500 and 20lb braid.

 

I too am curious about the reel though.... Most 4000 size Daiwa spinning reels are pretty big and have roughly the same line capacity and weight of a 4000 size Shimano.   For instance the Daiwa Tatula LT 4000> 10lb/210yards and a Shimano Stradic 4000 > 10lb/200yards.  Just an opinion.....I would think that size reel would be too big for bass fishing in general let alone for a young kid but to each their own. 

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

If you like the Avid, I have the 6'8'' MH X-fast.  It works great for topwater.  I use it with an older Shimano Stradic 2500 and 20lb braid.

 

I too am curious about the reel though.... Most 4000 size Daiwa spinning reels are pretty big and have roughly the same line capacity and weight of a 4000 size Shimano.   For instance the Daiwa Tatula LT 4000> 10lb/210yards and a Shimano Stradic 4000 > 10lb/200yards.  Just an opinion.....I would think that size reel would be too big for bass fishing in general let alone for a young kid but to each their own. 

Diawa Tatula LT 4000 weighd only 7.2 ounces and had the body size just slightly above the shiamno 2500 series 

Just for comparison and I will let it go.  

 

Doesn't really matter what it is though, it's great you are getting out and fishing with your kid and it will be an awesome set up no matter what you get.

10 hours ago, Chief250 said:

Diawa Tatula LT 4000 weighd only 7.2 ounces and had the body size just slightly above the shiamno 2500 series