grandkids fly rods

[fishboy]

Ok, I have finally found the fly rods for my grandkids. It's the eagle claw 6'6" 3-4 wt or the 4-5 wt, which ever I can find. I saw one last weekend at the local sports store then found I could order some from another. What do you folks think? Now these guys are just starting to have some fun. They will be 2 next month but grandpa is starting them early. Oh, by the way, I a need 5 of these things so cost is alittle something to think about. I also need 5 battenkill II reels. Anybody have any idea where a granpa should start looking for these? Thanks all.

[Bob9]

Have you ever thought about Tenkara fly rods? Chris Stewart (FAOL sponsor) sells some that are ideal for kids. Prices will be lower, not having a reel to buy.

Bob9

[kbproctor]

Check Walmart. That is where I got one of those in a 5/6 for my grandkids to use. Those little rods are a kick to cast! Kids seem to pick it up naturally. At least my grand kids did. Most of them cast better than I do!

[anglerdave]

2? That is a bit young. Makes me wonder if their muscles will be developed enough to hold something that long, not to mention their coordination. Unless of course teaching them to fly cast/ fish is not the goal here.

[Prairieschooner]

I bought my granddaughter a Cabela's Cahill outfit; rod, reel loaded with WF line ,backing and even a leader. 59 bucks with free shipping. Actually it was on sale for around $40 when I bought it. I'm pretty sure her's is a 4wt but in the catalog it looks like it's only available in 5 or 6wt. Pretty hard to beat that for the money, and it actually casts pretty well!

[tailingloop]

The Battenkill reels are an Orvis product and available directly from Orvis or an Orvis Dealer. The Battenkill Bar Stock sick drag reel has been in production a for a good number of years and retails for $145.

The new Orvis Battenkill click/pawl reels will not start shipping from Orvis for a couple of months and when available will retail for $98. They are not even on the Orvis website yet.

[Prairieschooner]

I was wrong; Gracie's outfit is an 8'6" 5wt. Still a heck of a deal for what you get IMHO. And another MHO, Battenkill reels are too good for little kids unless you have a lot more money than you need.

[Allan]

Just a question because I'm planning on getting a similar type set-up for my grandson. At what age do you think a child has the muscular strength, ability, coordination, and other traits to actually begin fly casting? Now I'm not talking about just getting the child to cast 1 time. I mean the ability to spend more than 1 or 2 minutes casting?

Allan

[oldfrat]

In my experience, it has much less to do with muscular strength, coordination, etc. than with attention span. And fly fishing moving waters will take much longer attention spans than dropping bait off a dock with a bobber.

[quivira kid]

Get one for yourself, too! Put a Pfleuger Medalist on that sucker and get after it. Those are fantastic rods!