My kid needs a pole.

[cray]

I started Ice fishing last year and am hooked. What kind of pole should I get for my 6 year old? I let him use a spinning reel last year and that went bad enough to end the trip. The kid really made a mess.

I am looking at a few options.

1. A schooley type rod & reel combo.

2. A regular rod with a Schooley type reel.

3. A regular rod with a closed face underspin reel.

Anyone have any suggestions or experience with little kids that love to tie knots?

[mrfish1991]

I would go with option 3. That way you get to pick from the many great ice rods out there and choose your own reel. I know phluger makes several underspin reels. I have not used them myself so it is just a suggestion, but that is what i would do.

[BartmanMN]

I agree with option 3. I let a 3 and 5 year old use that option last year and it worked great. Berkley makes cheap combos like this.

[Phred52]

cray, I'd bet the kid was back-reeling and you had loops and squiggles all over, right? My daughter had the same thing her first trips out. I didn't deny her the use of the spinning reel, I figured she'll have to learn, eventually. I just set the anti-reverse, slightly backed off the drag, and gently coached as I kept an eye on her. She got it! Now she knows which way to turn the handle every time. She's become my best fishin' buddy. Phred52

[Redbeard5289]

Check out what Ugly Stix has for Ice Rods. I got my 5 yr old one and he love it. Plus no matter how much he wacks against the side of the hole or the portable I know its not going to break.

I believe that last year Ungle Stix came out with either a top close face reel or an underspin close face reel that has a front finger trigger. Sorry my memory is a bit sketchy.

Redbeard5289

[jeffreyd]

why not go with an ugly stick or similar and a zebco 33 or similar? that seemed to work well when i was a kid and actually that is what my wife uses.

[Ed Carlson]

Phred52 touched on this well, and if I may, I wish to expand on his valuable lesson and his experience.

A also" agree the Ugly Stick rods and reel combo's would be a good choice...on open water, and on the ice.

*Don't issue him/her a reel, you would not use yourself...and expect them to somehow magically manage to do better with it than you can.

There are many very good option now in a Closed Spin casting style reel, Pflueger has and exceptional one out, the "Cetina". The ABU Abumatic with the dial drag on the outside of the housing, a great reel,...I would use either any day.

Get a "Closed Spin reel combo", and be sure it is set so he can not "back-reel"...or it will develop a mess in short order.

Rule #1...don't reel backwards. (Have faith in the drag, understand it's use and how to set it.)

Take the time to show him how the drag works...be sure to also let him know that cranking when the drag is clicking/slipping will not gain anything but will develop line twist and a mess in his reel. Get him to have faith in the rod to fight the fish and not use the drag unnecessarily.

Rule #2...Drags do not fight fish, rods do. (Reel drags prevent line breakage..make it a rule easy to remember.)

Most complications arise with new anglers from these two basic points, and once they understand why it is what it is...the problems usually clear themselves up.

Rule 3...Have Fun. (The most important rule to all anglers, of any age.)

[Jeremy airjer W]

A six year old's finger motor skills are still developing. An openface is not only a learning challenge but it is also a physical challenge. From what I have seen with my boys (age 7) the next year will bring significant improvement. Prepare him up for what has become the norm in ice fishing gear with option 3.

[cray]

When in doubt go with 1 & 3.

I found a schooley combo at a farm store today and thought I was good. Then I found a really nice underspin combo at a sporting goods store. He now has both.

Now all we need is a heater and a sled and it will be upgrades from that point on.