Hi all,

my eight year old is itching to get his own fly outfit. He's just a wee fella but he's done a bit of casting in a local field with my 9' 5wt and just about copes. He's fished (done a few retrieves) with me but wants to kick on and get his own stuff.

I don't want to let him loose with my gear either!

I've seen a couple of starter kits online

Orvis Fishing Outfit - SALE - SAVE 30%

Redington Red.X Outfit - Sportfish

I like the idea of the shorter Orvis rod but I wonder if he'd be better off with it.

I'm very much a newbie myself so would appreciate any thoughts from all you seasoned anglers.

I started my daughter off when she was younger than your boy on a six footer. I find that a shorter rod is just easier for a child due to the fulcrum effect. Figure it yourself, if he's four feet tall with an eight footer it's the equivalent of you as a six footer casting a twelve foot rod single handed. It's doable but it's awfully tiring and hard to control. Orvis has real nice outfits and the guarantee is next to none but you might want to go with a cheap 7 footer in three or four weight (Fladen or Shakey Odyssey), composite reel and one of the Pirates lines. Cost of the whole outfit would probably be under seventy quid and you can use the extra thirty to take him to a well stocked stillwater where he will at least see fish.

Take care

Terry

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"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all!"

I bought a fladen 7ft with a Grey GS reel and pirate 3wt line for river fishing. Gave it to the lad to use and he looked comfortable with it. As said it looked in his hands as a 9'6ft looks in mine i.e. scaled correctly.

Fladen Vantage is a good rod but ugggggly.

PS Bought the lot of here total just under £80 inc VAT and P&P (no case though)

I don't know the Redington outfit but a friend bought the orvis outfit for his 9 year old son. I was surprised how powerful it was and the lad struggled with it for very short casts while he was learning the casting action. I put a 7 weight line through it. That went much better and he later moved back to using the 5 weight with no problems.

The Shakespeare Odyssey is on offer at many places right now and I must say it is unbelievable value. I bought one for my wife and feel tempted to fish with it myself.....it really is exceptional value.....I must add it hasn't been used much though, so I can't vouch for durability. You can pick up the 8.5 foot 5/6 for about £30 which didn't put the eyes on my last rod build ! Children grow up and develop so quickly you really have nothing to lose with a thirty pound rod which only lasts a year (and maybe ten for all I know !!)

worth looking out for a cheap second hand rod .An older rod is more likely to have a forgiving softer action and fibreglass is usually much more robust than carbon in young hands

All the best Nick

I started my lad of with a 9ft 5/6 delta but have noticed from winter afternoons on our lawn that my 81/2 ft 4# seems more balanced in his hand , I may try overlinning it however as its rather tippy,he much prefers fishing rivers down and across as the current is loading his backcast and turnover is not so keenly examined , PJ

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When you can see without being seen,strike without knowing why,and guess correctly where the best fish lie,they have taught you all they can.
(T.C. KINGSMILL MOORE)

Airflo do a starter kit of rod, reel, line, glasses and half a dozen flies for about £55 look on the Fishtec website. The rod is exceptional for the price. A pal who is a good caster can cast a full line with the rod
Bill

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Handeman

I too go along with the shakey oddessy range exceptional value
My boy has the 8ft6 its a crackin rod teamed with the graphite 4/6 okuma airframe reel a nice balanced outfit.

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BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

I have a couple of the old model Shakespeare Trion rods and like them. I handled the new XT one and it seemed to have a more through action - guy at the shop confirmed this.
Worth a look at around £50

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.