No not that, though sometimes I wish I could, as they did in my day!

My daughter who is now 6 wants a rod like Papa's, no longer content with one of those pink Disney things.

I was thinking of something maximum 6' and probably a 3wt, what sort of short tapers are available?

I have been looking on Chapman's and it is probably the most economical way to go, there are some real bargains in the Specials section.

Anyone know of some builders who would build up on a Chapman's with reasonable components for a reasonable price? Much as I'd like to go and support one of our well known builders, £400 for the little tyke is just a little TOO extravagant!

Cheers,
Steve

Don't know anything about the Chapman's rods but for the money listed in their specials section for a blank you could get a complete 6'3" 3# carbon Greys GRXi+. I know that's hersey to suggest carbon over cane, but for a kid it's probably more resiliant and the GRXi+ has quite a soft action, not unlike many cane rods.

__________________
You can only fish for so long before you have to throw a stick of dynamite in the river.

Get her a Zhu Stevel, you know you want to try one!

Tell you what, let me know when you've had a lawn cast of yours, and I'll definitely consider one!

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 PM ----------

idris,
Not quite sure about that, I took my nephew fishing on the Lea yesterday, and despite a loud shout of "look out for the rod" as I was unhooking a fish, he trod on my beloved Marshall Garrison 206 with wading boots.
Well, it looks to have survived, though emailed Gary to check. I don't think carbon would have survived that without a crack or two..


Cheers

Steve why dont you just buy here a Peppa Pig box set of DVDs like a normal Dad

My wee lad of 6 is on his third carbon rod, he casts like his father......

As you know i bought One of Zhu's rods and await delivery, i will let you know how i get on, surly thats the sort of price you should be aiming for or is it really for your daughter

My daughter is now 12 and has been fly fishing for years. Only now is she starting to have the light come on. Still she is a child and drops things, breaks things. Last year she broke her new silver flute the first week she had it. She likes fishing with cane but I will hold off on giving her a great rod until she stops breaking things.

I bought her an Edwards cane spinning rod from the 50's which Bob Summers of Paul Young Rd Co fame restored. It makes her feel like she has a cane rod. Her small stream trout work is largely with a G Loomis 7 ft 4 wt, from Ebay for about 50 quid.

A number of US cane makers produce marvelous rods under 7 ft with surprisingly fast action. Chuck Neuner, Bob Summers, Bob Taylor.

Many new makers sell superb new rods on Ebay for well under 400 quid. Read the Classic Fly Rod Forum to learn about these makers. We Yanks have been fishing with dry flies for over 100 years!

Please give my regards to the Test and the Avon.
We would love to have an account with pictures of your daughter's foray into bamboo.

David Bershtein
Getting girls to like fishing | Fishing With Daughters

Hey Mark,

She's already got the Peppa Pig DVDs, and all the plastic paraphenalia that goes with it, but now ready for a bigger challenge!

At 6 and already onto his third rod! He really IS like his father; does he have a set of colourful reels as well?

The Chapman's specials are quite reasonable, some around £80; perhaps it could be built up for £150. And you never know, if (when) she tires of fishing with Dad and more interested in her Wii (or God forbid, boys ) I think I could find a use for it!

Cheers


---------- Post added at 10:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 AM ----------

Thanks, already on Clark's for quite a while now.
Summers!? I don't have 5 years to wait or $4000 to spend on a 6 year old's first rod! But as Mark says, she can always pass it onto me..