So you have spent most of your life fishing and now it is time to pass on your treasure of knowledge to the little ones, the pioneers of tomorrow. There is no greater pleasure for an angler than to teach their child the art of fishing.
But fishing is a tough skill to get a hang of that requires patience and technique. And while your kids try to learn it, they can lose interest quickly. Fishing rods meant for adults can feel too heavy in their small hands.
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out which is the best fishing rod for kids, then we’d recommend the Plusinno Youth Spincast Combo as the best one.
Best Fishing Rod and Reel Combos for Kids
- Plusinno Youth Spincast Combo (Top Pick)
- Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Youth Combo
- Plusinno Youth Spinning Combo
- Lanaak Kids Fishing Combo
Compare Top Kids Fishing Rod and Reel Combos
| Product | Overall Score | Bottom Line | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Plusinno Youth Spincast | 88 | 
Your go-to combo in case your child is between 3-7 years. | Check Out On Amazon |
Ugly Stik GX2 Youth | 86 | A world class combo and your child’s first step towards adult fishing gear. | Check Out On Amazon |
Plusinno Youth Spinning | 83 | Great overall performance at a remarkable price. | Check Out On Amazon |
Lanaak Kids Combo | 78 | The combo which allows you to catch your own bait. | Check Out On Amazon |
Detailed Analysis of the Best Kids Fishing Rod and Reel Combos
Fishing rods meant for adults require some previous experience to operate in circumstances that maximize their potential.
Hence, the best option here is to get a fishing rod designed especially for children and young teens.
They are short, lightweight, inexpensive and have a simple way of working. Thus, the learning is easy and fun.
The good news is that the manufacturers I have featured here offer a complete fishing combo with simple mechanisms at relatively low prices. Their whole idea is to keep a child hooked to fishing.
This not only increases their chances of success but also opens them to the idea of learning new things.
I took extra care to only include the best fishing rods for kids or rather the best fishing combos for kids.
I stayed away from those colorful looking things that may have an attractive cartoon-type finish but aren’t useful in the long run.
The best way to make a child learn is to hand him/her a rod reel combo that resembles what adults use but has been specifically designed for children. Something that will impart them useful lifelong skills.
So the ‘Top Pick’ award has been bagged by Plusinno Youth Spincast Combo. The other combos weren’t bad either and in fact, the Ugly Stik GX2 Youth combo scored just a tad less than the Plusinno one.
Why? Since it cannot be used by small kids, therefore, I had to refrain from calling it the best.
Below you can find a detailed analysis of how each combo performed on various parameters.
It was interesting to notice that the spincast combo by Plusinno was the best and in case your child is in the age group of 3-7 years, I highly recommend you to choose the Plusinno spincast combo only.
1. PLUSINNO Youth Spinning Combo
Overall Score: 83
Advantages
- Complete well packed kit
- Trustworthy performance
Disadvantages
- Line tangles are a possibility
Comfort
Since it is designed for kids, the rod and the reel are extremely lightweight so as to minimize any discomfort a child might experience.
The rod is a telescopic fishing rod which makes the whole setup a compact build and easy to carry around. The rod-reel handles are soft-EVA builds which are pleasant to hold.
The rod weights are 2.2oz and 2.67oz corresponding to two different lengths. The reel is just 6.58oz with interchangeable handles.
A small manual might be given (not always) with the setup explaining how to attach the reel handle and the reel itself to the rod handle.
It is so simple that during the tests, kids who were 8+ were able to do it just by looking at the diagrams.
Durability
The combo is predominantly made of Fibre-Reinforced-Plastic (FRP) and other plastic components. This has been done keeping in mind the weight of the combo.
But being made out of plastic doesn’t mean it is of cheap quality and brittle. In comparison to those fancy cartoon-type rods and reels out there, this will stand the test of time.
The reel also has a strong metal bail wire. Plusinno also has good customer service and really cares about the grievances of their customers.
Functioning
The telescopic rod has four sections with guides at appropriate places and the reel comes with a pre-spooled and roughly 6lb mono line.
Both, the rod and the reel are sensitive to fish bites which lets the kids easily detect any activity by fishes. This lessens the chance of losing a fish after a bite as it is a strong signal to set the hook in.
The combo is suitable for catching lightweight fishes and the rod can be termed as moderate action. You have two options to choose from i.e 1.15M or 1.5M of extended rod length.
The reel made some sound initially but got almost noiseless with use. Guess it was a question of the grease spreading and settling in properly.
It also has a double colored deep aluminum spool and a 5.2:1 gear ratio. Even though the reel has a large line capacity, it doesn’t cast very far.
Out of many attempts by kids who were fishing, a couple of them did result in line tangles and I had to cut some line. Nobody wants a bird’s nest.
Maintenance & Repair Cost
The whole combo does last fairly long when I compare it to what we’re used to in the kids fishing section.
It is compactly enclosed in a great quality bag which inhibits careless storage practices and keeps the setup working for as long as possible.
The pole is protected inside the bag with a belt roll strap and the head of the pole has a protective sleeve.
Now since it is a plastic build and meant to be used by kids, I do understand that it will be subjected to some rough use.
It will give in after some time but not without giving your child their earliest pleasant fishing memories.
Price
We get a lot of stuff apart from the rod and the reel i.e., a box which contains baits, bobbers, sinkers, stoppers, lures, and fancy hooks to name a few.
So much good quality stuff at a remarkable price is something which makes these youth combos an irresistible buy.
2. UGLY STIK GX2 Spinning Youth Combo
Overall Score: 86
Advantages
- Extremely durable rod
- Smooth casts
- Signature Clear Tip® design
Disadvantages
- Reel isn’t as durable as the rod
- Not suitable for kids below 8 years
Comfort
It is a two-piece rod which makes it easy to carry around and travel with. Also, it has a split EVA grip which provides a comfortable hold to children.
The whole combo is pretty lightweight which ensures that the kids do not feel tired even after long hours of fishing.
Durability
It is a durable combo consisting of a graphite and fiberglass construction. The durability of the usual Ugly Stik GX2 is well known and its little version surely follows in its footsteps.
Children can be a little reckless with their usage and any youth fishing combo should be designed keeping the same in mind.
Needless to say, Shakespeare has done a remarkable job with their Ugly Stik Youth Spinning Combo.
Functioning
The combo features a five-feet six-inch rod which can prove to be difficult to use by very small children. Basically, Shakespeare has designed a combo suitable for usage by kids above 7 years.
Children below that might have a hard time with it. It is a medium action spinning rod having the signature Clear Tip® design of Ugly Stik.
Thus, you can be sure that your child will be able to detect even the slightest nibble and strike.
If they do not lose fishes, then they will surely be addicted to fishing while becoming more confident in their actions. Further, the reel in the combo has an anodized aluminum spool.
Also, it has only one ball bearing which is not a bad thing as the reel has been designed in such a way that one is enough and more bearing would rather hamper the functioning.
The casts and retrieval are fairly smooth too. The handles are interchangeable to allow both left and right-handed kids to enjoy this fishing combo.
The reel has a max capacity of 145 yards on a 6lbs line.
Maintenance & Repair Cost
The combo is extremely famous because of its rod but the same cannot be said about the reel. It requires proper maintenance and thus, needs to be protected from salt water.
Also, it is not as strong the rod. However, the rod will really amaze you with its capabilities and won’t trouble you at all.
Price
The price point is really favorable and doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket despite having a world-class rod in the combo.
Your child’s first step towards fishing with this combo will teach them what exactly durability means in a fishing rod.
3. PLUSINNO Youth Spincast Combo
Overall Score: 88
Advantages
- Very light
- Lots of extra stuff with the combo
- Easy to store
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for children above 7 years
- Not recommended for serious learning
Comfort
First things first. The Plusinno Youth Spincast Combo, just as its name suggests is the spincast version of the Plusinno combo for kids.
The combo mentioned above comes from the same manufacturers but that was a spinning one. Let us start with the basics.
The rod is available in two weights i.e. 4.23oz and 4.86oz. Also, the reel weight is just 4.73oz. So this is lighter than the spinning combo.
You get rubber grips on the rod handle and the reel handle has a plastic one. The rod is telescopic in nature which makes it compact and easy to store.
And of course, the whole combo is lightweight especially because of the spincast reel.
Durability
The rod and the reel just like the spinning version have been constructed using Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
The combo has plastic hooded reel seats, feels very durable and seems it can easily take a drop or two.
Functioning
The first point of difference between the spinning and the spincast variant is that this combo targets age groups of 3-7years.
If your child is above 7 years then the Ugly Stik GX2 Youth spinning combo might be a better option. The rod in this combo is available in sizes of 120cm (47.24in) and 150cm (59.05in) at an extended length.
It also has good quality guides at appropriate places. The reel is a standard spincast one which comes pre-spooled with a standard eight-ten pound monofilament line.
The drag system is a fairly simple and basic one. One thing that caught my attention was the fact that there was no plus or minus sign next to the drag adjustment scroll lever.
So for a beginner, there is no way to know in which direction the drag increases or decreases. I figured out that turning the lever to the left increases the tension.
The rod action is very light with a lot of play but has a strong backbone. The gear ratio of the reel, however, is very low. This can easily wear out a young one’s arm and wrists.
Further, there is not a lot of line in the setup. I would say around 10-15 yards at max. My casts resulted in empty spools and line stoppages but it is surely enough for a child between 3-7years of age.
The reel is not equipped for any types of artificial baits and using a live bait would be the best option. It is well suited for freshwater and lake fishing.
Maintenance & Repair Cost
Just like the spinning combo, this too is nicely packed. The rod again is protected by a belt strap and protective headcover which eliminates damage while storage.
Not much care or maintenance is required since good quality material has been used in its construction.
Price
It comes at a price similar to some other combos out there. You get a lot of stuff for your money just like the spinning combo above, i.e. soft lures, hooks, bobbers, bobber stoppers, jig heads, sinkers, swivels, etc.
It is a nice combo to get a child started on some camping trip but is surely not recommended for serious fishing and for the learning curve of a child.
4. LANAAK Kids Fishing Combo
Overall Score: 78
Advantages
- A lot of free accessories
- Starter’s guide included
- Compact design
Disadvantages
- Significant durability issues
- Frequent reel jamming
Comfort
The rod handle is a soft-EVA grip which provides a comfortable grip to little hands of children. Thus, they will not tire even after fishing with this combo for a long duration.
This can also be attributed to the fact that this combo is lightweight in nature and is a pleasure to fish with. The reel handle, however, is made of plastic.
The telescoping fishing rod is easy to carry because it collapses to 17 inches. And it’s great for a variety of ages, as it expands to 65 inches. A carry bag has been included for storage and travel.
This whole kit fits under a car seat or in a backpack. Thus, this kit is great for fishing trips that involve hiking and camping, too!
Durability
The construction material is again high-quality Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
The combo works well in the majority of the cases but there are definitely known durability issues with the setup.
For instance, the pole is not as strong as it should be and has high-chances of snapping after a few outings.
Further, I did not find the reel body to be sturdy enough so that it could absorb the shock of more than a couple of drops.
Thus, rough usage endurance, which I feel is one of the most primary quality in a kids fishing combo was missing altogether. Otherwise, till the time this combo works, it works well enough.
Functioning
This fully-loaded, complete kit has everything your child needs to start fishing.
It is a beginner-friendly fishing combo with a closed-face, spincast reel pre-spooled with 200 feet of an 8-lb test line, and the push-button casting system making casting easy for everyone.
It has a fully loaded tackle box includes hooks, bobbers, sinkers, swivels, plastic worms, and a crankbait lure. Therefore, you are not required to go shopping for those extra accessories!
There is also a hand net for catching baits because you can’t catch fish without bait.
A hand net ensures an endless supply of minnows and nonstop entertainment (even if the fish aren’t biting).
To make your fishing trip fun, and a stress-free success, a Lanaak Fishing Starter Guide has been included by the manufacturers.
It delivers clear explanations, easy-to-read diagrams, and a few tips and tricks for fishing with a family.
Plus, watch out for links to their instructional videos! The reel is a spincast one which is quite easy to use and carries all the necessary features.
Despite all the fun stuff, there are known issues with the reel jamming up frequently which hampers the mood completely.
The last thing you want to see is your kid crying due to a breakdown when their friends and siblings are fishing merrily.
Maintenance & Repair Cost
Since the durability of the rod is pretty questionable, therefore it carries a high maintenance and repair cost. Further, jamming up of the reel again wastes our time.
The time which could have been utilized by catching more fishes is wasted on solving reel issues.
However, a silver lining is a 30-day money-back guarantee. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied, contact the manufacturers for a replacement or return it for a full refund.
Price
Thankfully the price is in the same range as the other fishing combos that I have suggested here despite the fact that a lot of extra stuff has been offered.
It carries a price which you would be pretty comfortable shelling out.
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a young fishing enthusiast or a surprise for a first fishing expedition with the family then get everything they need for their first big catch in one high-quality, easy-to-use kit.
Fishing Requires Patience, at Least Make It Fun for the Kids…
The Plusinno Youth Spincast Combo checks all my parameters.
As someone looking for a great fishing combo for kids, you should always look out for no-tangle casting mechanisms, collapsible poles and as many freebies for kids as possible.
The kid’s combos are usually budget-friendly and include a whole lot of stuff apart from the usual rod and reel.
Fishing requires a lot of patience and therefore is a hard skill to learn especially for children given their tendency to lose interest quickly and short attention spans.
But if they do learn to fish, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences for both i.e. you and your child.
There will be so many special memories to cherish from these experiences and will strengthen the bond between you all.
But for all these to happen, we require the best fishing rod for kids to be in their hands along with a great quality reel.
Also, fishing can be a fun activity if done right and a good setup will keep the fun intact while imparting useful skills in your child.
And it greatly increases the chances of catching fishes which can result in the most vivid laugh on a child’s face.
For inspiration, do check out an interview I did on how Katy Cartier doesn’t see her son’s autism as a hinderance and prefers ‘tackling’ it with fishing.
My recommendations are simple inexpensive gears that will take your child’s fishing journey in the right direction.