7 year old wants an Underspin Reel for pan fishing. Recommendations?

Jenner 515

Jenner 515

Joined
Nov 27, 2002
Messages
2,145
My 7 year old is tired of my old Johnson Country Mile reel, and wants an Underspin type of his own.

Out there in the internet I find that there is no one clear cut favorite. So, I toss the question back to the members of a forum whose opinions I respect.

Do you recommend a particular model of underspin reel? Does your answer change if it's for a kid?

Thanks for your time.
 
I have used them for small brook trout streams. They are handy for short,uderhand or flipping casts. Drag is not the best. I have had Zebco and Diawa reels but they were not durable or long lived in my experience.

They are a good choice for kids, my daughter used them when she was young.
 
Small spinning reels are great for kids - easy to get the tangles out. But I suggest a rear drag so the spool can pop off easy - loose line always gets under the spool.

My boy, now seven, uses a Quantum Snapshot. (Unfortunately though, his model of Snapshot isn't a rear drag.) Marketed as an ultra-light rig, it's just the right size for kids. The best part is the trigger cast - makes it very easy to learn and use for the youngsters. Heck, I use a trigger cast too - always have.
 
Do you mean a spinning reel or a spincast designed to be used underneath the rod ?
 
I have had no problems with the little quantums, use them for backpacking with an extendable rod.

I prefer front drag, never had line problems under the spool? Drag washers on a front drag will be larger diameter than rear's and will hold up longer and be less jerky with a tight drag/light line/large fish.

Front drag also helps keep you front messing with the drag while a fish is on, a sure way to lose a fish IMOP,
Set your drag to start with to the average size you catch. If you get a bigger one and he starts to run.....let him,
a big fish that can't have a decent run will bulldog, snag, jump and have way too much energy to land if it is horsed to the boat or shore.
 
Brad "the butcher";13272488 said:
I prefer front drag, never had line problems under the spool? Drag washers on a front drag will be larger diameter than rear's and will hold up longer and be less jerky with a tight drag/light line/large fish.
Click to expand...

In my experience of untangling kids' fishing lines, loose loops of line often slip off the inside of the spool. If not noticed and addressed immediately, the loop gets wrapped underneath the spool. On a rear drag, simply press the button, pop off the spool, and remove the wrapped tangle. On a front drag it's also easy to remove the spool, but there are a bunch of drag-related springs and washers in there too that easily fall out onto the ground.

I don't disagree with your other comments about the drag.
 
Here is the current Quantum Snapshot model, slightly different than Little Bob's from a few years ago:
Quantum-Snapshot-Spin-Reel-de75ce76-328c-444a-a4bd-d112b8ab8c74_320.jpg

There used to be a rear-drag Snapshot model, which would be perfect, but not any more.

And here are two of the trigger-casting models I use:
m_IfAtcQ_H_CouffCbm27-w.jpg

(They don't make 'em like that any more)

spirex_rg.image.-familyImage-Single-image.dash.jpeg


That Spirex comes in a small size that would be perfect for a young person. But I'd hesitate to spend that much on a kid's reel.
 
Jenner 515 said:
Sorry:

Spincast designed for under the rod.
Click to expand...

Although those function mechanically different than a spinning reel, the operation is the same. Not sure the advantages of each design, wish I knew more about them.

I only have one more suggestion,
Take the kid with when buying the reel. Some have triggers that are hard to pull, or triggers that are too far below the rod for a small hand to reach.
 
Ive only used one. A zebco. Used it once and lost the handle.It worked well though .
 
I like the underspins models....What is the make and model of the one you pictured above? I have several Shakespears and a few others.
 
I got my son was little I got him a Zebco underspin followed by a Daiwa which was much more reliable and casted better. Great starter reel IMO. Tell your son congrats on the Brown.
 
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