Economical Rods for casual fishermen and son-both real and fly?

[Minnesota1]

I am not a huge fisherman––meaning I love to fish I just do not do it all that often. My son just turned 6 and he has asked about going fishing. I used to fish, growing up in Northern MN, and I had a few rods but I have no idea where they went between moves. I would like to know what would be a good economical rod for my son to grow up fishing on and I'd like one for myself as well. I would imagine he would need a closed face and for me it really doesn't matter. I would also like to know about economical fly rods. I had 2 before but have no idea where they are at. I'm in TX so I would imagine that we would be fishing for bass and pan fish, etc. Anyway, thanks for your input and helping a guy get back in the game.

Bob

[DDZ]

Bob
  Fishing is,  I think the most relaxing sport there is, and just about any age person can participate. I think your son will really enjoy it. I've never seen a young person that didn't.

A good all round reel is a Zebco. Zebco makes many differant brands, but most are closed face which is best for a youngster. Closed face reels tend to not get as many tangles compared to an open face, where line can spool off the reel and create a mess. Dad will not have very much time to fish when this happens. Zebco reels are fairly cheap also. When I was a kid I didn't even know there was anything differant. One zebco I had was the 33 model and it is a great reel. It was in mud, and water differant times but it kept on working. Well most of the time anyway.  Zebco still makes this reel and I think you can get one for around $20. Zebco also makes reels that are more apealing to kids. They are called hot reels and they come in differant colors. They even make a reel that floats. Zebco also makes more expensive closed face reels, with a few more bells and wistles. I bet just about any sporting goods store or department store carries them.

As for fly rods it depends on what you want to spend. You can get well up over a grand on a fly rod and reel. There are many good fly rods and reels that are a lot cheaper. Your best bet is to just go look and find one you like. You really don't need an expensive fly rod and reel to catch fish.   Good luck

[Graybeard]

Any Wal-mart you go into will have a good supply of such rods and reels at affordable prices that will do fine for you. So does Cabela's and they have them in all price ranges from low to higher than most folks can afford.

I agree on the Zebco brand as a good starting point. The Model 33 has beome a standard for millions I guess. As a boy I used the fore runner of it the Model 22 and still actually like the 22 better but the 33 works fine.

I've never fly fished so have no real experience there but do have a few fly rods I use for bream fishing using an underspin reel on them. it's kinda like a closed face spinning reel but with a little finger lever out front rather than a bail like a spinning reel or button like a normal closed face.

[outdoorlover]

Well fishing is one of the best way to spend your weekend, me and my family really enjoy fishing a lot we get use to bond out of it.

[Empty Quiver]

Go with a Zebco reel, I like the trigger spin style very much, they balance nicely. An ugly stick rod will last forever, and isn't too terribly high priced. Now this is where I'll ask you to really pay attention. Buy new line EVERY year before you go fishing. Amazingly you will not be "that guy" with the constant reel problems. If you are cheap, and I am, pull off the first 50 yds. Then tie on the new line and top off the spool with a fresh 50 yds. You'll get two rods refreshed for about $5. Nothing like equipment troubles to sour a fishing trip. And when you get home occasionally unscrew the cap over the spool and wipe things off  under there and you'll avoid most reel troubles.

[Cookiemann]

If you watch, you can find combos on sale in the Zebco 33 and also in Shakespeare.  I have a couple of Shakespeare combos.  They are spinning reels and 2 of them came with Ugly Stick rods, but they also sell those same combos in closed face reels.  All of them for around $30.  Combos are generally more balanced in your hands, as they are matched sets.

You may also want to pick up a couple cane poles.  In the right spots they are very effective for pan fish and little or no maintenance means there is more time spent fishing and less time spent un-tangling and rigging.

Whatever you use, once he gets the bug, there'll be no stopping him.
Few things can replace the pleasure gained from watchin' your kids/grandkids catch fish and then listening to the stories they tell of their adventures.