HOW TO Choose The BEST Fishing Rod For A 10 Year Old Kid (or 11 or 12 or 13)

I am very blessed to be the mom of 12 year old twins, a boy and a girl, who have really grown up fishing. When they were really little kids, we let them play around with kids toy fishing rods and closed-face reels, just to minimize the frustrations of using “real” equipment.

But by the time they got to be about 9 or 10 years old, they were ready and eager to move on to “adult” style rods and reels. And we were happy to oblige! We spent a lot of time researching and learning how to choose the best fishing rod and reel for a 10 year old kid. That is about the age when we started teaching our kids how to use and manage their own spinning rods and reels. They are now basically completely self-sufficient for normal pond or lake fishing, including tying knots, rigging up, casting, catching, unhooking fish and properly releasing them.

Now, I know not every family is as crazy over fishing as we are—maybe you and your family only want or are able to go hit the water a few times a year, because of other commitments, hobbies and time constraints. That’s OK! You can still make sure that your kids and you have the best time possible whenever you do get to go fishing, by ensuring that their equipment is appropriate for their size and skill level, as well as good quality, sturdy, and reliable.

Here are the various setups that I personally chose for our kids, and I have to say, after two years of HARD kid use, they are still going strong! Hopefully they’ll work out great for your kids too.

Best BUDGET Choice: Ugly Stik GX2 Combo

This rod and reel combo is a fantastic bargain at about $50 total! And since it’s not necessarily a “kiddie” rod length, you can choose from everything from 5 feet (great for kids catching panfish on worms) to 7 feet (great for throwing artificial lures and catching bass).

All you have to do is add fishing line (more on that in a moment) and you’re ready to hit the water!

The Ugly Stik GX2 Combo features include:

• Graphite and fiberglass construction offers lightweight durability and sensitivity

• Clear Tip design delivers added responsiveness and strength

• Lightweight EVA grips provide comfort during lengthy fishing outings

• 3 ball bearings and one-way clutch instant anti-reverse bearing ensure smooth operation

• 3 ball bearings plus one-way clutch instant anti-reverse bearing for smoother gear feel and instant hook sets

Kids Who Are Really Into Fishing: Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod + Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel

If your child is more experienced, older, or just more excited about fishing, you might want an upgraded setup. In that case, here are our two favorite pieces of fishing gear that combine to make a great setup for just a bit over $100.

An Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod in a 6’6” or 7’ length, Medium power, will be great for just about anything your kids might wish to catch (unless you’re shark fishing!). It has the same bulletproof construction as the GX2, but more sensitivity, lighter weight, and better quality components. It also looks really slick. I admit, I borrow my kids’ Elite rods for pond fishing outings at times!

As for reels, we have had great success with Pflueger President spinning reels. They’re lightweight but quite durable, and they have a respectable amount of drag that won’t get smoked by just about any fish. In fact, here’s my son Aiden with a nearly 4 pound bass he caught on this exact rod and reel combo! He was 10 in this photo and he did everything himself!

As I mentioned earlier, fishing line is obviously something you need too. My recommendation here really depends on the expertise level of the parent: if you are familiar with fishing knots and would like to get your kids using “real” gear, then by all means I recommend filling their reels with braided fishing line and tying on a leader as needed. But if you’re a more casual angler, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with running straight monofilament fishing line on your kids’ rod and reel setups. Mono has stretch, so it is pretty forgiving for kids who are just learning, and it’s somewhat stiffer than braided line, which means it can be much easier to tie knots in and to untangle when you inevitably have to untangle a lure or a stick or a kid for the thousandth time.

I recommend Berkeley Trilene Fishing Line in either 8 pound or 10 pound test. This should be plenty strong enough for any fish, but it won’t be so thin that it snaps at the slightest tug or yank.

Thanks very much for stopping by The Fishing Family blog! I hope this “Mom’s Guide to Kids Fishing Rods and Reels” has been helpful for you! If you have any questions, feel free to leave them down below, and if you’re looking for family friendly fishing content, please do make sure to check us out on YouTube and subscribe to The Fishing Family!