What weight/length flyrod for a 9 year old?

[Two Fister]

Hey fly guys!

My soon to be 9 year old son just told me that he wants to start fishing with a flyrod! Brought a tear to my eye! My first flyrod was a broom handle of a 9' 5 weight that to this day is nearly impossible to cast. I want to get him something that will get him hooked on flyfishing without being too much to handle. I'd rather get him something halfway decent that will be a good learning rod than a junker.

We've got great access to lots of small fish in the upper D, so I was thinking about a smaller/lighter rod rather than the typical lower D stick, but I wasn't sure if something like that would be harder to learn with.

Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated!

TF

[FallRiverGuy]

I have a little 4/5 wt Cortland that might do the trick.

[Stickswinger]

I started out at 11 with a 7 1/2' 4 wt. that I still own and use to this day! It is a great rod. Stiffness will help with him rolling out the line. If it is too flimpsy, he will have trouble becasue his muscles aren't developed quite yet. Although I had 10-12 year olds learning to cast on 9 ft. 5 wts when I guided in Cody and they could catch the trout in the spring-fed ponds pretty easily.

[PacificCoastSteel]

i would grab that cortland from fallriverguy... those cortland fairplay rods have a pretty snappy action for a cheaper rod - i had one and i liked it better than a $300 Sage i have.... i WOULD get an 8'6" or 9" rod, as he will be growing and you want something he can fish - well, forever really...

i've taught smaller kids to cast normal sized rods no problem

another idea for cheap is Ross Worldwide... i believe they have rods for 80 bucks or less...

you might drop into Fly&Field Outfitters on the westside of Bend - great shop, super nice guys, and tons of rods to cast... they have the Ross rods as well as Sage, Scott, and Winston

[Wiggley1]

Go with a 9 foot rod, 5#. Might as well learn with a rod he can use almost anywhere.

[mkwerx]

8' 4 or 5 wt unless the kid is close to 5' tall - then I'd go for 8'6". The kid's muscles won't be as developed, and you don't want to inhibit them with a heavy club of a flyrod. While a 9' 5wt might be a good general rod for an adult - it might be a bit too long/heavy for the kid. If the kid loves fly fishing - he'll add other rods to his collection (or borrow dad's, or dad can add more rods to his collection as his talents/abilities/growth dictate, right Dad?)

The 4 wt will be a lighter blank, will be easier to cast, and will be just fine if you're starting the kid off on panfish/bass/small trout. They'll be able to have some fun landing the fish, with an easy casting rod to boot.

If you go the 8' 4wt route, get a reel to match the weight of the rod. Albright reels are pretty light for their size w/o breaking the bank. If you want to spend a bit more coin - the Ross Flywater is a GREAT reel for the money - it's a mid arbor w/ disc drag. I could care less about it being a disc - but the mid arbor does a good job of keeping coiling of the line to a minimum.

The Okuma Sierra is a good value too - $30 for a standard arbor disc drag reel with a silent retrieve (too bad it's not silent output too, but it's still a gem of a reel)

You wouldn't put your son in oversized adult's waders or boots - why handicap them with an adult size flyrod when they're just learning?

[Two Fister]

Thanks for the replies guys! I decided to buy the 7'6" 3 weight package that Eric Strand had advertised on the classified board for my sons birthday. The middle Deschutes is in our backyard and there are scores of 8"-12" redbands in every hole. That little rod will be easy to cast, light, and since the casts are short it doesn't have to be a canon. His old man may have to borrow it occassionally...

When he gets a bit older I already have a 5 weight that I built years ago (Sage RP 4 weight overloaded with a 5 weight WF) that will be a good rod to chase larger fish, throw sinking lines, etc.

TF

[mkwerx]

Sounds good Two Fister. I'm sure the boy will love fly fishing. That rod - that's a Cabela's Three Forks, right? Sweet little caster. I miss mine

can't wait to see some pix of the fish it helps catch.

[Wiggley1]

I bought the Three Fork 3# 7'6", on the advice I got here 3 years ago. Best little rod around. All my budies always want to try it and then want one. Even got a Lamson Lightspeed for it. People are amazed that a 18 dollar rod casts so well. Love it!

[Seansquatch]

Originally Posted by Wiggley1

I bought the Three Fork 3# 7'6", on the advice I got here 3 years ago. Best little rod around. All my budies always want to try it and then want one. Even got a Lamson Lightspeed for it. People are amazed that a 18 dollar rod casts so well. Love it!

I have fished with two people who have this rod and love it and after catching a 1 pound bluegill on one i can defenetly recomend it. Hope your son enjoys it.

[chromeseeker]

You made a great choice going w/the 7'6" 3wt. I had my 8 year old daughter casting my Loomis Metolious Streamdance 7'0" 3wt this past week on a local SWW dinker trout stream and she did awesome with it after a bit of instruction. It's still a work in progress, of course, but that rod weight is perfect for her.

CS

[Two Fister]

Originally Posted by Two Fister

Thanks for the replies guys! I decided to buy the 7'6" 3 weight package that Eric Strand had advertised on the classified board for my sons birthday.

Well I should know better than to tell my son I'm getting him something from the ifish classified. Freaking sold it right out from under me today after I offered to send a check over the weekend and telling me that picking it up tomorrow was fine.

Anyone know where I can pick up a 7' 6" 3 weight rod and reel combo tomorrow that won't cost a fortune? I promised my son I was bringing one home for him from my business trip.
TF

[Luke77]

Here's something else that might be an option I stumbled upon.

The Echo Gecko 4/5 wt. 7'9" medium fast action.
http://www.rajeffsports.com/echo_gecko.php