SMALL open face reels

[little doods]

i am in search of some choices of open face reels for kids. the child has enough experience to start to make the change to an open face. but i do not want to spend a lot on a piece of junk that will only last a month. also, the size is the most important. it must be scaled to a youngsters hand size!

has anyone seen anything?

i know i have seen them before but only when i did not have an interest.

[Ness]

I'm not sure if they actually make smaller spinning reels for kids but I do have a light Abercrombie that was my Dad's that I use for trout fishing. Myself, I use the Shimano reels because they fit better into my smaller hand. You might want to look at some of them? Let me know how you make out... And how old is the kid?

[vetspet(ind)]

have several small openfaced reels...the mitchell spider mite does not seem nearly as smooth as my shakespeare intrepid...i also have a tiny mite..i think its called that...touted as the smallest openfaced reel on the market...don't think it compares to my shakespeare intrepid....one other thing...my spider mite broke on the first month or two and the co. replaced it no hassle and i did not have the receipt...pretty good sign for mitchell....steve

[steve(IL)]

1)Bullet proof,made in USA, 7.6 ozs, great drag = Penn 4200SS
@ about $60 - maybe more than you want to spend.
2) Pinnacle Tiny 20 - small, durable, good drag, $20-$30

[Grey Wolf]

Pinacle Tiny 20 is a good one. I have a bunch of ice fishing reels that are made by SHakespear, cannot remember the model # though.

ANother thought, I have 4 & 5 year olds, and they jsut love to cast. I don't want to take a hook in the back, so I have given each of them ice fishing rods, they work great for them. Currently usgin a Zebco Spincast, but I am thinking of moving them up to the spinning reel. They each caught their first walleyes this weekend bobber fishing, they had a ball. The 4 year old best line was "Um I think this ones got one", I look over and his rod was doubled over. They had a lot of fun.

[TBO/MN]

If you want a bullet proof small reel that will out perform any of the so-called standards, try the TICA CETUS SB500 . These reels cost about $50. and have everything the major reel builders put in reels that cost twice that amount. These reels have 6 bearings, and they are tough. Check them out at www.ticaglobal.com This line of reels is new to the USA and is starting to work its way into the reel market. I use the Libra SA3000, which is a medium action spinning reel and I have never seen a reel this smooth (10 bearings) in a reel under $225.00, and it cost me $55. Check out the Tica line, you will be suprised at the quality.

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[Pitts]

Yes sir thats what I started my kids on was my longest ice fishing rig with a shimano 100 reel. That reel will double as you panfish rig after the kids reach an age that they start using full size equipment (about 9 to 11 years old)at 5 years old they can handle a 3 1/2 ft rod pretty good and it cast very well even though it's short.

Take a kid fishing

Pitts

[Chad]

I have found the Vertex reels to be fairly reliable. 4 BB, Anti reverse, made by SilStar(same co that makes Pinnacle). they run anywhere from $25-35 at Scheels.

[Phil T.]

Amen to the Penn! A really good ultralight reel. One of the things you want to check is the length of the reel's "leg". Can the child reach the spool with a finger to pick up the line? I have short fingers, so my experience with so-called long cast reels reminds me of this irritation.

[Pitts]

TBO do they have a web site?

Pitts

[Pitts]

Found it with a search they look very good what store are you getting them at or is it mail order only?

Pitts

[TBO/MN]

I bought the first one on ebay for $48.50 + 5.50 shipping. Well worth the $54.00. I have had the Sodona 500's, and the Shakespeare Intrepids, and these little guys are miles ahead of the others. I am not sure if there is a store around that carries them. You can buy right from the website.

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[derrek]

Thought I'd add my 2 cents. If we're trying to make things easy for kids, I'd suggest one of the Shimano models with Quickfire. It's easier to cast with, meaning more fun, fewer tangles and frustrations. Also, then the overall depth of the reel is less important. This way, they can use a 1000 or even 2000 series reel, meaning it can be used for all types of fishing. I think Quantum also uses something similar to a Quickfire, but I have heard that the "trigger" tends to break.

[Rapaleye]

Two more thoughts for you. For my kids before they make the jump to a spinning reel I bought the Diawa Under spin closed face reel, model US80X. It costs $13-14, it is an ok reel, much better than the price would indicate. I like it because it goes on a spinning rod so the kids learn the casting action of a spin set up but with the ease of a button/lever release like a spin cast.
As for a ultralight spinnning reel I like the Daiwa Spinmatic s,x or z. They are very compact and would work well with small hands. I use them for ice fishing and think they work very well. The S runs about $25, x about $35 and Z about $50. They are the same reel size the main difference is ball bearnings. I have owned the silstar, pinicle tiny reels and think the Diawa is a slight step up.
Good luck.

[Bugtussle]

Just bought a TICA reel a couple weeks ago at Bob's Bait and Tackle in Green Bay. So far it seems like a very nice reel for the money. The guy there said that they can hardly keep them on the shelf.

[Pitts]

Boy I went to there web site and they have a large selection of reals that seem real nice and built very well. There best reals have 13 bb in it's construction. I was impressed.

Pitts

[Suzuki]

Any Shimano.