Best Fishing Rods for Kids

Why it suits a child: A light rod and small reel with braid already on, easy for small hands.

The Daiwa Predator D-Spin is a 6ft 6in, two-piece lure rod matched with a Sweepfire 2500 reel, and the reel arrives filled with 0.14mm braid. Rated 5-20g, it suits light jigheads, spinners and small shads for perch, zander and jack pike.

Weight is the big win for a child. The rod is a very light 105g, the reel is a compact 2500, and the outfit breaks down to 72cm, so it fits in the car with room to spare. A put-over joint keeps the two halves simple to fit together.

For me, it's the best lure and spinning combo here for a young angler roving a canal or small river after perch. Next to the Daiwa Sensor Spin Blaster, it's shorter, lighter in the hand and loaded with braid rather than mono, so it should feel livelier with small lures.

To be fair, the Sweepfire is a basic two-bearing reel, and you'll still need wire traces for pike. For a child moving on to proper lure fishing, though, I think it's money well spent.

Why it suits a child: Cheap and forgiving, with mono on the reel, for children from about 9.

Daiwa's Sensor Spin Blaster matches an 8ft, two-piece spinning rod rated 15-40g with a Sensor 2500 reel, and the reel comes already spooled with mono. It's built for holiday mackerel and bass as well as pike and perch in fresh water.

Mono is the quiet strength of this set. It stretches, so it cushions a lunging fish and forgives a snatched strike far better than braid, while the medium action flexes well down the blank to absorb sudden runs. The reel is a simple one-bearing design, and the rod has comfy EVA grips.

I'd call it the best value pick here for children from about 9 trying lure fishing at the coast or on a lake. Next to the Daiwa Predator D-Spin, it's longer and less refined, while the Wychwood LR-S RTF adds braid and a wire trace for older children after pike.

To be fair, the reel is basic and the rod is a touch heavy for tiny perch lures. For a first set that won't break the bank, though, I think it's hard to argue with.

Why it suits a child: Braid and a wire trace included, for older children starting on pike and perch.

Built around a 7ft, fast-action rod on a 24T carbon blank, Wychwood's LR-S RTF kit adds a matched reel spooled with bright 20lb four-strand braid. A wire trace and a crankbait come in the box, so it's ready for pike from the first trip.

It's sold in 10-28g, 15-35g and 20-50g versions, and the 10-28g is the one I'd choose for a youngster, as it handles the spinners and small crankbaits that perch and jack pike fall for. Bright braid also helps a child see where the line is and when a fish has taken.

Older children ready for pike will get the most from it, ideally with an adult on hand for unhooking. Next to the Daiwa Sensor Spin Blaster, it adds a carbon blank, braid and a trace, while the Fox Rage Warrior ST Light Spin suits lighter lures and perch.

To be fair, one trace and one crankbait won't last long, so you'll need spares from the start. For an older child taking their first steps into pike fishing, though, I think it's a smart, well-matched kit.

Why it suits a child: Jigheads and lures come in the box, so a child can start straight away.

Fox Rage's Warrior ST Light Spin Combo is a complete perch kit in one box. Inside, there's a light 5-15g rod, a small 1000 reel already wound with 0.12mm braid, three 5g jigheads, a 3m fluorocarbon leader and a lure box.

Five soft lures make up the rest, with two 7cm Slick Shads, a Zander Pro Shad, a Critter and a Scent Shad, so a young angler has a choice of shapes and sizes from the first cast. The small 1000 reel suits smaller hands too.

It suits a child who wants to catch perch on canals, rivers and lakes without anyone buying bits separately. Next to the Wychwood LR-S RTF, it's rated for lighter lures and swaps the pike trace for jigheads and shads, while the Fox Rage Warrior ST Dropshot uses the same size reel with pre-tied drop shot rigs.

To be fair, there's no wire trace, so it isn't one for waters with pike. For a youngster keen on perch, though, I think it's a superb all-in-one start.

Why it suits a child: Pre-tied rigs let a child fish one spot without constant casting.

Drop shot in a box is the simplest way to sum up the Fox Rage Warrior ST Dropshot Combo. Its light, sensitive 4-17g rod is paired with a small 1000 reel spooled with fine 0.10mm braid, and the lure box holds two pre-tied rigs, two 10g weights and six soft lures.

The method itself suits children well. With the weight on the bottom and the lure held just above it, a youngster can sit by a lock gate or a moored boat and twitch the rod tip, rather than casting and winding all session.

It's the one for a patient child who's happy to stay put. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior ST Light Spin, it swaps jigheads for drop shot rigs and stays in one spot, while the Daiwa Ninja Feeder is the move if they'd rather fish the feeder on a commercial.

To be fair, there's no wire trace, and the rigs and lures will need replacing as they're lost. For canal perch fishing with a child, though, I think it's a clever, simple way in.

Why it suits a child: A short, light 9ft rod and a proper Daiwa reel for older children.

The Daiwa Ninja Feeder Combo puts a Ninja feeder rod and a 3000-size Ninja reel in one box, and the 9ft version is the one to pick for a young angler. It's rated to cast 30g and comes with 0.75oz and 1oz quiver tips.

Titanium oxide guides, a cork fore grip and an EVA armlock handle lift it well above basic starter kit, and the 9ft rod weighs just 150g. The reel's line clip lets a youngster hit the same spot every cast.

Older children and teenagers fishing the feeder on commercials will get the most from it, and for me it's the best float and feeder set here. Next to the Fox Rage Warrior ST Dropshot Combo it's a bait set rather than a lure kit, while the Shakespeare Firebird 10ft Match Combo is the cheaper float choice.

To be fair, it costs more than a basic starter set and suits the feeder more than the float. For a youngster who's hooked on commercial fishing, though, I think it's a set they won't outgrow quickly.

Why it suits a child: A ready-spooled 10ft float set for children aged about 10 and up.

Shakespeare's Firebird 10ft Match Combo is the simplest float set in the group, with a three-piece 10ft rod and a size 3000 reel that's already spooled with 6lb line. Add a float, some shot and a hook and a child is ready to fish.

Nine double-leg guides with titanium oxide inserts, an EVA handle and a cushioned reel seat make it sturdier than its low price suggests. The reel handle swaps sides, so it suits left and right-handed children alike.

Children from about 10 who are tall enough to manage a 10ft rod on a lake or pond will get on with it. Next to the Daiwa Ninja Feeder Combo it's a far simpler and cheaper set, and compared with the Daiwa Sensor Tele Float Combo it's longer for float control but doesn't pack down as small.

To be fair, the blank is basic and isn't made for big carp. For a first float set that costs very little, though, I think it's hard to argue with.

Why it suits a child: A light 9ft float rod and small reel that pack to 60cm.

Daiwa's Sensor Tele Float 9ft Combo is a telescopic float rod rated 1 to 15g, matched with a C2500B reel that comes filled with 0.25mm mono. Everything a child needs is in the box apart from floats, shot, hooks and bait.

The seven sections close down to just 60cm, and a cap protects the tip on the way to the water. A light rod and a small reel are easier for young hands to hold through a session than a long match rod.

Families who fish on holiday or keep a rod in the car will like it most. Next to the Shakespeare Firebird 10ft Match Combo it's shorter and packs far smaller, while the Penn Fierce IV Labrax Combo is a sea spinning set for older anglers rather than a float outfit.

To be fair, seven joints make it less smooth than a two-piece rod. For a child's first float set that fits in a bag, though, I think it's a smart buy.

Why it suits a child: A carbon rod and metal-bodied Penn reel a teenager can keep for years.

Penn's Fierce IV Labrax Combo pairs a 2.4m fast-action carbon rod, rated 15-40g, with a size 3000 Fierce IV reel. Labrax is the Latin name for sea bass, and this is a proper bass and light spinning set.

The reel has a full metal body, 4+1 sealed stainless bearings and carbon fibre drag washers, so it should stand up to salt and spray far longer than a budget reel. K-type guides on the rod help to stop wind knots with braid.

A teenager who's already keen on sea fishing will get years out of it, and it's the best sea and pier set here. Next to the Daiwa Sensor Tele Float Combo it's a saltwater lure outfit rather than a freshwater float set, and it's a big step up in build from the Mitchell Neuron SW II Spin 240.

To be fair, it costs a lot more than a basic sea combo and has a fast, firm action. For a teenager who'll fish the coast for years, though, I think it's money well spent.

Why it suits a child: Line already on and anti-tangle guides make a cheap first sea set.

The Mitchell Neuron SW II Spin 240 is a cheap, ready-to-fish sea set, with a 2.4m carbon composite rod rated 10-40g and a reel already spooled with mono.

Its stainless anti-tangle guides are made for salt water and help cut down on the tangles that frustrate a beginner, while a strong DPS reel seat keeps the reel secure. The reel itself is simple, with a graphite body and a 1+1 bearing set-up.

It suits older children who want their own rod for the pier or beach. Next to the Penn Fierce IV Labrax Combo it's far more basic and much cheaper, and compared with the Daiwa Sensor Tele Sea Spin Combo it's a two-piece rod rather than a telescopic one, with mono instead of braid.

To be fair, the reel is basic and won't wind as smoothly as a dearer one. For a child's first sea set on a tight budget, though, I think it's a sensible choice.

Why it suits a child: Packs to 75cm with braid on, ready for a seaside holiday.

Daiwa's Sensor Tele Sea Spin 9ft Combo is a telescopic sea lure set, with a rod rated 30 to 50g and a C3000B reel already loaded with 0.18mm X4 braid. A child only needs a few lures to start.

The rod slides down to 75cm and comes with a cap for the tip, so it packs into a suitcase for a seaside holiday. Braid helps a lure travel further and shows bites clearly, but it has no stretch, so the drag needs setting lightly.

Older children on a family trip to the coast will get the most from it, as 30 to 50g is a little heavy for under-9s. Next to the Mitchell Neuron SW II Spin 240 it packs much smaller and comes with braid rather than mono, while the Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite is a tougher 7ft rod that still needs a reel.

To be fair, a telescopic rod won't feel as smooth as a two-piece. For a ready-to-fish pier set that fits in the case, though, I think it's a really practical choice.

Why it suits a child: A tough 7ft Ugly Stik blank that copes with knocks and drops.

The Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite is a 7ft two-piece spinning rod built on Ugly Stik's graphite and fibreglass blank, made to take the knocks and drops that come with a young angler. It's a rod only, so you'll need to add a 2500 to 3000 size reel and some line.

It has the Clear Tip that Ugly Stik is known for, a tough, see-through tip that shows bites well. One-piece stainless guides have no inserts to crack or pop out, and cork grips give a warm, secure hold.

Children old enough for a 7ft rod who keep breaking cheaper ones are who it's for, and it's just as happy in fresh water as on the coast. Next to the Daiwa Sensor Tele Sea Spin Combo it's tougher but comes without a reel, and the Ugly Stik GX2 Kayak Rod is the shorter choice for younger children.

To be fair, it's heavier than an all-carbon rod, and the reel is an extra cost. For a rod that's built to take a child's knocks and drops, though, I think it's a very sound buy.

Why it suits a child: A 4ft or 5ft rod that small children can control easily.

The Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Kayak Rod comes as a 4ft one-piece or a 5ft two-piece, which makes it the shortest rod in the guide. It's built on Ugly Stik's graphite and fibreglass blank with a Clear Tip, and it's a rod only, so it needs a reel.

Foam grips are easy for small hands to hold, and the one-piece stainless guides have no inserts to break. Pair it with a small 1000 to 2500 size reel and light line, and a young child has a short rod that's easy to control and less likely to tangle than a long one.

Children under 8 will find a 4ft or 5ft rod far easier to manage than anything longer. It was designed for fishing from a kayak, so it's strong rather than delicate. Next to the Ugly Stik Elite it's shorter and stiffer, while the Elite casts further for older children.

To be fair, a short, strong rod won't cast far or feel lively with small fish. For a young child who's hard on their kit, though, I think it's a very smart first rod.