What’s the Best Kids Fishing Pole? Top 6 Tested and Reviewed by an Experienced Dad

Let’s face it, when choosing the best kids fishing pole for your child, you’re not going to look for the same qualities when choosing a rod for yourself. 

Qualities like sensitivity and rod balance are way more important than qualities like durability and size.

Also, it’s ideal that you don’t spend your kids’ college savings on a rod that they’re going to use in a sword fight with their sister. 

My name is Keith Lusher.  I’m an avid fisherman having owned over 100 rods in my life and I have tested three times as many, but more importantly, I’m a father of three girls. 

My daughters grew up fishing and have gone through quite a few fishing rods through the years.

I’ve seen them use fishing poles to have sword fights, launch barbie dolls, and even catch snakes using frogs as bait. 

In this guide, I’d like to save you a few rods and a couple bucks in the future, by ranking the top fishing poles for kids according to my experience as a father. 

Top 3 Kids Fishing Poles on the Market

If you’re in a hurry you can take a look at my top three choices for the best kids fishing pole.

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Methodology 

During my years teaching my daughters how to fish, I’ve gone through quite a bit of fishing poles.

But I’ve also come across some really high quality rods that I would recommend to parents who are looking for a fishing pole for their kids. 

Here are some parameters that we used to come up with our guide to choosing the best kids fishing pole. 

• Rod Durability: The most important quality of a kids fishing pole is durability. Let’s face it, kids are rough, and the last thing you want to do is buy a rod that breaks on the first fishing trip.
  
  For this reason, we’ll be leaning fiberglass over graphite in this guide. 

• Reel Durability: When it comes to fishing reels for kids, it’s important that the reel have all metal parts including the cover. Throughout the guide we’ll look at numerous factors that go into selecting a durable reel for your child.

• Ease of Use: Introducing a kid to fishing takes patience and preemptive planning. Having a rod and reel combination that works seamlessly can play a crucial role in making your child’s experience a fun one.
  
  Bird nests, broken rods, and tangled line around the rod tip can often lead to frustration in both the child and the parent. In this guide we’ll look at combos that rise to the top in terms of how easy they are for a kid to use. 

Best Kids Fishing Pole Overall

Ugly Stik GX2 Spincast Combo

Specs

• Rod Length: 5’.6”
• Rod Material: Fiberglass
• Type: Push-button

Why We Chose It

The Ugly Stik GX2 Spincast Combo comes with a 2-piece rod and a reel.

The rod is made of fiberglass which is 5’.6” long and comes already loaded with 6lb. Monofilament fishing line.

The rod is the same material makeup of Ugly Stik’s GX2 rods for adults minus the graphite. I think that’s a great move on behalf of ugly Stik. 

Personally I have always stayed away from any rod with graphite in it as I feel rods with graphite break easier when they are touched by another hard object like the ground or the side of a boat.  

My experience with using Ugly Stik rods as a kid and having my daughters use them is that they are the toughest on the market and that is primarily why I choose this rod over the others. 

You really need durability when it comes to kids fishing rods. 

I also like the fact that the rod has a split grip. I feel like this prepares kids for their next bass fishing rod, which will probably also be a split grip. 

The soft EVA handle is also a great addition because it provides a soft handle for the kids to grip. (I’ve seen my fair share of rods thrown into the water after an attempted cast)

The reel is a GX2 reel. It has a stainless steel cover and metal gears which is a lot better than some combos that I’ve witnessed. 

One of my daughters had a GX2 reel and it lasted quite a while. The push-button was a great move as I believe a push-button reel is the best reel to get a kid started with learning how to cast and retrieve. 

I had a Daiwa push-button reel when I was 8 years old and I loved it. This reel looks similar and makes this combo rise to the top of the list. 

I actually had a chance to make a cast with this rod at the kids fishing rodeo and was able to cast out without any hitches. 

The combo was perfectly matched and I asked the kid who was using it if he liked it and he replied, “It’s my favorite rod and better than my sister’s barbie pole.” I think I’ll let this little guy finish the guide!

The only downside is the combo only comes in one size so your child will outgrow it at a certain point. 

If you’re looking for a solid rod that checks all the boxes for a kids fishing rod then the Ugly Stik GX2 Spincast Combo is the perfect rod to get your child.

It’s really a great rod for those who are just starting or already know how to fish. 

Best Budget Kids Fishing Pole

Zebco 202 Spincast Combo

Specs

• Rod Length: 5.6
• Rod Material: Fiberglass
• Type: Push-button

Why We Chose It

The Zebco 202 Spincast Combo comes with a 2-piece rod and a reel.

The rod is made of fiberglass which is 5’.6” long and comes already loaded with 10lb. Cajun brand monofilament fishing line.

The reel is a Zebco 202 push-button reel which is made of all stainless steel so it won’t break when dropped. 

The 202 has a dial feature for setting the drag which is easily understandable. As the dial is turned to the right it becomes harder to turn which means the drag is tightening. 

When it’s turned to the left it becomes easier to turn which means it is loosening. This translates to kids easier because there’s no reading involved. 

The reel also has an anti-reverse feature which helps prevent tangles. Personally I think all reels should have this; Both adults and children. 

From my experience with using a Zebco 202 Spincast Combo I can tell you that it’s definitely a rod and reel that is tough. 

My middle daughter had hers for years and was her go-to pole that she was comfortable with. The push-button reel was great for her as it made casting easier. 

Also it was the reel that she learned how to adjust the drag with a simple turn to the right or left. 

I will say that the rod isn’t as sensitive as some of the other rods like the Ugly Stik GX2 but for under 255 bucks, you have to give a little and rod sensitivity is a corner that you can cut when it comes to kids fishing poles.

If you are looking for a beginner rod and reel for your child, at an affordable price, the Zebco 202 Spincast Combo will get the job done for your child when it comes to durability, rod strength, and casting ability. 

Best Fishing Pole Kids Under 6

Zebco Kids Splash Jr. Spincast Combo

Specs

• Rod Length: 4’
• Rod Material: Fiberglass
• Type: Push-button

Why We Chose It

The Zebco Kids Splash Jr. Spincast Combo comes with a 2-piece rod and a reel.

The rod is made of fiberglass which is 4’ long and comes already loaded with 6lb. Monofilament fishing line.

There’s nothing fancy about this rod at all. It’s made of simple fiberglass which is durable enough on its own. 

One thing that stood out to me when my kids used this pole is the flat tangle-free tip. It’s designed to not allow the line to tangle around the rod tip. 

This saved me a lot of time and frustration while they were learning how to cast. 

I bought several of these rods when I first started my kids out fishing. They loved the bright colors and the designs on the rod. 

The rod lasted for years and even endured sessions of “Launch Barbie” in which they would tie a Barbie Doll to the line and see how far they could cast her. 

In all seriousness though, the rod was designed to take the abuse of a child so you don’t have to worry about them breaking it. (Unless they slam it in the door) 

The reel is a Zebco spincast reel which is decent for a kids set-up. It’s a size 20 reel and has all-metal gears and a 2.6:1 gear ratio. 

The outer cover is also metal so between the rod and the reel. It’s built for younger kids in mind. 

The only thing about this rod is I believe your kids will outgrow it since the rod is only four feet long. 

This rod is comparable to the Shakespeare Catch More Fish Combo however this rod is shorter and I think it is better for children under six years old.  

If you are looking for a longer rod for an older child, the Catch More Fish Combo is the better choice.

Like I said before, this is the combo that I bought for my kids as their first rod and reel and I really have no complaints about it. 

It lasted for years without breaking and the tangle-free tip was worth its weight in gold as far as saving me a lot of time and frustration. 

If you are looking for a starter pole for a child under six year old, the Zebco Splash Jr. fits the bill!

Best Fishing Pole for Kids (7-12 years old)

Zebco 33 Spincast Combo

Specs

• Rod Length: 6’
• Rod Material: Fiberglass
• Type: Push-button

Why We Chose It

The Zebco 33 Spincast Combo comes with a 2-piece rod and a reel.

The rod is made of fiberglass which is 6’ long and comes loaded with 10lb. Monofilament fishing line.

I personally owned a Zebco 33 when I was a kid and can remember catching all kinds of fish with it. It was my go-to rod when I was 9 years old. 

The rod is sensitive enough to use live bait on the bottom and feel the bite so it’s perfect for kids who are a little older like 8-12 years old. 

The reel has a 4.1:1 gear ratio and is metal with a stainless steel cover which provides durability. It has an ambidextrous reel handle so it’s good for both righties and lefties. 

While I was walking around at the kids fishing rodeo I kept hearing a clicking noise coming from one of the kids so I investigated to see what it was. 

Well, I found the sound coming from a little boy who was catching bream. Here’s a really interesting feature with the Zebco 33. 

It has something called Bite Alert which makes a clicking noise every time the line is pulled out.  I just thought that was so cool! 

This combo is almost identical to the Zebco 33 CustomZ Combo but the CustomZ has a split handle and is about 10 dollars more than the Zebco 33 Spincast Combo. 

I find that kids struggle with a split grip and it’s better to introduce them to that when they start using baitcast reels.  

The only downside I could find with this combo was the reel. It only had one ball bearing which made the retrieve a bit rough with a slight vibration. 

If you’re looking for your kids next pole, the Zebco 33 Spincast Combo is the perfect choice. 

I highly recommend it for kids (8-12) who are looking to take the next step in the fishing journey. 

Best Kids Spinning Fishing Pole

Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Spinning Combo

Specs

• Rod Length: 5.6
• Rod Material: Graphite and fiberglass
• Type: Spinning

Why We Chose It

The Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Spinning Combo comes with a 2-piece rod and a reel.

The rod is 5’.6” long and is made of fiberglass and graphite.

This is the first rod that I chose in this guide that contains graphite, but it’s with caution that I do that. 

Typically a spinning rod isn’t a rod that you start your child out with at a young age. I bought my kids their first spinning rod when they were 12 because I felt they needed to learn how to use a spinning reel. 

I also wanted them to learn how to feel a bite and with the added graphite, the Ugly Stik Spinning Rod does just that. 

This rod is a really solid rod reflecting Ugly Stik’s dedication to creating rods that last. 

All my daughters’ rods lasted until they were ready for their adult poles when they were 16 years old. 

The reel is a Shakespere spinning reel with a gear ratio of 5.2:1. I was able to try out this reel at the kids fishing rodeo and will say that I was slightly disappointed in the retrieve. 

Let’s just say that I’ve felt smoother retrieves with other reels that I tried. It seems the one ball bearing plays a huge part in the retrieval. 

I would have liked to see at least two ball bearings in this reel. However the reel is durable and I think that’s the most important thing with kids fishing reels. 

During my testing I was able to try out the ProFISHiency Splattered Micro Spinning Combo and found that this spinning combo was very similar to the Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Spinning Combo however I gave the Ugly Stik the edge as far as rod quality. 

So if you’re looking to teach your child how to use a spinning rod and reel, the Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Spinning Combo is the set-up to go with. 

The rod alone is worth the money and the best combo for your child to take the next step in their fishing experience. 

Best Kids Fly Rod

White River Fly Shop Cricket Youth Fly Rod Combo

Specs

• Rod Length: 8’
• Rod Material: Graphite
• Type: Fly Reel 

Why We Chose It

The White River Fly Shop Cricket Youth Fly Rod Combo comes with a 4-piece rod that is

Measures 8’. It’s made of graphite which is great for lightweight action.

The reel comes already loaded with 100′ of weight-forward floating fly line. There’s also an extra 70 yards of 20lb. 

Backing that comes with the reel so your kid will be ready to hit the ground running if you buy this as a gift. 

While I never taught my daughters how to use a fly rod I was able to get my hands on this combo on a fishing trip with a friend. 

The rod collapsed and fit into a carrying case that comes with the combo so it was protected while we hiked in Tennessee. 

The combo was a mini version of White River Fly Shop’s Prestige series rods which sell for around 200 bucks. 

The rod size is perfect for kids between 7 and 12 years old because the rod is shorter than a normal fly rod. The reel is also catered to youth being that it is smaller as well. 

This truly is a great fly rod for kids to begin with. 

One thing to remember with this rod, it’s made of graphite which means you really need to teach your kid not to bang it on anything because it will break with unevenly applied pressure to it. 

The silver lining to the blank being graphite is that it is lightweight and sensitive so this rod will teach them the benefits of being able to feel the cast and hopefully the bite on the end. 

In the end, the White River Fly Shop Cricket Youth Fly Rod is hands down the best fly rod to introduce to kids in my opinion because of the quality material and the entire rod and reel combo being sized down to specifically be used by youth.  

What to Look for When Choosing Kids Fishing Pole

Throughout my review, I have gone through key factors that I look for when choosing a kids fishing pole. Here is a quick guide to help you select the best fishing pole for your youngster. 

Rod Material 

Durability is the most important quality that a rod should have when it comes to kids fishing poles. 

You should be looking for a rod that is made with a fiberglass blank because this will allow the rod to be dropped and banged against other objects without breaking. 

Graphite rods are more susceptible to breaking when coming into contact with other objects. 

While graphite is sensitive, it’s really not necessary with kids who are just learning the fundamentals so you should always look for a fiberglass rod when choosing a kids fishing pole.

Size

When picking a rod and reel for your child, it’s important to keep an eye out for the size of the rod. Anything under 5’ is best for kids under 12. 

Kids struggle with rod control because they just aren’t familiar with how a fishing pole works when they are introduced to it. 

A shorter rod allows them more command of the line, the lure, and hopefully, the fish!

Reel

While push-button reels are virtually non-existent in the adult fishing world, they are wildly popular among kids. 

The reason being is for their simplicity. Push-button reels also have one mechanism to cast: one button! 

Another benefit to having a push-button reel is the fishing line is covered by the reel cover preventing any outside involvement from curious hands!  

Final Thoughts

While some people might not give much thought to choosing a kids fishing pole for their child, I believe it’s very important. 

A child’s first fishing trip and trips after need to be as smooth and hassle free as possible. The kid should be able to focus on catching fish and enjoying their time out on the water. 

Selecting the perfect rod and reel can make the difference between your kids embracing this great hobby or pushing it away. 

So let’s review our top pick!

For the category of Best Kids Fishing Pole Overall, I choose the Ugly Stik GX2 Spincast Combo.

The rod excelled in all the categories that define a great youth fishing pole including durability, size, and quality reel. 

While the Ugly Stik GX2 won overall, you really can’t go wrong with all the rods mentioned in this best kids fishing pole guide I’ve put together. 

Give them a try and tell us what you think! We’d love to hear from you!