kids first baitcaster

My neighbor bought his 12 year old son a small Abu Garcia Pro Max. He wants to move up from gills to bass. He brought it to me to help him set it up. I have used braid exclusively for years on my bait casters. I’ve never had, or helped a kid get on using a bait caster. Would mono or fluorocarbon be easier to avoid back lashes. Seemed like I used Trilene XT some years ago. I have 10 20# Power Pro,6 10# Trilene XL, and 4 6 10 and 20# floro. Or would be happy to buy whatever’s best. Kids going to get a tackle box many adults would be happy with. Friend of mine died 2 years ago. He left me most all of his fishing stuff. His insurance company just replaced everything he had 2 years before. He hardly got to use any of it. My brothers grandson got equipped last year. Thanks for any help!

I would go with Trilene XL in something from 10 lb to 16 lb.

I have a few of those reels. P-Line CXX in 8 or 10 pound will work great.

-J.

Any quality mono in 10-12# would be a good start

I had 2 Curado bait casters spooled with 10lb mono that I rarely used because of the backlashes and birds nests. I practiced casting off our deck but never got comfortable with them. When my son started fishing more with his friends he spooled them with 20lb Power Pro. I found it much easier to cast with the braided line and they became my go to rods for anything but jigging or pan fish.

I have quite a bit of 10# mono. Maybe let him try that to get the feel. Once he gets his timing and touch down. Maybe then let him try some braid. I remember my first efforts resulted in a few scissors projects. Thanks for the replies!

My ten yr old fishes with all of mine, 90 percent of them are lined with braid. Only 2 are not braid. 1 has 17lbs mono and one has 12 lbs fluro

Mono, he can switch to braid when he figures it out.

I’d probably go with the 20# braid for learning, 2nd choice would be the 10# XL

Quick tip cast out strip off about 5 arms full put electrical tape on the line wind back up you get a backlash does not go too deep and saves line used it myself and for the wife when we both were learning helped a lot.

I’d invest in a little higher quality reel, my 9 year old son wanted one last year. I bought a budget rod with a Diawa tatula reel. I don’t think he’s backlashed more than a couple times, plus I have another combo!

Look in to a six gill Hymar brand new technology they patent. You can whip it with out thumbing. No backlash. Watch their video. And has amazing cs.

I second the tatula. The cheapest one is $129.99, so not the cheapest option, but anything with Daiwa’s T-Wing system is a pleasure to use. Rod I feel is less important, probably want to start with a 6’6 -7 ft medium – medium heavy. Don’t have to spend more than 60 on the rod.

As for line I’d go 12lb mono or 20lb braid.