Kids need consistent action when they are fly fishing.
Unlike older anglers who are happy to wait all day to catch a single fish, kids fly fishing need regular bites and catches to keep them entertained and interested.
Here is a quick look at our top three kid’s fly rods from the lineup…
When thinking about children and the sport of fly fishing the first thing you need to do is find the right kids fly fishing rod.
Having the right setup for young anglers will make a huge difference to their overall experience.
Instead of getting tired or frustrated, they’ll love their time fly fishing.
The Best From The Review
Top Pick
Echo Base Fly Rod
Designed to give beginners great performance with minimal investment, so they could try and love fly fishing without breaking the bank.
Echo Base Fly Rod
The top choice from the review is the Echo Base.
The Base is light, short, durable, and is an ideal rod for kids to start off with due to its forgiving nature.
Plus it’s the most affordable rod in the review, includes a lifetime warranty and when paired with the right reel and line, performs excellently.
Best Value
Redington Minnow Fly Rod And Reel Combo
Tailored towards children with its bright color scheme, shorter length, and reduced weight, so it’s an ideal choice for the kids.
Redington Minnow Fly Rod And Reel Combo
The best fly rod for value has to be the Redington kids fly rod and reel combo.
For a small price, you get a quality rod, reel, line, and leader line all wrapped in a protective case and that’s hard to beat.
Each component of the combo is pretty solid and the rod is particularly great for children. It’s been made lighter and shorter for them to handle plus it’s easy to cast.
Editor’s Choice
TFO Lefty Kreh Professional Series II
Made for anglers of all levels and is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a kids fly rod that your child will grow into.
TFO Lefty Kreh Professional Series II
If it was me, I’d choose the TFO Lefty Krek Pro Series II.
It’s the one rod a child can pick up and use for the rest of their lives, and maybe they can pass it on to their children to learn with later in life.
Our Top Kids Fly Rods
Redington Butter Stick
A great fly rod in terms of durability and casting correction. Helpful for beginner anglers to learn what right casting feels like.
Redington Butter Stick
The Redington Butter Stick is a great fly fishing gear in terms of durability and casting correction.
It’s the only fishing rod in the review that is made from fiberglass instead of graphite.
Durability
The fiberglass blank makes this rod close to unbreakable.
It’ll almost bend in two before any cracking happens, which means no matter what a learner does with it, it should survive.
Since the fiberglass is so bendy, it gives the rod a slow action.
This means a beginner will be able to feel absolutely everything while they’re casting so they can learn exactly what the right casting should feel like.
Model
The model below is a 7ft 3 weight. Again, it’s short and light for kids to handle with ease.
Fighting a fish with this rod will be a lot of fun for kids as they’re so bendy and you’ll feel every head shake the fish makes.
The only downsides are that the rod is a little expensive and as it comes in 3 pieces, the rod sock and tube are a little long to throw in a backpack.
Specs
- Model: 370-3
- Weight: 3 wt
- Length: 7ft
- Line: 3/4 wt
- Action: Slow
- Pieces: 3
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- Almost unbreakable
- Light and easy to set up
- Slow action for a lot of feeling on the cast
- Great for learning fly casting with
- Good castability and accuracy
- Fun to fight small fish with
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Rod case is a little long for portability
- Expensive
Orvis Clearwater
A high performing quality rod that doesn’t break the bank and they make it small and light enough for children too.
Orvis Clearwater
The Orvis Clearwater rod was made to provide an answer to affordable fly fishing.
The Orvis fly rod is a high performing quality kids fly fishing rod that doesn’t break the bank and they make it small and light enough for children too.
Price
It is a little expensive for a children’s rod but only if they’re still unsure if they like fly fishing or not.
If they like it, it’s a great rod for them to start off with and grow into. It’s light, short, durable, and easy casting. It comes with a 25-year guarantee if anything happens to it too.
Build
Made from a quality graphite blank that gives a nice feeling for a learner to cast with, the blank is fitted with durable guides and a good reel seat that ensure your reel stays in place.
The model below is a 7’6” 3 weight, which is the ideal weight and length for any kid to get started with and grow into.
Specs
- Model: Clearwater 763-4
- Weight: 3 wt
- Length: 7’6”
- Line: 3/4 wt
- Action: Medium
- Pieces: 4
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- Light
- Durable enough to handle some mistreatment
- Nice feeling for learning
- Made from a high grade graphite blank
- The shorter rod makes it easy to handle
- Easy to put together
- 25-year guarantee
- Good for skills progression
Cons
- Pricey for an unsure youngster
Editor’s Choice
TFO Lefty Kreh Professional Series II
Made for anglers of all levels and is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a rod that your child will grow into.
TFO Lefty Kreh Professional Series II
While the TFO Lefty Kreh Pro Series II may sound like a fly fishing rod experts would use, it’s actually made for anglers of all levels and is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a fly-rod that your child will grow into – saving you an upgrade later on.
Casting
It’s a lovely rod to fly fish with.
The rod is forgiving to cast with and you get some great feel throughout the rod while casting that helps learners get the gist of it quite quickly.
Build
It’s made from a high-grade graphite blank that is tough, durable, and will stand up to some wear and tear.
The rod is fitted out with chrome guides and an anodized reel seat, both of which are corrosion resistant and will last a while, even in saltwater.
The reel seat can come loose, but not many anglers experience this.
Just check it now and then while you’re fly fishing so your reel stays put and you should be fine.
Model
The model chosen below is a 7’6” 3 weight.
It’s light and shorter in length making it much easier for kids to cast with than if they were using a 9 ft 5 weight for example.
It’s easy to set up thanks to the alignment dots, so no hassles there.
Price
In terms of price, this rod is affordable for what you’re getting.
You may want to ensure your child is into fly fishing before buying it, as it’s not the cheapest rod out there.
The great thing is that if your child doesn’t enjoy it, this is an ideal rod for you to use on small creeks and lakes.
Specs
- Model: TFO 03 76 4 P2
- Weight: 3
- Length: 7’6”
- Line: 3/4 wt
- Action: Medium
- Pieces: 4
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- Lightweight for kids to cast with
- Forgiving action for learning how to cast
- Tough and durable
- The shorter rod length is ideal for kids
- Made from a quality graphite blank
- Includes warranty for a lifetime
- Affordable
- Easy to set-up
- Excellent for skills progression
Cons
- The reel seat can loosen
Best Value
Redington Minnow Fly Rod And Reel Combo
Tailored towards children with its bright color scheme, shorter length, and reduced weight, so it’s an ideal choice for kids.
Redington Minnow Fly Rod And Reel Combo
This is the one and only rod reel package in the review and it’s quite a good one to fly fish with.
It’s been tailored towards children with its bright color scheme, shorter length, and reduced weight, so it’s an ideal choice for kids to get started fly fishing.
Inclusions
The combo includes a fly fish rod, a Rio Mainstream fly line, backing, fly reel and a cordura rod case that all comes in a proactive rod sock and tube.
You can literally start fly fishing as soon as this gets delivered, all you have to do is set-up and tie a fly on a line from a local fly shop.
Build
You get an 8 foot 5 weight Minnow rod that’s made from a quality graphite blank. The fly fishing rod is lighter than your normal 5 weight and shorter at 8 feet (they’re usually 9 feet) making it much easier for kids to handle.
It’s also forgiving and easy to cast, making the learning process more fun.
Reel
The reel is a Redington Crosswater reel. It’s not the best fly rod reel in the world but it’s not a bad reel either.
The good things include ;the Crosswater reel is a light reel so it doesn’t weigh the rod down for the little ones, and it comes as a large arbor reel for a quicker retrieve rate and less line memory.
Line
The line included is a Rio Mainstream Fly Line, which is a great line considering that it just comes with the combo.
Rio makes a great fly line and you shouldn’t have to replace this fly line for a year or two.
It’s a weight forward line too that’ll help push the momentum of the cast.
Overall this is a great kids fly fishing starter kit for any young anglers, its great value considering and it comes with a 1-year warranty.
Specs
- Model: 580-4
- Weight: 5 wt
- Length: 8ft
- Line: 5/6 wt
- Action: Medium fast
- Pieces: 4
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- Fun looking
- Shorter and lighters for kids
- Includes a Redington Crosswater fly reel
- Comes with backing, fly line, and leader
- Start fishing as soon as it arrives
- Easy to cast with
- Includes a 1-year warranty
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not as well-performing as non-kids rods
- Alignment dots aren’t always straight
Top Pick
Echo Base Fly Rod
Designed to give beginners great performance with minimal investment, so they could try and love fly fishing without breaking the bank.
Echo Base Fly Rod
The Echo Base fly fish rod is one of the most affordable, high performing rods on the fly fishing market. It’s also one of the best 7 weight fly rods around.
It was first designed to give beginners great performance with minimal investment, so they could try and love fly fishing without breaking the bank.
Build
It’s made from a quality graphite blank and comes with your standard chrome snake guides and anodized reel seat.
It’s durable and will handle most of anything a learner can throw at it, like pulling flies out of trees or getting tangled in a snag.
Beginner Friendly
Designed for fly fishing beginners, it has a medium-fast action that makes casting easy and effective but forgiving – A kid friendly rod that allows young anglers to learn and feel like they are making progress quickly.
Model
The model chosen below is a 7’6” 3 weight, an ideal size (like the others) for a child to start their fly fishing career with.
It’s light and short for tireless and easy casting so that they enjoy their time fly fishing instead of getting frustrated with it.
Specs
- Model: Base 376-4
- Weight: 3 wt
- Length: 7’6”
- Line: 3/4 wt
- Action: Medium-fast
- Pieces: 4
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- High performance for beginners
- Durable handle, reel seat, and chrome snake guides
- Forgiving and fun to cast with
- Light and short for kids to handle
- Made from a quality graphite blank
- Very affordable
- Warranty for a lifetime
Cons
- None I can find
Redington VICE
Made for casting progression and is one of the top rods Redington makes. An ideal fly fishing rod for kids to hone their skills with.
Redington VICE
The Redington Vice was made for casting progression and is one of the top fly fishing rods Redington makes.
Build
The rod for fly fishing is made with a quality graphite blank that is both durable and nicely put together, and includes a corrosion-resistant reel seat and guides that will last.
It’s forgiving and easy to cast with but as you get better and better, the Vice takes you further instead of slowing you down making it an ideal rod for a kid to progress with.
No need for a quick upgrade, it’s very affordable and comes with warranty for a lifetime.
Model
The model below is a 7’6” 3 weight that is the ideal length and weight for kids to learn with. And as their skills get honed in, the Vice will only push them further.
The only downside to this rod for fly fishing is that it’s a little heavier than others, but not by much.
Specs
- Model: Vice 376-4
- Weight: 3 wt
- Length: 7’6”
- Line: 3/4 wt
- Action: Fast
- Pieces: 4
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- Made from a quality graphite blank
- Lifetime warranty
- Forgiving beginners to cast with
- Easy to put together
- Durable and well made
- Short and light for kids to fish with
- Great price
- Ideal for skills progression
Cons
- Heavier than other rods
Redington Classic Trout
A light and short rod that is ideal for kids. Made from a high-modulus graphite blank that allows beginners to feel the rod line as it moves.
Redington Classic Trout
The Redington Trout Classic is made for fly fishing on small spring creeks where delicacy and accuracy are important like on the crystal clear technical streams of Yellow Stone.
This makes the fly fishing rod light and short and therefore ideal for kids to get started fly fishing.
Build
The rod for fly fishing is made from a high-modulus graphite blank with a medium action that gives a great feel and casts forgivingly.
This allows beginners to feel the rod line as it moves and lets them make a few mistakes while sending out 30 ft of the line so they can still fish.
It also has alignment dots which help young ones line up these fly fishing rods easier.
Casting
It’s also full of performance, so as a child gets better they’ll see their casts shooting out with great accuracy.
The model below is light and short enough for a child to get started with, but it might be a little heavy for young ones under seven years old to cast with over longer periods than an hour or so.
Specs
- Model: CT376-4
- Weight: 3 wt
- Length: 7’6”
- Line: 3/4 wt
- Action: Medium
- Pieces: 4
- Tube: Yes
Pros
- Alignment dots for easy rod setup
- Light and short for kids to cast with
- Warranty for a lifetime
- Great for beginners to cast with
- Good for progression
- Affordable
Cons
- Heavy for a younger child
What’s a Kids Fly Rod?
A kids fly fishing rod is a normal fly rod that a child can easily use and have fun without much frustration.
Kids under 12 years old are still developing their motor skills and muscular strength and therefore need a fly rod that is in sync with their development.
If they’re into reading there are plenty of fly fishing literature to dive into but I find reading a few chapters together helps them get into the spirit.
This all comes down to the rod’s length, weight, and castability.
Is There Such A Thing As A Fly Rod For Kids?
Yes – some manufacturers make rods that are specifically for fly fishing for kids.
These fly fishing rods tend to be a little lighter, shorter, and come in cool colors.
A kids fly fishing rod is not that different from a normal shorter, lighter fly fishing rods used by adults.
Is Fly Fishing Safe For Kids?
Some parents may find the idea of their child whipping around a rod and reel with a razor-sharp hook attached to the end, a little unsafe, and if you’re thinking that, you’re not wrong.
I have hooked myself countless times when I was young and learning how to use fly fishing rods.
But I didn’t mind, the pleasure fishing brought me far outweighed the painful hook removal.
There are some safety measures you should take when teaching your kids how to fly fish to ensure that your kids are safe when fly fishing.
Safety Measures
The first is to make sure they wear sunglasses and proper outfit. Having the best fishing umbrella is an option too.
This will protect kids from harmful UV rays, help them spot fish easier, and prevent flyaway hooks from going near their eyes.
Another thing to do is to de-barb the hooks so if they do end up hooking themselves, there is no barb to manage, and you can pull the hook out with ease.
Always Keep an Eye on Them
Safety around the water is also a concern and kids should always be supervised when fishing on any body of water whether it’s a shallow river or a calm lake.
If you can follow these two simple safety measures, your kids will be safe while they learn to cast with a fly fishing rod and reel.
What Makes A Good Kids Fly Fishing Rod?
The most important thing for young anglers, whether it’s their first time or their hundredth time fly fishing, is that they enjoy their time on the water – The rod plays a big part in this.
Size
It’s important to get the right rod length and weight for the fly rod.
It should match the size of your child, and this naturally depends on how old they are and how tall they are. A 7 weight fly rod, for example, might be too big but if you’re adamant about it, check this review.
The fly rod length shouldn’t be too long or heavy for your kid as it’ll be hard for them to use and could leave them tired or frustrated.
If you take frequent fishing trips with kids, backpacking fly rods might make going to fishing spots easier.
Casting
The next thing to get right is picking a fly rod that is easy for beginners to cast with.
The fly rod should have a good feeling throughout it so kids can feel what’s going on while they cast.
It should also be forgiving so kids can feel the satisfaction of casting even if they get a few things wrong.
Be sure to not leave kids on their own when teaching them how to fly cast.
What To Consider When Looking For a Fly Rod for Kids?
Age
The recommended age for kids to learn the sport of fly fishing is around 7 years old.
This is when their motor skills and strength are more developed.
That being said, it all comes down to the individual child.
Early Start
Some fly anglers – myself included – were casting at the age of 3 and could fish independently by the time they were 5 or 6, while still being supervised, of course.
When picking the right fly fish rod for the right age it comes down to the height and strength of your kid.
A smaller child should use a shorter and lighter fly rod, and a taller stronger child can use a slightly longer, heavier rod.
TIP
If you really want your kids to start early at 3 years or so, you can get them casting with the top two sections of a fly rod, or by putting them on your shoulders and letting them cast with you – that’s what my dad did.
Skill Level
When it comes to finding fly fishing rods for kids, their skill level isn’t all that important, as it’s more important to match their size and strength with the rod’s length and weight. A kid friendly rod will surely help kids hone their skills.
Whether it’s a child’s first fly fishing experience or their second year in, they should use the same rod as their skills won’t quite warrant a performance grade rod for a while.
Here’s a cool video of a 3 yr old catching fish at a beach.
Price
The price of fly fishing rods varies, so does the quality and warranties that go with them.
When shopping for fly rods for kids, you don’t want to be spending too much and buy an expensive rod as they might not enjoy fly fishing.
At the same time, you don’t want to pick a rod that’ll underperform or break easily.
Ideal Price Range
In my opinion, it’s best to stick at the lower end of the price spectrum; don’t go too low.
This will get you a quality fly fish rod that will last and provide some good performance for a child to grow into.
Rods at this price also come with a solid warranty, so if they do break, you can get them easily fixed or replaced.
You may find this review of fly rods under 200 dollars interesting if you are looking for rods that are affordable but quality.
Usability
Usability in fly rods for kids is all about the fly rods being simple to set up and easy to cast with.
One feature to keep in mind are alignment dots.
The rod should come with alignment dots so a kid can line them up straight while putting the rod together
The reel seat should be simple so they can attach a fly reel to the rod easily, and it should come with a rod sock so they can put it away neatly and safely.
Easy To Use
Once the rod, reel, and fly line are set up, the rod needs to be easy to fly fish with.
It should be forgiving to cast with, letting errors slide, and designed for beginners to learn fly casting with.
Action
The action of a fly rod describes where it’ll bend along its length. A fast action rod bends at the tip and a slow action rod bends at the butt.
Medium action is the right action for children and beginners.
This will give them a lot of feeling while casting, and be stiff enough for them to make longer, more accurate casts as their skills progress.
Weight
Fly fish rods need to be light enough for a child to handle.
Fly fish rods come in weight ratings from 1-16 – 1 is the lightest and 16 the heaviest.
A 2wt fly rod is ideal for catching small fish, but the right weight fly fish rod for a kid is around 3 or 4 wt.
You can use technique called “over-lining” which is utilizing a heavier line to teach kids how to fly cast.
A 3 or 4 weight fly rod is light and easy for a child to handle and is still strong enough to catch a big 4lb trout fish if one were to come along. Check out this review of the best 3wt fly rods if you are looking for one.
Length
Shorter fly rods around the 7ft mark are best fly rods for children as their reduced length brings the overall weight down, and reduces the chances of their fly getting tangled up in trees behind them.
Reduced length won’t affect their casting either until they’re ready to push long distances of 60 ft, where a longer fly rod would help.
Fly Rod Reel Combo
You’re going to have to find a fly reel to go with the fly rod, and some manufacturers sell a fly rod and reel combo that includes; a rod, fly reel, fly line, and sometimes even flies and a fly box.
Some of these pre-configured rod/reel kits are great but usually, the rod is pretty good and the reel and line is of low grade- the flies and fly box are even worse.
NOTE
If you do buy a combo, be prepared to have to replace the fly line and anything else that’s extra like a fly box quite soon on. The reel will likely last a few months but will also need upgrading once it breaks.
Reeling Up
I hope you have found everything you need in this article to get your kiddies fishing.
The most important thing is to keep it as fun as possible.
If you’re still struggling to decide which one is the right fly fishing gear for your little one, then here are some more pointers.
Top Pick
If you’re looking for an all-round fishing gear with enough performance for progression that’s light and short enough for a youngster to manage, then the Echo Base is the one to go for.
Best Value
If value and convenience are more what you’re after, the Redington combo is great.
You get everything your child will need to start fishing with; a rod, reel, and a line. All you have to do is tie a fly on a line.
Editor’s Choice
If it was me, I’d choose the TFO Lefty Kreh Pro II, as it will be a fly fishing gear a child can use way into their adult life without any need for an upgrade.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the article and found the best fly rod for your kids.
Please share it with your friends or anyone else who might find it useful.
Also, check out some of my other articles around the top fly fishing vest and the best kids fishing pole for some more info and advice – Share your adventures with me on social media too!
