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[grasscutter]

My son is 10, and he wants to move away from the spincast reel. He has caught whiting, trout, skipjack, sand trout, stingray (and something that spooled him and broke off) with that little zebco, but he told me yesterday he wants to start using a levelwind. I started on a spinning reel (mitchell 300 I think) and then went to a levelwind (daiwa millionaire) when I was around 14. I talked to him about practicing and maintaining a positive attitude. My question is what to get him. I use a left hand retrieve, and would like to start him that way, but it may be better to pick up one of the H2O at Academy (ie cheap) and he can get the feel for it. He is right handed. Any suggestions on how to start him out and what reel you would suggest is appreciated. One option is to buy me a new reel and give him one of mine, but that just doesn't seem right

[Bryhn]

I wouldn't invest too much, but I would get a low profile with 40 lb braid. Back lashes seem to be a little easier to get out with braid... but if you get too small of a diameter 30 or less, the line can dig in a little and make it more prone to back lashes.

I have a 10 and 12 yo and they both are using now and both doing well. He will need patience more than anything. Make sure he understands the spool tension and keep it on the tight side for learning, and no casting in the wind.

[BayFly]

I suggest you let him have or use one or yours, then if he likes it and uses it well, then consider a new rig for a special occasion gift, like Christmas, etc.
My Dad was right handed and would cast with his right hand, switch the rig to his left hand, and reel with his right hand. He always had me use a spinning rig with left hand retrieve, so in my going to level wind later in life it was a natural to reel with my left, and especially to avoid what my Dad did!
Great to learn of your encouragement for your son's fishing enjoyment.

[grasscutter]

Thanks for the suggestions gentlemen. I picked up a couple of left-hand retrieve Abu Black Max's at Academy for 39.99 ea. (Wife wants to join the fun) and purchased 30lb. braid to go on them. Not saltwater material but neither were the spincast reels, and we were able to keep them going for 2 years plus. Ha, either I take care of them well, or I don't go fishing enough. Probably more of the latter. But the 33 and the Deep Muddy (wife's reel) have done the surf thing, and that's about as hard as you can get on a reel IMHO. First thing they noticed with the new rigs...how light everything was

[Tyler]

Be sure to get a practice casting plug and let him fling it in the yard with the hardest brake setting until he learns the thumb technique. That's how I learned and it wasn't bad at all.
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[TroutSupport]

def get him a practice plug. I still remember making cast in the street with that practice weight.

There are some lower end lews that are good options. The Speed Spool LFS is $100 and it's got the same cast control that the higher end reels have which uses both centrifugal and centripetal force to brake... I found it to be infinitely more adjustable and get better distance compared to old centrifugal brakes where you have to open the reel set a brake etc etc.

[grasscutter]

We went over to the fair grounds and tried some practice casts. Both wife and son did well. I cranked down on the spool tension and went max on the magnets. Still managed a couple of professional overspins, but all in all quite OK. Son just came in from outside practicing in the back yard. I think we are a go. We are on the water Thursday. I will probably give them something with some weight to it for them to cast. That seems to help. Maybe a mauler hanging gulp for my son and a spook jr for the wife.