The Best Fishing Rods for Kids
By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026
A rod too long to hold and a toy reel that jams will turn a child’s first trip into twenty minutes of tangles. The best kids fishing rod is short and light enough for the child to hold all session, paired with a simple reel (or no reel at all for the youngest), and set up for small fish in the margins.
The picks below are chosen by age and job, not by brand. This page recommends rod types and specs rather than named products, and prices change, so check current prices with the retailer before you buy. Some links on this page may be affiliate links.
| Age | What to buy | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7 | Whip, no reel | About 2m to 3m |
| 7 to 12 | Rod and reel combo | 6ft to 8ft (1.8m to 2.4m) |
| 11 to 16 | Short float rod | 10ft to 11ft (3m to 3.3m) |
| About 9 and up, perch and lures | Light spinning rod | 6ft to 7ft (1.8m to 2.1m) |
Licence questions are answered in the FAQ at the end (in England and Wales, under-13s need none, according to GOV.UK). For adult kit, see our fishing tackle buyer’s guides.
1. Best Kids Fishing Set for Ages 7 to 12: A 6ft to 8ft Rod and Reel Combo
Buy a combo with line already on the reel and you can be fishing within minutes of reaching the water. For most children aged 7 to 12, a pre-matched rod and reel is the best first buy, because it removes the setup mistakes that cause most tangles.
Length is the key choice. A 6ft to 8ft (1.8m to 2.4m) rod swings a float out a couple of rod lengths, and a child can hold it without resting it on their knee.
What to look for in a kids fishing set:
- Rod: 6ft to 8ft, two-piece or telescopic
- Action: light, with a soft tip that shows bites and cushions small fish
- Reel: pre-spooled with about 3lb to 4lb mono
- Handle: cork or EVA, short enough for a small hand
- Bonus: a few floats, split shot and barbless hooks in the box
Avoid plastic character rods sold as toys. The blanks are stiff, the guides crack and the reels jam. A proper fishing rod for kids is a scaled-down version of the real thing.
Fish it under a float close in on a commercial or club pond, and expect roach, rudd, perch and small skimmers. Our guide to fishing floats covers the basics. Buying for a teenager or adult instead? Compare full-size fishing starter kits.
Best for: a child who wants their own proper rod. Skip if: they are under about 7, because the whip in section 2 is easier.
2. Best First Rod for Under-7s: A Short Whip With No Reel
The rod that catches the most fish for a five-year-old has no reel on it. It is a whip: a light telescopic pole with the line tied straight to the tip.
There is no casting and no bail arm to forget. The child swings the float out, watches it, and lifts when it dips.
A typical whip set-up:
- Length: about 2m to 3m (shorter is lighter and easier to control)
- Line: roughly the length of the whip, 2lb to 3lb mono
- Float: a small pole float
- Hook: a size 18 or 16 barbless, baited with a single maggot
- Weight: a few small shot to cock the float
Small roach, rudd and perch feed in the margins, right where a whip reaches. The child sees every bite, nothing can jam, and swinging a fish to hand is instant reward. For matching hook to bait, see our fishing hook sizes chart.
The limit is that a whip cannot play anything big, because there is no reel to give line. On waters that hold carp, pick a quiet margin away from them and keep an adult close with a landing net. Our guide to planning a first fishing session with kids covers where to set up and how long to stay.
The verdict: a whip is the cheapest and most successful first set-up for the youngest children.
3. Best Junior Fishing Rod for 11 to 16: A Short Float Rod
A 7ft rod cannot mend line or control a float at 10m. Once a child is catching on a short combo and wants to fish further out, that is the point where it starts to hold them back.
A 10ft to 11ft float rod is the step between a kids’ set and an adult rod. A typical junior fishing rod set-up:
- Rod: 10ft to 11ft (3m to 3.3m), light float action, rated roughly for 2lb to 6lb line
- Reel: size 2500 fixed-spool
- Line: 3lb to 4lb mono
- Hooks: barbless size 16 to 18 for maggot and caster
Beginner float rods for adults are usually recommended at around 12ft. That extra foot or two adds weight in the hand and changes the balance, which a smaller angler feels over a whole session. Float fishing is one of my staple methods, and I’ve found a lighter rod far easier to fish with all day.
Once the child is close to adult height, skip the junior stage and buy a full-size rod that will last. Our pick of the best beginner fishing rods covers that next step.
Children aged 13 to 16 who fish in England and Wales need a junior rod licence, and it is free. See our fishing licence guide for how to get one.
Quick comparison: section 1 suits a beginner; this suits a child who is already catching and wants to fish properly.
4. Best Telescopic Kids Fishing Rod for Holidays and Travel
A rod that collapses to rucksack size goes in the boot with the buckets and spades. For families who fish on holiday rather than every weekend, that decides whether the rod gets used at all.
A typical travel set-up:
- Extended length: 5ft to 7ft (1.5m to 2.1m)
- Collapsed length: short enough to fit in a rucksack
- Casting weight: light, for floats and small weights
- Reel: a matched small fixed-spool or closed-face reel
- Storage: a small travel case to protect the tip
The trade-off is durability. Telescopic sections can stick when sand or grit gets in, and the guides are more fragile than on a two-piece rod. Rinse the rod in fresh water after any use near the sea, and extend the sections gently rather than twisting them.
Use it on lakes, rivers and harbours for small fish. It is not a beach casting rod and will not throw heavy leads into surf.
Holiday park lakes and other venues may need a day ticket or permission, even for children. Check with the fishery before you travel.
Direct recommendation: if you fish a few times a year on trips, start here rather than with section 1.
5. Best Kids Rod for Perch and Lure Fishing: A Light Spinning Rod
Perch will often attack a lure that looks far too big for them, so a child can catch one on a small spinner in their first session. Lure fishing also suits children who get bored watching a float.
For restless children, this is the best kids fishing rod of the lot. A typical set-up:
- Rod: 6ft to 7ft (1.8m to 2.1m) light spinning rod, casting weight roughly 2g to 10g
- Reel: size 1000 to 2000 fixed-spool
- Line: 4lb to 6lb mono (braid is less forgiving for beginners)
- Lures: small spinners and soft lures on single barbless or de-barbed hooks
I fish lures for perch on Windermere, and in my experience they hold tight to structure such as jetties, moored boats and drop-offs. Cast a small lure close to that cover rather than into open water. Our pick of the best perch lures lists the patterns worth starting with, and our spinning rods guide covers adult rods for later.
A swinging lure is the most likely way someone gets hooked, so glasses go on, barbs get flattened, and an adult checks behind before every cast. On pike waters a pike can take a small lure, so keep a landing net and long-nosed pliers or forceps ready.
Best for: restless kids aged about 9 and up. Skip if: they are under 7, because casting a lure safely needs some coordination.
6. Best Kids Rod for the Seaside: Pier and Harbour Fishing
A freshwater combo dunked in salt water and left in the car can be stiff and gritty by the next morning. Harbour walls and piers are easy places for children to catch, but they need a rod that copes with salt and small sea leads.
A typical seaside set-up:
- Rod: 7ft to 9ft (2.1m to 2.7m) light spinning or travel rod, with a casting weight that handles small sea leads and float rigs
- Reel: size 2500 to 4000
- Line: 8lb to 12lb mono
- Aftercare: rinse rod and reel in fresh water after every session
From harbour walls, children can catch small wrasse and pollack, and mackerel in summer. Our guide to the best sea fishing rods covers heavier options for adults.
Harbour edges, wet steps and tides all catch people out, so an adult stays between the child and the edge, and everyone follows the local signs. Some piers and harbours charge for fishing or restrict it, so check with the operator before you go.
The verdict: for one coastal trip a year, a travel rod that handles small sea leads covers both jobs. Buy a dedicated sea rod only if the family fishes the coast regularly.
7. Best Reel for a Kids Rod: Closed-Face or Small Fixed-Spool
A good rod will not save a session if the reel keeps tangling. Bail arms flick shut mid-cast, loops of line spill off the spool, and the child ends up waiting for an adult to sort out a bird’s nest.
| Reel type | How it casts | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed-face | Push button, line under a cover | Younger children, fewer tangles | Casts shorter and can twist line |
| Small fixed-spool (size 1000 to 2500) | Open the bail arm, trap line with a finger | About 9 and up | Needs coordination to cast cleanly |
A fixed-spool casts further and lasts longer, so step up once the child can open the bail and trap the line without help. Our guide to the best spinning reels covers the sizes in more detail.
Three setup tips cut tangles on any reel:
- Do not overfill the spool. Stop a couple of millimetres below the lip.
- Set the drag lighter than you think, so a small fish cannot snap the line.
- Teach the child to wind only when the line is tight.
Direct recommendation: if your child is under about 9, start with a closed-face reel and move up once they can cast a fixed-spool unaided.
8. What a Kids Fishing Set Should Include: Safety and Fish Care Kit
A handful of cheap items turns a rod into a safe first set-up, and they matter more than the name on the rod.
- Barbless hooks: or flatten the barb with pliers. Many fisheries require barbless, so check the venue rules.
- Disgorger: for removing small hooks cleanly
- Small landing net: see our pick of the best landing nets
- Unhooking mat or a wet cloth: for anything bigger than a hand-sized fish. Our guide to unhooking mats covers compact options.
- Glasses: eye protection against swinging hooks and lures. Polarised fishing sunglasses also help children see into the water.
- Hat, sun cream and hand wipes
Teach fish care as part of catching. Wet your hands before touching a fish, keep it low over the mat or the water, and return it quickly.
Young children should have an adult within arm’s reach near water, and hooks belong in a box, not loose in pockets. If your kit came with barbed hooks, swap or flatten them before the first trip.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a fishing licence?
In England and Wales, children under 13 do not need a rod licence, and children aged 13 to 16 need a junior licence, which is free (GOV.UK). In Northern Ireland, the DAERA area requires a licence for each rod used by anyone over 12 and the Loughs Agency area requires one at all ages, plus a permit or day ticket (NI Direct); check junior fees with DAERA or the Loughs Agency. Scotland has different rules, so check with the fishery, club or landowner before you fish. Our fishing licence guide and fishing rules section cover the detail.
Can my fishing licence cover my child?
No. In England and Wales, a child aged 13 to 16 needs their own junior licence, which is free. An adult who also fishes needs a licence of their own: a 12-month trout and coarse licence costs £36.80 for up to 2 rods (GOV.UK, checked October 2026), so confirm the current price before buying. You can also buy by phone on 0344 800 5386, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. A licence does not replace a day ticket or club card.
What size fishing rod does a child need?
Match the rod to the child's age: a whip of about 2m to 3m for under-7s, a 6ft to 8ft (1.8m to 2.4m) rod and reel combo for ages 7 to 12, and a 10ft to 11ft float rod for ages 11 to 16. A simple test: if the child cannot hold the rod level for a minute, it is too long or too heavy.
What age can a child start fishing?
In England and Wales a rod licence is only needed from 13, so younger children can fish without one. In practice, a whip with an adult beside them suits the youngest children, so start whenever they can sit and watch a float. Individual fisheries can set their own junior rules, such as requiring an adult to be present, so check with the fishery before you go.
Where can kids try fishing before buying a rod?
Try a local angling club with a junior section, ask at your nearest tackle shop, or look for coaching and taster sessions. The Angling Trust and Canal & River Trust websites are worth checking for beginner and family events near you. Our start here guide explains the basics, and our guide to fishing with kids covers planning that first session.