Hi I am not generally a moaner but I thought I had to air my views on a Starter Kit I bought for my 4 1/2 year old son. I took my son to a Local loch today with said starter kit the hooks were barbed and were the size I would normally use to catch specimens the split shot couldnt grip the line. The reel was jerky and line tangled incessantly. Now I know you only get what you pay for and I was not expecting perfect tackle. But all I could think of was if a youngster had bought this kit without the knowledge of a adaquate angler he could easily have become disallusioned with it all. I substituted hooks floats and shot with my own gear and my little'uns face when he made his first successful cast was a sight which will remain with me forever and short of actually catching anything I think he is hooked despite the kit. I was just wondering if anyone else has experience of these kits and I would like to ask if in your opinion they encourage or discourage young anglers bearing in mind the make of the kit was a reputable company of which I have a variety of gear.

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I think most of these so called starter kits are poor, even those by well known makes like Shakespeare.

I made up my own 'starter kit' for my daughter when she was 6. Reasonable telescopic rod for a fiver in a tackle shop clearance. The reel was more at a tenner, but has two spools and is quite good quality. We didn't need anything else as I have a tackle box full of all rest.

My local ASDA sells those Shacky starter kits and to be honest they would put kids off fishing forever.
Why do they bother making the rubbish?

Kingfisher.......I don't know how they've got the cheek to market their c**p, :mad: available from Argos.
You can buy a kit comprising;
6ft telescopic glass rod,
cheap naff reel loaded with line capable of towing the QE2,
Assortment of loose hooks plus hooks to nylon.
Barbaric looking spinner (no trace)
cheap nasty floats that break far too easily.
Very small selection of shot
Scissors.
No disgorger.

Personally I think they should be banned. They must be the worst thing for putting off youngsters. :mad: Well meaning, non fishing parents buy these kits for their kids. Is it any wonder the kids get fed up.
My advice to anyone when asked is to go to a tackle shop with an angler, you can set a youngster up with reasonable tackle for a small amount these days.

I have also found these "light weight" starter kits poor and they will put a kid off in general. My son started with one and it cast fine but as you say hooks and floats etc not right for job. When he was 6 he had a brace of 2lb plus perch with it. I also bought my son a Kingfisher Carp kit from Agos it is brill (for money), when 10 he caught his first 15lb plus carp with it and his first double pike. The year before he bagged two salmon in two days with it. The reel (for the money) is a gem. I am not an inverted snob in case you think so. I my carp and fly gear is absolutely top draw...but thats for pleasure of ownership, as fish do not care what brand you are using. Kit obviously must work though if kid is going to catch.

The most important part of any young angler's 'starter kit' is an experienced adult angler to accompany them. I think that, on the whole, this does tend to happen at freshwater venues but not at the seaside. How many parents who have no interest in angling would buy a child a fishing starter kit? How many parents would allow that child, unaccompanied, out fishing? What is surprising is how many angling parents still buy useless gear for their kids. When my daughter, aged eight, wanted to have a go at fishing, I loaned her one of my older 13ft match rods and a closed-face match reel, which was easy for her to operate. The length of the rod allowed her to fish 'pole-style' for most of the time, casting by just swinging the float out. She's now nearly as keen as I am. If an eight year old girl can get the hang of that style of fishing, then surely that is a better start than using toy equipment?

Now come on everyone!!!! we all know why they sell such rubbish, they have heard that angling is on the up, so they think they will jump on the band wagon for two reasons, money and greed.
It's the old adage, it's cheap, it'll keep junior quiet for a while, who cares if it works or is safe for the fish or junior, until something happens.
Personally I'm very weary of any sort of kit type stuff, unless I know it's quality, if it's too cheap. you get what you pay for.

Ron Thompson rod with Okuma reel, should get one for about £45,

Hooks,99p a packet

Wagglers, £1 to £1.50

Leave the stater kits and get a decent one mate, if your son does not take to it, you can use the gear,

Quite right, it would also have some re-sale value too.

I've had some right rows with one of our local tackle dealers about this topic. Despite the fact that he sells decent tackle and can kit anyone serious about fishing properly, he still insists on stocking this absolute crap and selling it knowing full well that it will do them no favours at all. :mad: :mad: :mad: