Hi, First time on the spinning page for me. I was curious about entry level glass rods for my daughter. ...to fish not collect. I was thinking about Garcias since that's what we used when I was young. She's twelve and will join me sometimes when I go out and she started inquiring about getting her own rod. I want to strike when the iron's hot. Thanks for your responses. Steve

I appreciate that recommendation. I realize I didn't even consider what would be a good length and especially weight. I'll look at the weight of the the rod I've been letting her borrow and see how it matches up with any Garcias I can find. We'll be using it to throw lures for smallmouths.

C.B.Thanks for that. I apologize for being a little lazy with my initial post but yes, I have a Garcia Mitchell 301 that I'd like to use with the rod. However, I will look at the 80XD.

When I go out now, I've been using an older 6' 6" rod - looks like a Fenwick or Garcia with the wraps above the handle (but it's made in Taiwan I think?). Works great for bass, shad, sunfish and I'm using it with another old Mitchell reel. They were my dad's and my mother wanted me to take them after he passed so I'm glad I'm able to put them to use. The Mitchells are the only spinning reels we ever had or used. Some of the guys I bump into fishing now give me a good-natured hard time about using antiques.

...and from last spring. One of the regulars had a boga grip at the ready for her.
Now if I could only find those boots in my size.

In order to make a recommendation, kind of need to know age and type of fishing.
For small creeks, bait and bobbers (even pier fishing for nursery seatrout), started my girls with Eagle Claw Featherlight and Zebco UL-1 and 11 spincasters. My girls were catching fish on these at 3- and 4-y-o.

For the small creek fishing, my older daughter made a 4-1/2' airex rod with prewar half-bail luxor into hers.

Also famous among the girls was Penn 4200SS U/L with a Falcon UL graphite rod, and swapped rods to a 6'6" Falcon graphite for serious inshore.

...alright, help please. I forgot how to make these thumbnails larger than this. Ok Here we go.




and a shad from last spring