My grandkids love to fish, but their barbie and snoopy rods are not enough on my farm lakes. They can catch anything from small perch to 2-3 lb bass.

I am looking at getting a couple of sets of rod/reels:
Thinkg about following
1. Zebco 33 combo
2. Youth size spinning reel/rod combo

I'll be moving the 4 year old to a baitcast setup probably next year when she is 5. But I do have 2 grandkids that are under 3 years old and think they are not going to be ready to try a baitcast setup for a couple of years.

Looking for some feedback from a a parent or grandparent that's had experience with this situation. Thanks in advance!

In the last year I have been through 3 different rigs for my 31/2 year old. Toy story rod and reel. Pfluer spin cast reel, zebeco children's combo. Rods were all great, reels were terrible and rarely lasted through one outing. I finally took a quantum burner bait casting reel (very light) with some 15 lbs big game (hard to backlash) and put it on a 4 ft zebco rod and it's perfect. I put him in the back of the boat with his life jacket and he throws a fluke. This is our Sunday afternoon routine on Lake Austin and he picks up a fish every once in awhile, and we have a blast.

I don't have kids, but you could try teaching them how to throw a spin combo. They have good $19.99 ones at Wally World

They were asking if you have EXPERIENCE, not the obvious really world special

I think I'll try the light baitcaster for the older granddaughter, that seems to be a good suggestion.

But I don't think my other 2 grandkids (under 3 years old) would be able to handle a baitcaster by themselves. They are in the mode of "I do it Granpaw", so I have to find them something they can pretty much do it themselves.

So for the younger grandkids still don't know if the Zebco combo or lite spinning combo would be best.