Krayfish,
Does this youngin already trout fish or even fish? If so experience has taught me that more than likely the youngster will not only take up flyfishing but will ultimately prefer flyfishing.
A few years ago I joined the National Wild Turkey Federation { NWTF} and the organization is broken down in each sate into various chapters, I belong to the Central PA Limbhangers . This is very much similiar to Trout Unlimited. Each year our chapter holds a "Jakes" day event for local children. I have volunteered an helped at each event since the chapter was formed. For the past three years I have been donating a guided day on the water for a child an parent. This is usually a several visit thing .
For starters i use my own money and buy a quality outfit for the local Trout waters. This is usually a 7' or 7'6" 4 or 5 wt two piece rod/reel outfit. I also remove the weight foward line an put a double taper with the outfit usually backing comes with the reel..if not i buy a 50 yard spool. I then get a little San Juan Fishpond chest pack, also a C&F style box.I tie all the flies...Dry flies, usually Admas Parachutes in several sizes,and Elk Hair Caddis in several sizes. I get together three or four knotless prepackaged leaders usally 5 x no longer than the rod so the leaders are usually 7 1/2 foot long. I then get a lanyard an get clippers, fast knot tool, Gink floatant, leader straightner,thermometer,a few spools of tippet to rebuild a leader 3x,4x,5x,6x.
I then meet up at a local pavillion with the child an the parent and all they know about is that he has won a trip. I present the outfit to the child and then proceed to teach how to remove an replace the rod into the rod/reel case.
How to tie backing using the arbor knot onto the reel, then the nail knot using the tie fast tool to the flyline, then a knotted section of 25 pound Maxima for the but section or Amnesia if they prefer. then perfection loops an double surgeon loop knots.how to attcah the leader loop to loop, and several different knots for attaching flies.
I have the child an the parent each do every step several times till i see that they can do it.
After that i have the child do the whole thing an then reel on the backing tie on the fly line,then the leader and i show them how to replace the bug yarn i use for the casting leader.
Then we go out on the lawn first... I get them to just get the line to starighten out in front of them while explaining the basic cast. Then after they do that i explain and have them learn about the back cast. Then its the cast over all an the difference between the cast and Flase casting.
Once i see that they are casting fairly well, we move to the roll cast. Usally they learn this cast the fastest. after they do that ..there is a pond right there and i have them learn how to cast over water and also how to pick up line off the water. I also have them roll cast there too.earlier casts using roll cast i use a special grass leader i switch out becuase regular leaders dont load on grass like a grass leader does.
I also make a few copies of flyfishing dvds i own an give them to the winner. I have them watch these an practice till my next trip up to my cabin. Next trip i take them back to the pond an they usually are doing good enough i take them out for a hlagf day on local waters. There is nothing to me more priceless than watching a parent an child catch their first flyrod caught trout on flies and see the looks on their faces...not to mention at the end of the half day they have that unremovable smirk an are so full of excitement.
The next trip is all day so I take them out an let them have at it. Meanwhile I coach them an explain how to read water what to looks for , why you use one cast over another for the given situation ect. I bring lunch an drinks along. take pics an short movies. It's a hoot.
I have no children, but I enjoy children an their enthusiasm. Also in that neck of the woods the girls hunt an fish too. Boy do they get bummed when they don't win the trip. Girls also pick up the casting a little faster than the boys.This is my way of giving back to a activity that has given me so much in return. Pay It Forward.
IMHO better if the kid your buying this for is into fishing i'd gamble an get a better outfit not the nest mind you . But a better outfit will survice the learning curve an give many many years of service till that youngster can afford to get their own.
I prefer: Cortland Just Add Water outfits, but they don't seem to offer them to my knowledge.
I have had really good luck with Redinton lower end outfits, as well as LL Bean's two lower outfits.
thats my 2 cents your mileage may vary.
BTW each an every kid an their parent have taken up flyfishingi sometimes fish with some of them when I'm at the cabin!
