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July 16, 2020
By Game & Fish Staff
Passing on your passion for fishing to the next generation is at the heart of angling.
And, if you’re good at it, you’re also passing on an appreciation for the gear needed to land a whopper. And every year, quality youth gear gets better in quality and creativity.
Here’s a look at new fishing gear for young, and/or beginning, anglers, unveiled at ICAST 2020.
Abu Garcia | Gen Ike EZ Cast Baitcast Combo Abu Garcia Gen Ike EZ Cast Baitcast Combo The winner in ICAST’s best of category (kid’s fishing) voting competition, this combo is designed for young anglers learning to throw a baitcaster (we know what that’s like). The Ike EZ Cast Baitcast Combo features an anti-backlash system that can be turned on and off for tangle-free casting. Fewer backlashes can help a beginning build skill. abugarcia.com
Zebco | 33 Platinum Spincast Reel Zebco | 33 Platinum Spincast Reel Chances are, if you’re reading this, you came across a Zebco 33 in your journey as an angler and remember it fondly. The iconic brand has gone platinum with the unveiling of the 33 Platinum ($39.99) for ICAST 2020. Features: all-metal body, gears, four stainless-steel bearings and instant anti-reverse clutch. It’s always a good choice for a first reel, whether you’re 7 or 70. zebco.com
Plano | Weekend Series 3600 Softsider Plano Weekend Series 3600 Softsider A nice selection for a first tackle bag, which holds two 3600 size stowaway boxes. Modern color scheme highlights a water-resistant zippered front pocket and two-toned buckles open the top. planomolding.com
Yakima Bait Co. | Original Rooster Tail Yakima Bait Co. Original Rooster Tail One of the best cast-and-reel lures for beginners and novices, Rooster Tail has new blade colors this year. Available in sizes 1/16 to ¼ oz. to catch panfish, trout and bass. yakimabait.com
Googan Squad | Tool Combo Googan Squad Tool Combo A young angler needs some tools, like the new combo released by Googan Squad. The kit includes multi-use pliers for crimping, cutting, hook removal, and split ring use, scissors for cutting all fishing lines including braid and a scale. catchco.com
13 Fishing | Ambition 13 Fishing Ambition A rod designed especially for junior anglers, with custom features commonly found on gear the pros use. The company aimed to build top-quality affordable rods and combos in lengths that fit. 13fishing.com
Daiwa | Crossfire LT Combo Daiwa Crossfire LT Combo The new Crossfire LT combination ($49.99), available in three different models features the Crossfire LT spinning reel matched with a two-piece graphite rod. The reel features DIGIGEAR® (Digital Gear Design), with infinite anti-reverse and ABS aluminum spool.Rod lengths available: 6, 6 1/2 and 7 feet. daiwa.com
Big Bite Baits | Big Bite Kids Kit Big Bite Kids Kit Multi-species kit — for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, etc. — has all the basic baits and terminal tackle for kids and beginners. Hooks, jigs, weights and variety of bait colors in toads, craws, stickballs, lizards and more. bigbitebaits.com
Profishiency | The OG Profishiency’s The OG Spincast combo unveiled by Anything Possible Brands is a five-foot combo with the following features: Medium light action fiberglass rod , fast micro spincast reel with 4.1:1 gear ratio, soft padded golf grips (HiVis Orange w/gray grooves), pre-spooled 6-pound abrasion-resistant line. profishiency.com
Kid Casters | L.O.L Surprise! Youth Fishing Kit Kid Casters L.O.L Surprise! Youth Fishing Kit Fishing combination with a surprise inside (box containing said surprise is strategically packed in the center of the packaging. Features: themed rattle bobber, practice casting plug, 29.5-inch youth-size fishing pole, spincast reel with 3.1:1 gear ratio, six-pound line. kidcasters.com
Shakespeare | Customize-It! Tackle Box Shakespeare Customize-It! Tackle Box Young anglers can express themselves with this loaded tackle box. There are three sheets of stickers for decorating, and nearly three dozen pieces of assorted fishing tackle. Anglers of all ages want a cool-looking tackle box, right? shakespeare-fishing.com
Zebco | Wilder Spincast Telescopic Combo Zebco Wilder Spincast Telescopic Combo Designed to fit the age, ability and style of an angler, as well as be easy for travel, the spincast combo is for young kayakers, hikers and campers. Has all-metal gears and fiberglass rod. zebco.com