11 year old beginner fisher

workmummy

Hello everyone my 11 year old son would like to start fishing as it’s something his friends do. 

We have bought him a daiwa sensor spinning rod and a spinner bait hook 

im wondering if this hook is ok? Or if anyone can recommend a safe hook for him to use at this age please?

MattMattMattUK

workmummy said:

Hello everyone my 11 year old son would like to start fishing as it’s something his friends do. 

We have bought him a daiwa sensor spinning rod and a spinner bait hook 

im wondering if this hook is ok? Or if anyone can recommend a safe hook for him to use at this age please?

Spinners are only for predatory fish, in the UK that is largely catfish and pike, neither should be tacked by a beginner unless they want to cause harm to the fish and potentially loose a finger. 

Find where your local Get Fishing events are, they will be able to teach him to fish safely and responsibly, point out what kit he needs. 

https://anglingtrust.net/getfishing/

tacpot12

Agree with MattMattMattUK's comment. I would add that barb-less hooks are probably a good idea for a beginner. 

Boohoo

tacpot12 said:

Agree with MattMattMattUK's comment. I would add that barb-less hooks are probably a good idea for a beginner. 

Good advice that.

I have been fishing for decades and was about 9 years old when I 1st got into it.

An old school mate asked if I wanted to go with him and a mate and we met up after school and cycled about 3 miles to get there on our own and fished until nearly dark and went home.

I just picked the fishing part as I went along and bought fishing mags and used the library for fishing books to read.

Getting back to the op , if you have a tackle shop near you I would go into it and ask for advice as they will be pleased to help a young kid.

Look on YouTube for vids and fishing forums for help.

Local angling clubs will also be very helpful.

I know he is 9 but I am not sure if they need a license to fish but last time I looked under 15 was free but still need a license. environment agency is a place to look.

Boohoo

I just checked environment agency website and it's under 13 don't need a rod licence 

silverwhistle

Quite a number of other freshwater fish will take a spinner: perch are a good bet, along with chub and even barbel early season when they are recovering from spawning, but pike can be a bit of a handful. 

Various events are held for new anglers and the following link might help, but certainly local clubs might also be of assistance:

https://anglingtrust.net/getfishing/springintofishing/

Albermarle

He needs to be supervised by an adult who has some idea about fishing. Either a family member or via one of the suggestions in previous posts.
Apart from hooks and handling fish, a big part of learning angling is avoiding/ dealing with tangles . They can be frustrating and offputting to a new young angler.

Yorkshire_Dangermouse

...and, can your lad swim?

If not, then may be a great way of encouraging him to learn, (as in, part of the deal for going fishing - I don't mean chuck him in...). 

Dustyevsky

workmummy said:

Hello everyone my 11 year old son would like to start fishing as it’s something his friends do. 

We have bought him a daiwa sensor spinning rod and a spinner bait hook 

im wondering if this hook is ok? Or if anyone can recommend a safe hook for him to use at this age please?

There's not really enough info here. Usually, kids know what tackle and methods their friends use, so I'm presuming you were guided to some extent by him. The Daiwa kit is OK for beginners, and probably as good as anything I used when 11 years old! There's no point in investing in posh kit, until a young person shows they'll stick at the sport, whatever it is.

Expect tangles to be a problem at first, and help if he needs new line fitted. There's online video for that, I'm sure. As for spinners, it's possible to get barbless ones these days, which are safer and better for returning fish. If he's using spinners, he'll need a swivel on his line too, or those tangles will come faster and much more often.

Hopefully, your son's friends will be able to help him overcome the inevitable teething troubles that come with controlling casting and winding-in line. I've taught quite a few youngsters of that age to fish, and only one took to it immediately, showing dexterity, patience, and a willingness to learn from small errors. 

The sort of spinning lure I mean:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Abu-Garcia-Droppen-Spinners-Vibration/dp/B09G2XPFHG/ref=sr_1_16?crid=HERRYOE51TGS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pxh_6JH_wa3D-vh4-6SMySmD5z7OeCBTPNY-HHHuYdstIB0GRomNKM_CGrzPOhyf87S39Hv5WqdETgn6NdOeTT5HM81zMuigq_e9V1In864kPLm-hUub8DM-wVfjVvELPTmFjYZSVJGPGZEY6gyUw0JMz3Yg9GD4JfxO50wv2HAdrhSSGw0g86VFAJBrW8NH0HVNXcxI2BzBVIWwgY4KqTpOlp6LtPkX_IcekJl_fat2xEsLQcjmwUSbhRhHJkZErg7AaXf3hq3xqxFHjmJULv8tO7IjWXz8VmvP3SVJ7OY.RUXtyhz0fQb3gbwwXg3uOl6Ok3vz_SQMS7uQ3h73nHk&dib_tag=se&keywords=barbless+fishing+lures+Mepps&qid=1750847602&sprefix=barbless+fishing+lures+mepps,aps,111&sr=8-16&th=1&psc=1

One final thing, bait fishing for coarse fish is easier, but if your lad has friends who are spinning for trout, perch etc, then he'll want to go with that, and every water has rules about methods allowed. (Kind farmers excepted!)

workmummy

Yorkshire_Dangermouse said:

...and, can your lad swim?

If not, then may be a great way of encouraging him to learn, (as in, part of the deal for going fishing - I don't mean chuck him in...). 

Yes he can swim he’s had lessons he’d like a little fish in the water himself haha

caprikid1

Spinning rods are though nice and compact for a youngster and can be furnished with a suitable float to catch a variety of fish.

Depending on the water, there are some super cheap elasticated poles that make for great first fishing on canals etc.