Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 44
Fishing Rods
for Toddlers
by John Allen
photos by the author
If there are two things toddlers are good at doing, it is
breaking things and throwing tantrums. Put a fishing rod in
their hands too close to naptime, and you will have a means
for disaster. To date, my son has thrown his rod into a lake,
thrown my rod into a lake, broke off a reel handle, broke two
rod tips, and smashed a guide by stomping on it. After the
first broken rod, I knew I needed to come up with a better
option. There are several different options for children,
depending on their skill level, age, and level of patience.
hung the branches in my basement to dry for 2 months.
I selected the best-looking piece and ran a string of
12-pound-test line from the handle to 12 inches past the
tip while adding a small piece of duct tape every 6 inches.
I wrapped where I tied the line with hockey tape to create
a good gripping surface. At the end, I added a loop along
with a 6-foot-long leader of 6-pound-test line. It looked
pretty good, and it was inexpensive to make. I tested the
strength by pulling the line until the rod bent into a " U. "
Repurposed rods
I felt buying another rod would just be a waste of money. At
just 13 months old and not even walking yet, he just slapped
the water each time out. He thoroughly enjoyed it until he
slapped the wrong thing and it broke.
I first tried an old spinning rod with monofilament line
tied on the end. The casting action was less than desirable,
so he was getting frustrated by the line not going out when
he " casted. " Next, I used a 6 foot fly rod with an old fly line
tied to the hook keeper. I ran the fly line until it was about
12 inches out from the tip of the rod and tied on a leader. If
he were a little older, the setup would have been good, but it
was a little heavy on the end, so he was unable to whip it.
Homemade rods
This past fall, I decided to cut three pieces of bamboo
under 6 feet long from the patch I had along the back edge
of my property. I trimmed all the branches off and then,
44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2021
A simple bamboo fishing rod is great for a child unable to use
a reel.
www.fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 64
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 65
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover4
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