Keep lure selection simple, and outfit a child with the simplest options for them to catch fish with. Most smallmouths coming aboard my boat get caught with the most minimalist baits to begin with. In my boat, I have children outfitted with the same St. Croix Rod and reel set-ups I have every guest angler and myself using. We rotate between the assortment of Victory, Mojo Bass, and Legend Tournament Bass spinning set-ups paired with size 2500 and 3000 SEVIIN GS spinning reels spooled with 10-to-15-pound Cortland Masterbraid, as dictated by lure choice and the strategy. The typical rod length and weight I outfit kids with is between a 66MF to 70MHF. Shorter length rods work best for little anglers, like the 66MF Avid Spinning, 68MXF Victory, and 610MXF Victory. Have no fear of tangles and wind knots. Conventional wisdom would tell you to outfit a child with a snoopy rod, a close-faced Zebco, or a short 5-foot rod each spooled with heavy monofilament line so that each may be handled without fatigue. I started off with a Snoopy, and there’s no shame in that. However, good luck being able to cast or jig with proficiency and playing any potentially sizeable