"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...

I've been through this with four grandsons and one granddaughter. Go
the Zebco route. The rod is easy for a youngster to handle and not as
imposing as a long fly rod with line hanging down.
Most importantly, make sure they catch fish right away.

The other school of thought is that reels (i.e. extra line) are unnecessary
for 4-year-olds. The best equipment may be a long rod (cane pole or
fly rod) with 8 to 12 feet of line. This lets the child get used to
placing
a fly or a worm, then watching for a take and bringing in the fish,
without worrying about a reel.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)