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Lightning Rod: Roddy Lites Spinning Combo
If you want to make a fisher-kid smile, give them a Roddy Lites combo. First off, let’s make one thing clear: this is not exactly a serious, high-tech piece of fishing gear. The rod and reel both look like an el-cheapo set-up someone ordered in bulk from China, for a very low cost. The rod’s wiggly as a noodle, the guides are un-lined, and there isn’t a single piece of the reel that I can’t bend. But, who cares? The main attraction here is that the reel has a pair of red and green LED lights built into the sides. When you turn the crank, they light up and spin, giving the reel a strobe light effect. How cool is that?! Put this rig in the hands of any child from two to pre-teen, and they’re absolutely guaranteed to smile.
Yes, this is essentially a gimmick rig, but it is still fish-worthy. My daughter Mollie used it while we were light-tackle casting for stripers, and she actually caught a few nice fish with it. The drag is acceptable for use on fish up to the 26” range, and the reel holds plenty of eight to 10-pound monofilament. (I wouldn’t hand a child this rig loaded with braid—you’d be asking for trouble.) Neither the rod nor the reel self-destructed after brackish water use, but some corrosion is forming on the bail. The worst thing is that on a bright sunny day on the boat, you can hardly see the LEDs lighting up. Of course by then the kid’s trying to catch a fish and has forgotten all about the lights. At least, that’s what happened with Mollie. She was enthralled with the rig at home (she played with it in the living room for a solid half an hour,) hardly noticed the lack of lights on the water, then back at home re-discovered the lights and had some more fun. There’s a pink version for girls, and a blue on for boys. Smiles, smiles, and more smiles—that’s what a Roddy Lite will get you.
Price: $20 - $40 depending on size/model
The Highs: This one will make any kid smile, period!
The Lows: It’s not exactly a Van Staal.
Who Wants It: Kids from toddlers to pre-teens; this one makes a great holiday or birthday gift.
Contact: www.allwatersfishing.com.
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