Thanks all for your advice! I was happy to see recommendations for 7-8wt rods instead of 9-10wt rods which would be hard for him to handle. A reel with a good drag is what I will look for as well. Lightenup - yes, I'm a bowyer and make all my own archery equipment....so does my son (with a...

My 10 yr old son Colton is an avid fly “fisherboy” and fly tyer. After several years of use, he upgraded his generic rod/reel with a 5wt, 8.5’ Orvis Clearwater…bough by him with his own money…he is very proud of it and how he can cast it. Up in northern NY, we fish mostly for smallmouth bass...