PLUSINNO Kids Fishing Pole Review: a simple starter kit that actually gets kids casting

I picked up the PLUSINNO Kids Fishing Pole kit in blue (the 120 cm / 47" version) to give my kids something of their own instead of them fighting over my heavier adult rod. We’ve taken it out a few times now to a small lake and a local pond, so this isn’t just an unboxing impression. It’s been in kids’ hands, dropped in the dirt, and thrown in the trunk a couple of times.

Right away, I’ll say this: it’s not a pro rod, but that’s not the point. It’s a kid-friendly, all-in-one kit that makes it easier to just go fish without spending your Sunday morning at the tackle shop. The spincast reel is basic but simple to use, and the telescopic rod means I can shove it in a backpack or behind a car seat without overthinking it.

My main goal with this thing was simple: keep the kids busy and actually get them casting without constant drama. On that front, it does the job. We had a 6‑year‑old and an 8‑year‑old using it. Both managed to cast after a short demo, and nobody managed to snap the rod or turn the reel into a bird’s nest, which is already a win in my book.

It’s not perfect though. Some of the tackle in the kit feels cheap, and there are basically no instructions for total beginners. If you’ve never fished before, you’ll probably end up on YouTube trying to figure out how to rig things properly. But as a starter combo for light use, especially for kids under 10, it’s a pretty solid, low-stress option.

For the price point this kit usually sits at, I’d call the value good but not mind-blowing. You’re paying for convenience and kid-friendliness more than for top-tier hardware. You get a rod, a reel that’s already spooled, a tackle starter set, and a carry bag that keeps it all together. If you tried to piece all that individually, you might spend a bit more and definitely more time figuring out what to buy.

Compared to some other kids’ combos I’ve seen in big-box stores, this one feels a bit more thought out. The telescopic design and the included bag make it easier to store and transport. You’re not left with a bare rod rolling around your trunk. The overall feel is better than the super cheap toy-like rods that often tangle constantly and put kids off fishing right away.

On the other hand, you are getting budget materials and basic tackle. If you’re already into fishing and have spare hooks, bobbers, and lures, you might feel like you’re paying for things you’ll end up replacing anyway. Also, for older kids (10+), you might be better off spending a bit more on a small, real spinning combo that can grow with them instead of them outgrowing this in a season or two.

For what it is—an entry-level, all-in-one kids’ fishing kit—the value makes sense. It’s a low-risk way to test if your kid actually likes fishing without dropping a lot of money on gear they might ignore after one trip. If they get hooked (no pun intended), you can always upgrade later. If they don’t, at least you didn’t sink a big budget into it. So I’d rate the value as solid, especially for younger kids and casual family outings.

Design-wise, PLUSINNO clearly aimed this at younger kids, and it shows in a good way. The 4 ft length is actually a sweet spot for children around 3–10 years old. It’s short enough that they’re not smacking everyone around them on the back cast, but long enough to get a decent cast out into the water. My 6‑year‑old handled it comfortably; my 8‑year‑old could use it too, though I think a slightly longer rod might suit older kids better.

The blue color is bright without looking like a plastic toy you’d find in a dollar store. It still looks like a “real” fishing rod, which matters because kids don’t want to feel like they’re using baby gear while adults have serious equipment. The handle is sized well for small hands, and the grip shape makes it pretty easy for them to keep control even when they’re excited and jerking the rod around.

The spincast reel design is a good call for beginners. Push-button casting is way easier for kids than messing with a spinning reel bail. They just hold the button, swing, and let go. Less chance of line tangles, less frustration, and fewer “Dad, fix this!” moments. During our outings, I only had to step in a couple of times to sort minor tangles, and that was mostly user error, not bad design.

On the downside, some parts do feel a bit plasticky, especially the reel body and some trim on the rod. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart immediately, but you can tell this is a budget-friendly design, not something built for hardcore anglers. Also, the telescopic sections need a bit of care when collapsing; if kids slam them shut or twist them too hard, I can see those joints wearing out faster. As long as an adult shows them how to open and close it properly, the design is fine for casual weekend fishing.

The rod uses a mix of ABS, plastic, and rubber, and you can feel that right away. It’s very light, which is a big plus for small arms. Neither of my kids complained about it being heavy, even after 30–40 minutes of repeated casting. That lightness is probably the main reason it works well for younger kids compared to handing them a full-size adult combo that tires them out quickly.

The flip side is that it doesn’t feel like a tank. The guides and some of the hardware don’t give off a “built for decades” vibe. This is more of a “summer seasons and gentle use” type of rod. When my 6‑year‑old dropped it on the rocks a couple of times, it survived just fine, but I wouldn’t expect it to handle being slammed in a car door or stepped on. It’s kid gear, not indestructible gear.

The reel casing is mostly plastic as well. For this price point and for a kids’ setup, that’s normal. The retrieve feels smooth enough out of the box, and the pre-spooled monofilament line is serviceable. I didn’t bother re-spooling it before first use. We were able to cast and catch small panfish without any drama. Over time, I’d probably upgrade the line if we were going to use it a lot, but for casual trips it’s fine.

As for the included tackle, the materials are clearly budget level. The hooks are sharp enough to work, the bobbers are basic plastic, and the small lures look like what you’d expect from an inexpensive starter kit. They get the job done for bluegill, small bass, or trout in a stocked pond, but if you’re picky about tackle, you’ll likely mix in your own stuff. Overall, the materials fit the price: light, decent for kids, but not something you baby-proof your life around.

Durability was my main concern going in, because kids are not gentle with gear. After several outings, being tossed on the ground, dragged in the dirt, and bounced around in the back of the car, the PLUSINNO rod is still in one piece and working. No broken guides, no cracked sections, and the reel still turns smoothly enough. So for light to moderate use, it seems to handle real-world kid treatment.

The telescopic sections lock out well, but you do have to show kids how to extend and retract them properly. If they yank too hard or twist while pushing them in, I can see those joints wearing faster or getting stuck. I made a point of being the one to collapse it at the end of the day, at least until they get the hang of it. If your kid is the type to force everything, keep an eye on that part.

The reel body being mostly plastic means it’s not bulletproof. A hard drop on rocks or concrete might crack something. So far, we’ve had a few minor drops on grass and dirt, plus some light bumps, and it’s survived just fine. The line that comes preloaded is okay, but like most stock line on cheap combos, it may not age well. If you plan to use this regularly over a season, I’d probably re-spool with fresh mono at some point.

In my opinion, this is gear that will probably last a couple of seasons of casual use if you take basic care of it: rinse off grit, don’t slam the rod sections, and avoid throwing the reel around. It’s not something I’d expect to hand down to multiple kids over a decade, but for the price and target audience, the durability is reasonable. Just don’t expect miracles if it gets seriously abused.

Performance-wise, you have to judge this thing as a kids’ combo, not as a high-end setup. For that category, it holds up. The casting distance with the stock line and basic rig (small bobber, split shot, hook) is totally acceptable. My 8‑year‑old was getting consistent, straight casts without much coaching. My 6‑year‑old needed a bit more practice, but once he got the timing, he could hit the water where he wanted most of the time.

The retrieve on the reel is smooth enough. You can tell it’s not an expensive reel, but it doesn’t grind or feel rough out of the box. The gear ratio isn’t blazing fast, but for kids reeling in small fish or just pulling in a bobber, it’s fine. The push-button works reliably; we didn’t have any jams or weird half-releases during our sessions. That consistency matters a lot when you’re trying to keep beginners from getting frustrated.

Under load, with a small fish on the line, the rod bends nicely and gives kids that classic “fish on” feel without risking snapping. The light power rating is actually helpful here. They get to feel the fight even with small fish, and the rod does most of the work. I wouldn’t trust it on anything big or in heavy cover, but that’s not what this is for. Think docks, shorelines, and calm lakes, not river monsters.

The main performance limitation is that it’s not built for rough handling or frequent hardcore use. If you’re going out every weekend for serious fishing, you might eventually want a more robust combo. Also, the included tackle is just okay; swapping in better hooks and maybe a slightly better bobber and weights will improve your hookup rate. But out of the box, for occasional family trips, the performance is more than good enough.

Out of the box, the PLUSINNO kids combo is pretty straightforward. You get a telescopic 4 ft rod, a pre-spooled spincast reel, a small tackle box with assorted bits (hooks, weights, bobbers, a few lures), and a soft carry bag that holds everything. The whole package is light enough that my 6‑year‑old can carry it without complaining, which is important if you don’t want to be the family pack mule all day.

The rod comes collapsed inside the bag, and it extends in a few seconds. The reel is already mounted and loaded with monofilament line, so you don’t have to mess with spooling line or attaching the reel, which is nice. The tackle box is small but has enough to get started: some basic hooks, a couple of bobbers, sinkers, and a handful of plastic lures. Nothing premium, but enough for casual pond or lake fishing.

In practice, the main selling point here is the all-in-one aspect. For a beginner parent or grandparent, you don’t need to know every fishing term to get going. You grab the bag, toss it in the car, and you’re basically ready. That simplicity is the big advantage compared to buying a separate rod, reel, and tackle where you can easily overcomplicate things for a 5–8‑year‑old who just wants to sling a line in the water.

The downside is that the kit doesn’t really explain how to use the different parts. There’s no real guide on which hook to pair with what, or how to rig the soft baits. If you already fish, you’ll figure it out in a minute. If you’re a total rookie, expect to do a bit of trial and error. Still, for an inexpensive combo, the overall presentation is clear enough: everything you need is in the bag, and there’s not a lot to assemble or guess.

In terms of pure effectiveness, this combo does what it’s supposed to do: it lets kids cast, reel in, and actually catch fish. On our first outing with it, my grandson (7) and my kid (6) both managed to cast out into a small lake after just a couple of tries. Once they got used to pressing and releasing the button at the right time, they were sending the lure out consistently 15–20 feet, which is plenty for shore fishing in a pond.

The spincast reel is what makes this work for beginners. It’s much more forgiving than a spinning reel. We had a few minor tangles when lines got slack or when they reeled against the drag, but nothing that took more than a minute to fix. No major bird nests, and we never had to cut the line and start over. That alone is worth a lot when you’re managing kids’ patience and your own sanity.

As for catching fish: yes, it does. We used small hooks and live bait (worms) plus one of the included bobbers, and the kids caught a few small panfish and a baby bass. The rod has a light power, so you feel every nibble, which is good fun for them. It’s not built for hauling in big fish, but for bluegill, small trout, or small bass, it’s completely fine. The drag isn’t super refined, but for this level it’s okay.

The real test for me was whether the kids stayed engaged. With this rod, they did. Because they could manage the casting themselves and the setup wasn’t constantly failing, they spent more time actually fishing and less time whining or waiting for me to fix hardware. So in terms of effectiveness as a kids’ starter kit, I’d say it’s pretty solid. It’s not for serious anglers chasing big fish, but for what it’s meant to be, it works.