Fishing with an open face spinning real is a new breed of fishing. My first spinning real was a Ambassador 7000. That is a hard real to learn on but I did it. I started using Trilene 20# test line. and it took me awhile to learn how to use it without getting a bird nest but I finally done it. I could not get any distance until I took out all four fly weights and then I got where I could cast around 150 yards out. (it took me a couple years of daily fishing to get there). That small real I would use mono line and practice,practice until you think you are going to go insane (you may even dream at night about how to improve your casting). I know I did.The real I used held 300 yards of line and yours shouldn't hold over 75 yards. But if you practice especially where people don't see you it is not near as embarrassing as if you are among st many people watching you screw up most times. It takes time to learn how to use one of them properly. But once you master a open face spinning real you won't want any thing else. I still use a spinning real and an Abu Garcia 5500. The difference between a real that has a number and a C after is the C means it has ball bearings and the others have bushings, and have to be oiled regularly by removing the end cap(s) and adding reel oil and that throws it all off. With the size of weight us use set it where when you release the spool with the rod high the weight will fall slowly and not to fast,until you get where you can let it fall faster for more distance. About a foot every 5 seconds to begin.

I guess I am old school but Dad told me and my Brother we started fishing when we were 2ish and I am in my 50's now. So I think your son should with supervision of course should start to learn to handle the bait and fish.

It is an Abu Garcia and I have caught some big catfish on those reels. I had a 5000 series and caught fish that should have tore the gears and drag apart, but it handled them quite well. I used it until I took a job in another town and someone stole it. It worked well for all fish I caught. ex. Crappie, Sand Bass, Catfish on a 7' rod. It is a multipurpose reel and I bought another for the one that got stolen and caught some big Catfish in Oklahoma. I also used the 7000 Series for big catfish and other breeds of fish.