A solution might be to change the line to a thicker diameter line (higher pound test that is currently on the reel). Most likely as mention earlier, the line digs into the spool of line already on the reel.

One place to look is specific fly fishing shops that rents fly rod/reels. Most of them sell off their rentals priced accordingly to the wear and tear. They want your return business and should outfit you with reasonable quality equipment.

A lot depends upon what type of fly fishing: top water dry fly or under water nymph/streamer. With nymph/streamer fishing, I loose about the same amount of flies as you. For a day of fishing nymph/streamer on streams, loosing around 6 flies is normal for me, my motto: "no snags, not deep enough". I seldom do dry fly fishing, unless I see actively feeding fish.

The fishing rods have different requirements for fishing streams/lakes and for ocean/surf. If cost is of little issue, then I would recommend going to a specialized fishing store, owner operated vs big box (Walmart, Big 5, Dicks) and ask him for recommendations within your budget for the different fishing locations. Most owner operators are passionate fisher persons and are willing and happy to share their knowledge and expertise. YouTube is another source for fishing recommendations. tight lines

How old is your son? If very young 5 -9 yrs old, I would begin with worms/minnows and a bobber and go for crappie, bluegills, baby bass and expect them to last around 2 hours if the bite is slow. If buying a reel, I would recommend a "trigger release" closed face spin reel vs push button level wind closed face reel (many child rod/reel combos for sale). The spin reel fits on bottom of the rod, so the 5-9 child does not have to hold up the weight of the reel while reeling in a fish.

If buying a spin reel, look for one with a push button release spool and get a spare. The old Mitchell 300 is my "standard" for the size and line(s) capacities (the second spool for loading it up with a different line strength, I have braided lines of 10 lb and 30 lb test on my shallow capacity designed spool and deep capacity designed spool resp.) If using braided line, either wrap a rag around your hand or wear gloves before pulling a snag free, or there is a possibility of the braided line cutting your hand. The Mitchell 300 reel was strong enough to bring in a 19 lb striped bass on the 30 lb test.

Try rubber cement on the outside of the waders. I used rubber cement to patch a soccer ball and it is still holding air. I have not tried rubber cement on waders, but will if/when it begins to leak.

Another product is the live bait floating plastic holder with a spring loaded trap door. About the size of a large lunch box with a build in handle.

I recommend a trigger release closed face spin reel, especially if you are the one to bring them fishing "every now and then" and their parents are not into fishing. Less mechanics involved to cast out and less chance of the line getting tangled around the reel. Down side to the trigger release is shorter casting distance, more wear on the line, and if the line gets inside the closed face one has to unscrew the cover to get the line. Spin reel has the weight on the bottom of the rod which is preferred vs push button level wind reel that sit on top of the rod. I bought Daiwa trigger release closed face spin reel for my children 30 years ago, now their kids, 3 & 7 years old, are still using the reel. Major brands: reels vs knock offs, rods the same.

If you are talking about a spinning reel with trigger release, close face, I bought that kind (Daiwa) for my children (at age 3 or 4) to learn how to cast, reel, & drag adjustment. Kind of like how one learns how to drive on a car with automatic trans vs stick shift. The trigger release spin reel requires less mechanical knowledge to be successful casting faster and with a turn of the crank to lock in the line. Less chance for the line to get tangled around the spool of an open face spin reel and with it being a spinning reel, its weight is below the level of the rod so the child does not need to hold the reel's weight up while reeling in. Also, the trigger release is good for the "once a year" type of fishing person, who just like to tag along for the social aspect for the same above reasons. Down side is shorter casting distance, more wear to the line, more care and things to do needed to load new line onto the spool , and more problems if line gets tangled within the close face. Note, my grandkid age 3 is learning on the same Daiwa trigger release reel of his father's. He was able to cast, set hook, reel in the trout at age 5 (we baited the hook, too dangerous for him at that age).

If there is a fly fishing shop near you, check to see if they rent out equipment. If they do, many times they eventually sell the rentals. They want return customers, so the rentals they sell have been checked out to be of functional quality.

In buying a reel for a child, get a closed face, trigger release spin reel that hangs below the rod. Gravity works for the child holding the rod as he/she reels in, as the weight of the reel does not have to be held on top of the rod. In buying a rod, get a short one 4 ft or so. The trigger release spin reel is easier for the child to learn the principles of casting motion, release point, etc. Less chance of the child to forget to open the bail with a regular spin reel while casting and also closing the bail. My grandson (6 years old) asked to use a regular spin reel with a bail wanting to copy parents/me, wanting to graduate from the trigger release spin reel (his dad's first reel - Daiwa - look for a major brand company of quality). Closed face spin reel has less chance for the line to get tangled up.

For my children and now grand children, I taught them fishing using a trigger release closed face spinning reel (Daiwa brand, I don't know if it is in production any longer, same reel for grand children as my children). Better value than Kid's push button closed face reel combo rod that sits on top of rod, as the child might not be strong enough to keep the reel steady on top of the rod while reeling in. With the spinning reel that is seated at the bottom of the rod, it is easier for child to keep steady while reeling in, gravity pulls reel down. When child was very young I attach the spinning reel to a short 4 ft long (Frankenstein) rod, when they got older to a longer rod. Value in that same Daiwa spin reel can be removed and attached to another rod, as apposed to some all in one constructed combo Kid's rod/reel where the reel can not be removed. Seen many of those combo Kid's rod/reel in the garbage can by the fishing hole (Frankenstein rod parts).

It can be useful if there is a lot of overhanging tree limbs, casting longer fly rods usually snag up on a branch. I use a 7 ft rod that snags branches where I fish.

Personal satisfaction (retired old man with time to kill), creating "Frankenstein" rods from discarded broken rod pieces found at the fishing holes. Dual purpose picking up trash discarded by uncaring/slob type fisherperson and having a "child" or "loaner/spare" rod. My grandson (age 5+) and his dad already snapped around three Frankenstein rods that I made for the grandkids, always had a spare Frankenstein rod back in the car/cabin. Grandson caring his rod, tip got jammed in front of him and snapped (he did it twice already). Snagged and yanking hard on rod, it snaps. Father of grandson, loading his car snaps his son's Frankenstein rod. Use finger nail polish to make scrap pieces one color.

Making barb less small #14, #16, #18, #20 hooks from spring wire found in: retractable ball point pens; hand lotion or soap dispensers (prior to recycle/discarding, take them apart to retrieve spring wire). Helps to have a concave needle nose plier, but can do with alligator nose plier to make the hook eye, wire cutting plier, & sharpening stone (I use a diamond encrusted sharpener with a small Vice Grip to hold hook steady).

Making take apart "Cane pole" from thick walled Bamboo for pan fishing. Cut at joints, hollow out, blind wrap tie at the joint cuts to prevent splitting, make a dowel to fit hollow out to connect sections. Add line around same length or little longer as pole, bobber (wine cork), split shot, hook, red wiggler worm, my grandson is content and fishing for blue gills/pan fish while Frankenstein rod is casted out for trout (California allows two rods for children under 16 year old)

Making "Plainer Boards" out of plastic discards and styrofoam. YouTube has many videos of DIY fishing equipment where I learned what is and how a plainer board is used. Shore based fishing next to river/stream/canal with a current to get line away from the bank and trolling a lure or anchovy (for stripers).

Compost Worm "red wigglers" raising. Using a 4-5 gallon plastic bucket with lid/or something to cover top, drill holes all around bottom and sides for drainage, dig a hole in the ground deep enough to hold bucket, put mixture of soil, newspaper, and vegetable scrapes and some red wigglers worms. Continue to add vegetable scrapes monthly digging out contents from bucket or near by roots invade bucket. Can also use a 30 quart plastic storage container with holes drilled into the lid top. I have 5 buckets buried and one plastic storage container in the garage and always have red wiggler worm for bait.

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