Deb, get him a spin cast reel and about a 3-4 foot rod. If you want, you can have him practise casting with a weight, no hooks. Buy him his own little tackle box. Let him go at it and I bet he will pick it up quickly. As for attention span, bring snacks, drinks, pop, toys,small boats with string, whatever. I used to bring along a minnow net and a small plastic aquarium. When they got bored, they would investigate the shoreline and scoop up bugs, scuds,frogs, minnows and watch them swim about in their little plastic house. Most of all, and I'm sure you already know this let him set the pace.
