I'd get him some 1/16oz marabou Roadrunners ... solid chartreuse and what Blakemore calls their "Electric Chicken". If he's using four to six pound test line on the spincast reels, he should be able to cast them a pretty good distance. May even do well with eight pound test, if it's a soft (limp) line.
I mostly fish for Crappie, and use marabou Roadrunners quite often when casting shallow for them (<10ft deep). It's not uncommon for me to hang into a large catfish, or Bass, when casting for Crappie. Warmouth, Green Sunfish, & Bluegills will wear one out, too, if I get it close to the shoreline.
Now, I'm not saying it's necessary ... but, I trim the tail feathers off about halfway between the hook bend and the end of the tail. The fish don't seem to care about it being "bob-tailed" ... and the only reason I do it is to stop small fish from nipping at just the end of the tail.
I'd also consider having him use a small float & a #2 Cabin Creek Pop-eye Jig .... tipped with a wax worm or small piece of earthworm.
... pappy