Reddit mentions: The best fishing rod & reel combos

It's a broad and general question, so you are likely to get similarly broad advice.

I am assuming you are talking about spin-fishing rather than fly fishing. I'd say:

Get a spinning (not casting) rod, and a spinning (not 'baitcasting') reel. Match your rod to your fish, your reel to your rod, and your line to your reel. The easiest thing to do is buy a combo LIKE THIS because the components are matched already.

If you want to roll-your-own setup:

ROD The rod will say what "weight" it is: ultra-light, Light, ..., heavy). Trout are usually light or ultra-light depending on the size they grow where you are fishing. Unless you know the trout are > 2 lbs. in weight, go with "Light"

REEL The reel should match the rod, look for a 1000 series for Light, or an ultralite for UL. More important though, the spool of the reel will list the how much of which line it can hold in terms of pounds of test. and length. e.g. My ultra-light reel will hold 100 yards of 4 lb. line (still on Imperial measurements here in US). For a Light rod, look for a reel that shows 6 - 8 lb test. About 150 yards of 6 lb is a good target.

LINE Get what is listed on the reel. Monofilament is fine, don't worry about flourocarbon, coated or braided lines.

TIPPET Do get some flourocarbon "tippet" and the smallest barrel swivels you can find. Trout have excellent eyesight, and the tippet is much harder for them to see because it is smaller and flourocarbon is invisible in water. This makes your terminal tackle less 'spooky.' 5x tippet is a good match for 6 lb test. 6x for ultralight. Do this even if you bought the combo above.

RIGGING Generally you will put your main line on the reel's spool and out to a swivel, then a few feet of the lighter, more expensive tippet to your terminal tackle. e.g. My ultralight setup is 4 lb. mono main line to a size 7 swivel and 7x flouro tippet to the terminal tackle. You probably want 6 lb to 5x, and 8 lb. to 5x is totally fine if you buy a combo with 8 lb.

TERMINAL TACKLE For reservoirs you want to use floating bait, tubes/jigs, and lures (inline spinners and/or spoons) from shore. From a boat, same, but more emphasis on spoons. Lures are a blast, but will cost you a LOT of money to acquire a good variety of them. I recommend bait and tubes/jigs if you are just starting out.

Floating Bait If you are shore-fishing, this is going to be your friend. Get some floating bait (real worms, dough, nuggets, etc.) and set up a Carolina Rig. Real worms are the best bait IMO, but they do not float naturally. You have to put air in them with a hypo. If you are just starting out, the artificial baits are fine. Rig it up, throw it in, take the slack out of the line and wait for the lunkers to come get some.

Tubes & Jigs These take more skill, but can produce a lot of fish. If you are fishing snaggy, moving water like rivers I recommend these as the top way to fish (lures are expensive and easy to lose in rivers.) Get a Trout Magnet or Crappie Magnet kit and you have everything you need.

Lures Inline spinners like Panther Martins (esp. the black/yellow dot & yellow/red dot) and Mepps Algias crush Sierra trout, not sure what their Eton comrades prefer. Keep the weight between 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz. unless the trout are big (match the lure weights that are often listed on your rod) Good spoons here include the Acme Kastmaster, Thomas Bouyant and Super Duper. The rule here that the heavier the lure, the better it casts and the more potentially off-putting it is to a smallish fish like a trout.

Lure Selection The specifics of lure size, color and action can have a big impact on whether you get bites. What works one day may not work the next. This is how you can end up buying a LOT of lures. In general, you want to use light/bright colored lures in clear water and/or bright days and dark lures in turbid water or dimly lit days. THIS THREAD as well as THIS OTHER THREAD has some more detailed info on lure colors, sizes and brands I recommend.

You may also want to check out Fly and Bubble fishing which lets you use a spin rod to cast flies. It's a hoot and pretty effective: Get some adjustable spin floats, some flies and start fly and bubble fishing. Elk Hair Caddis sizes 12 - 18 are good, as are nymphs, and Mayfly imitations. Talk to local fly fishermen to see which bugs are good for your reservoir.

GETTING THE STUFF THAT WORKS Talk to the fishing outfitters near where you fish. They will tell you how the bite is, what the fish like, and where to do your fishing. Invaluable advice to prevent buying the entire world to cover all the bases.

HOW TO FISH This is super situational, but in general trout want to ingest more energy than they expend, i.e. they don't want to die. They like cold water near sources of food (bugs) and cover (rocks, brush, etc.). If you are fishing moving water, take the time to learn to READ THE WATER. Trout use moving water as a conveyor belt that brings them food. In reservoirs, you want to look for spots that are shallow enough to support plants and bugs, with deep water and/or good structure/cover nearby. Trout here will generally be cruising slowly or hanging in the water. Ideally, you will put your bait or lure near enough to entice without spooking them. If the trout are jumping or rising through the surface, they are eating insects from the surface film (emergers or fallen fliers), this would be a great time for the fly and bubble technique mentioned previously.

Generally THERE ARE TONS OF VIDEOS that cover whatever specific scenario you are going to pursue.

The most important technique is getting good at SETTING THE HOOK. It's hard to catch fish if you are bad at this.

FISH HANDLING

Trout are covered in protective slime:

• Wet your hand before touching them to help preserve it
  
• Use a rubber mesh net if you are netting them
  
• NEVER put them on the ground.
  
  Mash the barbs on your hooks if you are doing catch and release.
  
  Hemostats/forceps are the easiest way to remove hooks from fish
  
  Turning the fish upside-down will make them less frantic in their flopping.
  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  
  I hope that helps, have fun!

Decided to do the Foothills Trail so we could get some warmer weather being from Iowa. Did it in four nights, averaged about 20 miles per day. Ate 3,500 calories/day doing no cook to save weight not lose any body weight.

Gear:

• Miraposa GG 60L pack - worked great and fit all of my food. Back never got sore once.
  
  
• Cascadia Brooks 11 Trail Runners - Finally got a pair of trail runners that work for me. La Sportiva, Solomon, etc. all did not fit me. These things dried out like a champ and were light weight.
  
  
• Merino Minus 33 wool tops and bottoms. Worked amazingly. Kept me warm, dry, and stink free. However, the quality leaves something to be desired. Started fraying. I realize that wool isn't the strongest of materials, but these things won't last too long unfortunately.
  
  
• Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Fishing Pole - Small, lightweight, inexpensive, great quality, collapsible, comes with a carrying case that fits perfectly in my pack.
  
  
• NEMO Hornet 1P - love everything about this tent, especially the weight. The zipper to the door can be a little bit of a pain to zip up if you don't have the right tension in the fabric, but other than that, it's awesome. A little extra headroom would be nice, but it's nothing that's been a problem.
  
  Trail:
  
  
• Such an amazing trail and well marked.
  
• Fairly difficult. There were almost no parts of the trail that were just flat. You were either going up or down.
  
• Beautiful views. My favorite parts were the top of the mountain at table rock and walking alongside the Chattooga for several miles.
  
• Fishing wasn't great. We didn't catch much, but it's hard to get good fishing in when you're hiking 20 miles/day.
  
  Things I would have done differently:
  
  
• Made sure my two hiking partners were ready to hike 20 miles/day prior to going. I think it was a bit more than they thought it would be, but we still had a blast.
  
  
• Bring less first aid stuff. If you get hurt, you can call someone. I don't really need band aids for scrapes. Ibuprofen is about all I need for muscle aches.
  
  
• Need advice on water filters. The Sawyer Mini worked great, but the flow rate is not up to speed for me. We estimated that we filtered about 15-20 gallons of water between the three of us. One friend had a water filter pump and I used the Sawyer. Most of our downtime was filtering water which kind of sucked. Is there something that works faster? It was hot so we were pounding the water.
  
  Shuttle:
  
  
• We used Heyward Douglas who operates on a volunteer basis. We each gave him a $20 bill. He was the nicest guy ever and gave us lots of good advice. Even called me after we were done to make sure we were safe and ask how we liked the trail. He picked us up at Oconee State Park and brought us to Table Rock State Park where we hiked back to our car.
  
  Snakes:
  
  
• We saw three different types of snakes (all non-venomous). My buddy has an intense phobia of them and almost peed his pants the first time we saw one.
  
  Pros of the trail:
  
  
• Well marked.
  
• Difficult.
  
• Decent cell phone reception.
  
• Waterfalls every mile.
  
• No problem with water sources for drinking due to the previous bullet.
  
• Plenty of trees for hammocking (which my friend did) and tying up a bear bag.
  
• I believe we were the only group we saw that was thru hiking.
  
• People were very nice! We love the south!
  
  Cons of the trail:
  
  
• Saw many day hikers.
  
• Guide books were kind of pricey (I have a guide book I'll send to someone if they cover the shipping).
  
• 20 miles/day were kinda hard on the knees.
  
• Last 15 miles of the trail to the west were pretty uneventful/not many views.
  
  Guidebook:
  
  
• I used 'Hiking South Carolina's Foothills Trail' by Scott Lynch. Worked great and it was really small.
  
  Footwear:
  
  
• I highly recommend trail runners... I was the only person from my group who didn't have any blisters.
  
  All gear I used was ultralight. Please ask questions regarding what gear I used and how I liked going no cook. If you plan on doing this trail anytime in the future, I highly recommend it. I did a lot of research on it and hiked it straight through, so I think I could help out a lot if you have any questions about planning a thru/day hike on it!
  

I've only been fishing for a little over a month. My young kids wanted to so finally bought some rods, hit the internet to learn, and we're obsessed. OK, rather I'm obsessed lol, but my kids love it nearly as much. It's great to spend time with them and a blast when they catch one. So what I've learned in this short time...

Step one is to get a license for where you fish! Buy online and you can fish your whole state. Next equipment.

Most of the cheap rods I bought for the kids broke already :(. So I've resorted to buying gear that I'd personally find useful and will hold up. I replaced one with an ugly stick dock runner. Only $15, dinky but it's super strong so my 5 year old won't break it. I use it for bluegill (small fish) but it also held up great when I unwittingly hooked a decent bass! It's a spinning reel which is more prone to tangles. Unfortunately I also spend a lot of time untangling my 5 year old's reel. Alternatively you can get the dock demon spincast which is less prone to tangles.

I'm mentioning these rods because I'm kinda guessing your daughter is young if you want her to fish too but it's still appropriate for an adult to use. Full size ugly stick combos (rod & reel) are around $50 if you're will to spend that much for something super durable. Otherwise you can spend $25 for any combo at a sporting goods store and be able to catch fish no prob. Most popular is medium-fast action 6ft-7ft probably.

Easiest way to start catching fish is exactly what' you'd think, hook and a worm. I'm a fan of jig heads so you don't have to deal with a weight (weight is attached to hook). The improved clinch knot is seems to be the most popular way to tie the hook (but there are other knots). Grab some night crawlers - gas stations, convenient stores, grocery stores will have them by you (I'm in Chicago area so assuming it's the same). Just look for a live bait sign. Cut a small piece of the worm (maybe in half or quarters), stick it on the hook, give it a few wraps then hook it again, cast it (or just drop it from where you're standing), wait for that bobber to move, lift up to set the hook and reel it in. Take care unhooking it and go for that next one! It should be easy to find bluegill in shallow areas or right off of docks next to pillings (he uses slim jims in that video). You don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn either for these small fish and can basically go whenever. They'll magically steal bait of the hook but be persistent and you'll hook one. Oh you might want to bring small scissors and needle nose pliers as well. Not necessary but sure makes things easier when you have to retie a hook or unhook a fish.

This is how we got into fishing because it's just a thrill to catch a fish no matter how small. If you enjoy it you'll probably want to catch bigger or different fish. Each fish has different behaviors so generally you'd target one species, learn what it eats and lives, then fish for it. Largemouth bass is the most popular but of course there's tons of fish out there all with different challenges.

As for places obviously you have Lake Michigan. I've personally never fished it and to be clear my suggestion comes from small lake or pond experience so might be more applicable there. They are everywhere around here though! I literally load up google maps, look for bodies of water, and bam, never realized there are dozens of places to fish within 10min or less. I'm sure it's the same for you.

Youtubers I've been enjoying so far Catfish and Carp, Hey Skipper, KickinTheirBassTV, Flukemaster, TacticalBassin, & just today discovered 1Rod1Reelfishing (probably one of the biggest ?).

Good luck. Even if it doesn't turn into a new hobby, you can spend $30 and have the thrill of catching a fish. Totally worth it.

Brother, you are going to need to be a bit more specific on what you want to do. Do you know the species of fish you want to target? Will you be fishing in lakes and ponds or streams and rivers? Generally the summer is better for all fishing though, when it gets more cold the fish tend to slow down and not feed as much. There are exceptions to this though. I eat what I catch if I can do it legally. If are going to keep the fish make sure you aren't wasting it and if you are going to release the fish, make sure you take the proper steps to reduce the mortality rate as much as you can. Let me help you the best I can with the info you have given us though. If you are in the Quebec region I think trout fishing is going to be pretty popular. Steelhead fishing to but that is more advanced and for another day my friend. If you are trout fishing I would recommend a simple set up like this https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-USSP602M-Spinning-Fishing-Medium/dp/B00FH3WNY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500424170&sr=8-1&keywords=ugly%2Bstick&th=1&psc=1 For the size of hooks for trout fishing you want to get anywhere from a size 8 to size 14 and maybe even smaller. If you were steelhead fishing then hook sizes 2-6 would be pretty good. Feel free to ask more questions or message me

Sure! 40-ish bucks worth of hooks swivels and weights and braided mainline and mono leader. 5 bucks worth of powerbait(worms are free if you wanna dig) 30 dollars a year for fishing license(depending on what state you live in). Carpool with a couple friends to a lake or river, if one has a boat that's cool but you don't need one. A 30 dollar rod and reel set works. Don't need a 400 dollar rod to catch 2 pound trout. If you go once a week and catch a few fish then you more than break even. Start out cost is low as well as accruing expenses. You only need to keep buying bait and a yearly fishing license

Lines: [braided main line] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OPKT9I0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1) - [Mono leader line] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000T7WAN4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Hooks: [#8 baithooks] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0186XEATY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Sinkers: [assorted sinker set] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009V2R2E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Swivels: [These even have swivels, which aren't pictured] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YMJ6ONC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) - [heres a picture of the snaps] (http://i.imgur.com/BJeHUso.jpg)

Powerbait: [Take your pick of different colors and scents to see what works where you fish at] (https://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Powerbait-Glitter-Rainblow-1-75-Ounce/dp/B0000AV1L0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478070992&sr=8-1&keywords=powerbait)

Rod and reel:[If you go to an outdoors store you can find even cheaper] (https://www.amazon.com/Okuma-Spinning-Combo-Medium-7-Feet/dp/B00LV00CZG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1478070582&sr=8-4&keywords=fishing%2Brod%2Band%2Breel&th=1&psc=1)

All of those one time expenses comes up to 63.30, that includes a rod and reel, lines, hooks, weights, sinkers, snap swivels and a jar of bait. The only thing you need to buy after that is bait every now and again for 4~ dollars

As for the license, it depends where you are, some places it's as cheap at 9 dollars a year, some places its 40.

As for getting my monies worth, I think I do, fresh fish is expensive. That's not even including the experience of it. I love going out into nature and relaxing with friends, catching a few fish and eating them for dinner is pretty fun

Well, a good 9ft 9wt is a start and make sure you have a reel that will handle salt water. WF9 line to punch it out and for leader is used to just use straight 8-10lb mono of fluoro - maybe 6ft max.

Flys: Salt water hook - Big clousers both plain and really tarted up colors and half and halfs. That's all you need, IMO.

In the surf or out in a bay against pilings and such, you really don't need to worry much about finesse, IMO. You have bubbles, surf, currents, murky water, debris, etc. Just imitate a bait fish, get it in front of a feeding fish and bam.

As for retrieve, you may want to try the "tuck it under your casting arm" thing: Once fly enters water, tuck your rod at reel end under your arm and strip in the line quickly using both hands. Good way to get a pretty natural saltwater baitfish movement and speed.

*** Always rinse your reel, rod, and line well after saltwater use - especially the reel.

Did a super quick Google and found:

Nice package:
https://www.amazon.com/Redington-Path-990-4-Saltwater-Outfit/dp/B00ISC16K0

That's a perfectly good setup and you could tie yourself some Clousers on stainless hooks in size 2-1/0 or so:

(things like this...mix it up color wise and stay in the 2, 1/0, 2/0 size)

http://www.saltwaterflies.com/minnow.html

Everyone will suggest the Black max combo... it looks cool and it's cheap. The bearings tend to rust out quicker and the cheap plastic parts will give out. It's not an if, but a when. If you're cool with that, then pick one up. It'll last you long enough.

Another option is Lews American Hero Combo for about $80.

This Bass Pro Bionic Combo is the same price-ish, and is built slightly better than the Lews combo.

Another option is to jump on Bass Fishing Yard Sale facebook group, has 100k members with literal tons of good deals. Work something out with people on there and you'll get more bang for your buck.

I try to do my best to be unbiased. Feel free to PM for additional help.

Rod, reel, LINE, & BAIT guys...jeeze. You don't need a $100 rod to get started.

This Pfluger President spinning combo (links at the bottom) is awesome for the price. It's running a little high on Amazon right now but you can get it for $70 at Walmart. The 6' 6" medium is the place to be. This is a great reel on a solid rod. A casting rod and reel might be preferred by some, but if you are new spinning is easier to learn and you can still use it as a finess setup if you get more gear later.

I'm not a fan of cheap line, but the goal here is $100 bucks, so go for a spool of 8 lb test mono like Trilene. That will run you around $4 for a small spool (which will be enough to spool the reel).

So now you've got a little over $25 left for baits. This is a little tricky since you didn't post where you live or what you are planning on fishing. I am going to assume spring and summer. In that case for $25 get a pack or 2 of knock off senkos ($4 each) a pack of super flukes ($4) a pack of 3/0 or 4/0 EWG worm hooks ($4) a 1/2 oz or smaller spinner bait by a decent name like strike king ($3 - 5) and a decent crankbait like the strike king KVD 1.5 ($5) OR a buzzbait ($5) OR a small lipless crankbait ($5).

That will let you cover a lot of spring and summer water. If you have a few more dollars grab some jigs, a Pop-R, a bag of trickworms, or a chatterbait to open up some more options.

Keep in mind the rod and reel won't be ideal for crankbaits and spinners, but it will do alright and it will rock the plastics which will give you a lot of stuff to play with.

I know everyone wants top of the line gear, but if you are on a budget maximize your spend. You can catch the same fish on this combo as a $300 combo. You may not have all the bells and whistles but if it gets you out there and fishing who gives a damn?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTTRY0S/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1419737932&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Combo-Rod/20893381

As mentioned by another user multiple rods would be ideal for what you want, but I understand wanting a universal kit.

https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Medium-Action-Bigwater-8-Feet/dp/B000LG0G3E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1473786425&sr=8-3&keywords=ugly+stick+combo Rod and Reel Combo: Shakespere is a reputable company, they aren’t the bottom or the top but they work really well. Ugly Sticks are super popular and can be found anywhere. This specific rig is a little large for freshwater IMO but there are many more options available.

Line: Anywhere from 10lb to 20lb mono will work depending on what species you are targeting but a 12lb would be able to land much heavier fish, just not from a pier.

bait holder hooks https://www.amazon.com/Baitholder-500pcs-Freshwater-Fishhook-Fishing/dp/B00CK5RIN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1473787160&sr=8-3&keywords=bait+holder+hook this will get you most species with this style of hook but you don’t need as many as that kit offers. Having a variety of hooks is useful for species with weird mouths or for certain methods of fishing.

Lures: Spinners, and spoons are amazing for almost anything that swims, but jigs like mister twisters and beetle spins can be good too. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on crank baits and stick baits, personally I have never caught much on them. I also like soft baits, but those often need special jigs and hooks for them.

I am not super familiar with fishing saltwater but, I know the water itself can be bad for the gear so you have to spend time cleaning afterwards. A lot of fishing is experimentation with what works for you.

Wild Waters on Amazon has great starter kits. Rod, reel, fly line, rod case, even flys.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Water-Fishing-Complete-Starter/dp/B001IAHX6A/ref=sr_1_4?s=hunting-fishing&ie=UTF8&qid=1542169559&sr=1-4&keywords=fly+fishing+rod

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https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/13180987011?_encoding=UTF8&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Wild%20Water&ref_=w_bl_hsx_s_lg_web_13180987011

Got something similar for my girl. Excellent quality. Definitely in your budget.

You don't need a name-brand product to have a great time on the water. Save the money.

Tight lines and good luck!

Here's my two cents. While I agree with others on Orvis Clearwater being a good starter, what is most valuable in terms of bang for buck, etc., I recommend being very basic for your first set up. If you end up liking it, this will be your backup gear as some day down the road, you are going to buy way better gear than what everyone is mentioning here. My first combo was this: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Water-Fly-Fishing-Complete/dp/B001IAHX6A/ref=lp_2603723011_1_1?srs=2603723011&ie=UTF8&qid=1496980622&sr=8-1

I still use it on occasion and have like 4 other rods/reels now. I have a Cabelas LSi as my "good rod" and a Ross Cimarron as my reel. I recommend going basic for your first combo and finding out if you like the sport. If you do, you'll want to get something better than an entry combo anyway.

The Prestige one you linked looks like it would probably get you started and has some of the other tools you would have to buy as well. Just a pack of some sort, forceps, nippers, and floatant (all things I consider must haves) will set you back $40. Some of the other included stuff looks pretty shitty but on the whole, seems like a good deal to me. If Cabelas makes the rod, it should be part of their warranty program as well.

For good, cheap, and easily stowable I'd recomend a Shakespeare catch more fish combo, or a Shakespeare Ugly Stik. People online seem to shit on the former a lot, but I have two and they've never done me wrong. The ugly stiks get a lot of praise.

I have this for catching bass, panfish, any other small to medium sized fish and love it. I'm sure it could easily catch bigger fish, but I have another, heavier version of the same rod which I got while on vacation in North Carolina when I knew nothing about fishing and I still use it for catfish and carp. They're pretty good, especially for the price.

This crystal river setup, 30$ and it lasted me 3 years. The rod wraps and epoxy finally started to crack and come undone. I didn't expect much from the rod but after finally putting a nice reel and rio gold through it, it was just fine. Perfect beginner/kids setup imo. I have bought this particular package many times for christmas and birthdays with the hope of getting people into the hobby. Just a few months ago I made the jump and graduated to a very nice handmade bamboo rod, but I won't forget the little crystal river rod.


The amazon listing: Crystal River C/CTFK1 Fishing Rod/Reel Combo Eva Grip https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X5Z8J0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KA1Bzb72GTG9E

If you're interested in fly fishing I'd strongly reccomend WildWater's 5wt (technically 5/6wt) rod. It's $90 on amazon, is amazon prime eligible, and has an awesome lifetime warranty (its like $15 bucks to replace a rod with the warranty). Oh yeah, it also comes with a handful of trout flies, 4lb leader and a nice fly box. If you have any questions about fly fishing I'll do my best to answer them.
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Water-Fly-Fishing-Complete/dp/B001IAHX6A/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1498081368&sr=1-1&keywords=wildwater

The strange thing is I have a popper that weighs just barely noticeable than the one in the jig pictures above. It casts great! I can cast out like 50ft. Haven't had much luck with that one just yet. I end up going places boats cant; weeds and low water depth.)

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Anyways, I just bought a few things:

I got some braided line (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4549TS) for the baitcaster. Sorry for the colors, but I'm an IT guy, so RBG colors when available. :D But I'm going to do a 20 lbs. monofilament leader that I have on hand. Hopefully that will help with smoother casts. I am still working on my casting technique. My eyes have been opened in that regard and I'm going to practice skipping, overhead, etc, more this weekend.

​

Picked up this spinner (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0KMLI4) Mostly, tbh, it matches my baitcaster :D. I'm going to put 20 lbs monofilament on this. Again, I have some on hand.

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Not relevant, but I also grabbed this fish finder (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MARDOCW) If I cant manage with this setup, than I'll admit I'm doing something wrong :P But the idea is I can throw out the transducer/bobber with the rod not currently being used.

I picked up my 1st rod/reel combo a few months ago and I loved it. I tend to get out a few times a week and I've never had any issues. I throw all types of lures in all different weights. I have it spooled with 20lb braid and backed with 20lb mono.

Shakespeare USSP661MH/40CBO... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0KMLI4?ref=yo_pop_ma_sw

I recently tried out my buddy's baitcaster and I fell in love with baitcasters. I enjoy the "challange" of learning to use it and the finesse. So this week I went ahead and ordered the same one he has.

Lews Fishing Mach II SLP... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075MY4D3X?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

For where I fish and the species available to me either a spinning rod or baitcaster is fine. I just like the feel of a baitcaster and it being more "technical" than a spinning reel.

Those are informative videos, especially the first one. Thank you! It looks like such a great setup! It'd be a bit to get used to though, having to switch hands for the cast and retrieve, and reeling with my other hand.
You're right, I was talking rainbow and cutthroat. Anyway, what exactly do you mean, "mending a drift" in a river?

As far as an entry-level setup, how do you feel about Abu Garcia products? http://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Profile-Baitcast-Finish/dp/B005GOU5BE/ref=sr_1_3?s=hunting-fishing&ie=UTF8&qid=1398130422&sr=1-3

$50-$100 for the rod and reel or including tackle?

In that price range I would look closely at the 7’ medium Daiwa Aird-X paired with either the Shimano Sahara or Pflueger President. The Pflueger Trion is another great budget option but would be about as cheap as I would personally go on any reel.

But if you are needing to account for line and tackle in that budget as well your best bet would probably be to look at the Ugly Stik GX2 combo

Walmart has a $10 ugly stick combo with a Shakespeare reel

Rod: main reason I bought the combo, it's great

Reel : cheap Chinese reel, but works

Line : supppper cheap. I replaced it the next day with triline xt 4lb line

Here it is on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076PNZSY7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_o0yjDbWZ986AC

I have 10 other fishing rod and reel combos, where the cheapest setup was $150. So, buying a $10 combo was weird, but I'll be dammed if I'm happy with it.

I'll eventually replace the reel with a Pflueger 20x reel, but not until this one gives me issues

As for lures, my suggestion is to not use anything with a tail. I realized the micro fish were biting the end of the tail on my jig heads. So, make sure your lure has the hook at the end

Best suggestion I can give you is to buy a pair of waders. I find creeks and wade through it.

If you wade, try and start at the bottom of the creek and walk up stream. If you walk down steam, the mud you disturb will make the water hard to see through

I am a big fan of the Diawa Minispin. Landed fish from 6 inch trout all the way to 4 pound bass. It's case also has a built in tackle box capable of holding smaller lures such as spinners. Great price as well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BY56T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_RLe8wb5JXVSEH

I went with 1 other friend but I do want to do a solo one soon. >May I ask what kind of fishing rod setup you used.
Pole I have . I recommend it, it is very light and worked well. I didnt catch anything with it yet so hopefully it'll hold up well to that.

Just to give you another choice I've heard decent things about the Daiwa Minispin from a friend of mine. Although I've never used it on the water I checked it out and it seemed pretty decent and I personally would trust a Daiwa over a Shakespeare in terms of quality of spinning reels.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0000BY56T/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1406763478&sr=8-1&keywords=daiwa+minispin&condition=new

Honestly get two Shakespeare GX2's they are only $40 each. The GX2 is a great combo; I would say get the 6ft medium action. Spool them with 15lb test Mono!

Here are the links

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0KMLCK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OLRQO0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have this travel rod from Okuma. Its an inexpensive setup that gets the job done and I use it for the same fish you mentioned, and I prefer this style travel rod over the telescoping variety. I put a different light reel on it so I can't speak about that.

I don't mind that its not a high-end setup, but if you really want to spoil yourself St. Croix makes a very nice travel ultralight. I gifted one to my dad specifically for trout, and its a nicer rod than most of my non-travel rods. It comes in a soft fabric case and doesn't seem particularly durable, so I'd consider a hard case or tube for backpacking with it.

Fishing rod

I really want a fishing rod/reel so I can start fishing again! I haven't had a chance to do since I've moved out to cali and it needs to happen.

Elephant barber and I am a big fan of camping/hiking/outdoors hunting stuff, I feel people nowadays have lost touch with that survival side of themselves that we used to embrace more and I love that side of myself!

The link wasnt working correctly for me, I assume this is the one

Some one else will be able to advise you better (I am not in the USA) but I have a couple of questions, which might help people advise you better.

1. What are you fishing for? I assume trout?
   
   
2. What locations will you be fishing? rivers (large or small?), still waters, from a boat?
   
   
3. Will the area have trees that you will need to avoid? (helps with rod lengths).

I'm headed out for a two week bike tour through southern Wisconsin and plan on hitting a few creeks, rivers, and ponds along the way. From the DNR site it looks like mostly Brown, Brook, and Rainbow are in these areas.

• Reel and Rod combo - Okuma VS-605-20 - I need the rod to break down as small as possible
  
• Line - Trilene XL 6lbs test - Seems like an obvious choice
  
• Tippet - Rio Flouroflex Plus Tippet 5x - Matches the line test
  
• Swivels - Riptail Rolling Barrel Swivels Size #7 30lbs - Small, light swivels
  
• Panther Martin lures:
  
  • 1/32 Silver/Blue - Holographic Trout
    
  • 1/16 Silver/Blue - Holographic Trout
    
  • 1/16 Yellow Body/Red Dots
    
  • 1/16 Black Body/Yellow Dots
    
• Leatherman Juice S2

I have been so broke this week, been trying to sell this thing forever since it's just sitting here and I'll never use it. posted it first $30, then $15, now $5. Honestly I just need some beer money. Shipping will prob be about $12 and it will go out mon. morning. the exact model is the Okuma Cascade S-903-5, it's 9' long and apparently 5 weight. Handle is still shrink wrapped. This seems to be the model, except mine is just the rod, doesn't come with the reel. I can do paypal. Thanks for taking a look

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CTKSTY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02

It's actually from a cheapo combo that I bought via prime in order to make a weekend trip after my set-up was snatched off my porch. I've been really impressed with it, and just stuck it on my salmon rod once the season started. If you're looking for reliable and cheap, I'd highly recommend it.

A zebco dock demon is a great choice for indoors its short.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F5EAJV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TGnZDb5NTA30A

this one has great reviews though

I bought this combo from Wild Water for my beginner setup, and it did the job. I learned how to cast and caught quite a few fish. I've since upgraded, but I keep it around as a backup.

It may not have the backbone for throwing big bass flies, but I think they offer a 7/8 wt starter combo as well. For $94 it served me pretty well. The fly line is decent. The reel isn't great, but that's the least important part for a new fly fisher anyway. It holds line and has a functioning drag, and you don't need much more than that.

Dude I got a Daiwa travel rod--microlight that fits in a real small case. I routinely take it with me to school and keep it under the seat of my car. It has a little built in tackle box for a few lures and with a little creativity, you can easily make more tackle room within the case. Only about 40 bucks. https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-System-Minispin-Ultralight-Spinning/dp/B0000BY56T/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1524530392&sr=8-1&keywords=daiwa+minispin

I don't carry a rod with me but this has been pretty well-reviewed: Daiwa Mini System Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo in Hard Carry Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BY56T/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.HVPub0YJK8N9

What do you think about this one? It's pretty inexpensive and it has the kit with bobbers and lures.

Good enough? Link

I found this one is it a good quality or not nah? https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Water-Fly-Fishing-Complete/dp/B001IAHX6A

Shakespeare Ugly Stik® GX2TM Spinning Combo https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F0KMLCK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ufWoDbN7T1W5Z


This seem good? Is it good for what i want to do. Just river/lake fishing, for trout and such

I'm looking for one as well. Here are a few I have been looking at.

http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Medium-Action-Travel-Spinning/dp/B000ODM2RM/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1318181805&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-System-Minispin-Ultralight-Spinning/dp/B0000BY56T/ref=sr_1_14?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1318181805&sr=1-14

http://www.amazon.com/Okuma-VS-605-20-Voyager-Spinning-Travel/dp/B000MQTJW2/ref=pd_ts_sg_11?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

Maybe try a telescopic pole or something like this : http://www.amazon.com/Okuma-VS-605-20-Voyager-Spinning-Travel/dp/B000MQTJW2/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1370294388&sr=8-11&keywords=telescopic+fishing+pole

My buddy had this on our last camping trip. Would recommend for streams, small water, light duty.

I'd actually recommend going for one that dismantles. I used a few telescoping rods and I found all of them lackluster.


r/https://www.amazon.ca/Okuma-VS-605-20-Voyager-Spinning-Travel/dp/B000MQTJW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538752748&sr=8-1


I picked up one of these last year, just as light as a telescoping rod, but it comes out at a full 6'! I ditched the bag it came in right away and just use a stuff sack to keep it all together.

I used this setup minus the hard case. I brought a handful of small inline spinners and plastic grubs/jig heads. I kept the whole thing in a cheap walmart dry bag. I could easily slide it into my pack or strap it to the pack depending on my gear at any given time.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 should be a decent beginner rod. Put on some 20-25lb braided line (Powerpro) and you should be good for fresh and saltwater for a while until you move on to a more expensive combo.

You can't go wrong with this combo... Or maybe check out a local bass pro or dicks and investigate sales/deals. Spool it up with 10lb braid for walleye casting/ add 8lb or 6lb fluro leader for walleye jigging. You could have a chance at pike and musky if you use 20lb braid instead but would need a heavy leader... typically musky anglers are sporting 8ft Heavy rods with heavy duty baitcast reels, 80lb braid & 100lb Fluro leaders...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTTRY0S/ref=s9_zgift_hd_bw_bEJ2d_g200_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-11&pf_rd_r=VHA47BXV6Z6CECBGRDAV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=9150d31f-bf3f-53cf-9fb0-9ad1875c9f6c&pf_rd_i=3409791

Huh.. I just opted to get a collapsible model that fits in my top box.

Pflueger President for a spinning combo

Abu Garcia Black Max for a baitcast combo

It depends on how much you want to spend, what fish he targets and what style of fishing he prefers, but the two combos above are of mid-level quality. Also look at a Lews speed spool, though it's a little more money.

By beach caster do you mean baitcaster? Or are you looking for a rod and reel combo?
Combo Abu Garcia

Ugly Stik

I'm thinking of buying this starter kit to try it out what do you think?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X5Z8J0/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1368549157&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

Other options:

http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Four-Piece-Medium-Action-Spinning/dp/B003D5VQOI/ref=pd_sim_sg_4

http://www.amazon.com/Okuma-VS-605-20-Voyager-Spinning-Travel/dp/B000MQTJW2/ref=pd_sbs_sg_8

http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Trailmaster-Spinning-Bearing/dp/B003L3ZXVE/ref=sr_1_10?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1368675048&sr=1-10&keywords=Spinning+Travel+Kit

This one's got my vote , the 6'6 medium

Could try this its a 4 piece rod and isnt that big when packed away.

http://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-System-Minispin-Ultralight-Spinning/dp/B0000BY56T#

Perhaps way too low class for you, but this set is decent, just ditch the case and its light enough for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-System-Minispin-Ultralight-Spinning/dp/B0000BY56T

I would check a local walmart or any place that sells rods will probably have it cheaper

Ugly Stik USSP602M30CB Shakespeare USSP602M/30CBO GX2 Spinning Fishing Reel and Rod Combo, 6 Feet, Medium Power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0KMLCK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FSQMDb9DQRCB4