(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best fishing rods

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!

here are my choices i will break down my choices under the list.

dobyns fury 703/733 - $119 https://www.amazon.com/Dobyns-Rods-FR-733C-Casting/dp/B00XUED68Q/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=dobyns+fury+703&qid=1556654801&s=gateway&sr=8-13

abu garcia silver max - $41 https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Silver-Max-Profile/dp/B011LV0LQY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=abu%2Bgarcia%2Bsilver%2Bmax&qid=1556656162&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3&th=1

berkley lightning rod - $35 https://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Lightning-Rod-Spinning/dp/B074W7DCGS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DS7V3P9N76ZS&keywords=berkley%2Blightning%2Brod%2Bspinning&qid=1556655068&s=gateway&sprefix=berkley%2Blighting%2Br%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-2&th=1


pfleuger president reel - $59 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WHM4PX/ref=twister_B076HTY1CT_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

daiwa aird x - $54 https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-0001-4041-Airx701Hfb-Aird-X-1pc/dp/B016P4DUU6/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_5?keywords=daiwa+aird+x+casting+rods+heavy&qid=1556656012&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-5-fkmrnull

abu garcia silver max $41- https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Silver-Max-Profile/dp/B011LV0LQY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=abu%2Bgarcia%2Bsilver%2Bmax&qid=1556656162&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3&th=1

total $350

1. med-fast lightning rod -- many reviews throughout the years continue to state that this rod fishes above its price point.
   med-fast so you can do spinners, drop shot , ned rig, jerkbaits
   because of the med power you can use it for crankbaits too , just do more of a sweep then a powerful hook set so you dont rip the crank out the fishes mouth. i specifically chose this as a spinning rod so you can throw the lighter baits further.
   
   reel pfleuger president -- not much to say about this reel imo its been the best bang for buck reel for many years. a little heavier then the more expensive reels, but its smoooth i have had one for about ten years.
   
   
   
2. heavy-fast daiwa aird x -- this is your frogging, punching, heavy rig rod.
   
   
   
3. dobyns fury 703 aka medium-heavy/fast -- texas-rig , carolina rig, jigs etc. this is your bottom contact rod. because of that i chose to go to a higher end rod because with these techniques better sensitivity really does help to detect bites. what can i say about dobyns. pretty much universally respected. well made rods , great customer service. again this is a rod who many people say fish above its price point. i have a dobyns sierra 735.
   
   
   abu garcia silver max reel-- this is a good beginner reel at a good price. i have a friend who has been fishing an abu garcia for a couple years and it feels good, he hasnt had any problems with it. at 40 dollars hard to beat.
   
   if someone would like to spend a little more i would upgrade the silver max reels to daiwa fuegos. I chose to go with better rods and save money on reels to stay under the 350. sure you can do something where the rod and reel are comparable, but i rather have a better rods with cheaper reel. then two mediocre items.
   
   and i chose amazon just out of convenience and because their prices dont normally fluctuate too much. im sure if you shop around you can get some of these items at a lower price.

Don't know what stores you have around you. Go to a mom and pop place and check out the rods. Mass market rods that are good are st croix and g loomis, but unless on sale are expensive.

Lews makes a rod that's actually nice. Light weight, winn grips,and small lightweight guides for about$150 lews

I like my falcon bucoo micro. Made in USA. Great lightweight rod. They also have the bucoo SR which is cheaper(never seen it but about $100)
BucooMicro

Castaway it's a great rod builder. I have multiple. The nicest I have is a skeleton spinning rod. They have a taranis rod which is about $100. I've never used a taranis, but have held one, it's nicely made and light. Castaway

TFO has a great warranty. Their gary loomis rods are a good quality to price rod. I have one and have multiple fly rods from them.
Tfo

Lastly is a local builder. I have a Laguna classic. Got it on clearance at a shop. It's lightweight and it's custom. They make a rod called the liquid. As close to a custom rod that you can get for under $200. It's $159

Laguna

There are other brands out there that are better, I'm sure. Besides the Lews, I have routes from these makers and would buy again in a second.

I would go for a 2 piece or 4 piece light or ultralight action spinning rod. Amazon is full of suggestions with lots of reviews but for a low cost, relatively lightweight and tough rod an ugly stick is hard to beat. Here is a 6' light action rod which would be a great choice imo. https://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Stik-GX2-Spinning-Rod/dp/B00F0KM43G/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?keywords=shimano%2Bpack%2Brod&qid=1565000672&s=gateway&sr=8-19-spons&th=1 It is a bit more to pack than a 4 piece rod but strapped to the side of your pack should not be too obtrusive. As far as a reel again staying with the bang for the buck for the price I have had great luck with Pflueger President reels like this one. https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-PRESSP30X-President-Spinning-Fishing/dp/B074WHM4PV/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2PMKS1QL76NWO&keywords=pflueger%2Bpresident%2Bspinning%2Breel&qid=1565001151&s=gateway&sprefix=pflueder%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1-spons&th=1 I would spool it up with 4lb test.

Be sure to check the regs of where you are going bait may not be allowed but even if it is I would stick with lures. I would not want to fool with backpacking live bait, nothing stinks as bad as dead worms. LOL

Panther Martin, Roostertail and Joe's flies spinners are my go-to baits for trout. Small minnow baits like rapalas can be super effective as well. I am not going to list links for all but these but panther martin spinners are pretty deadly lures in my experience. https://www.amazon.com/Panther-Martin-UV6-Violet-Assortment/dp/B00AU5WNQO/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3A07BIDNZTDYW&keywords=panther+martin+trout+spinners&qid=1565001635&s=gateway&sprefix=panther+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-4

Last but not least. Someone else suggested a Tenkara outfit and I have to agree with him. It is a very simple and lightweight system that lends itself well to backpacking. The learning curve is not as steep as you may think and really the only downside is casting range but on remote streams and lakes a lot of the time you don't need to cast as far. Here are a couple of blog posts I wrote about what I use backpacking. I am a fly fisherman but maybe it will give you some ideas.

Backpack fly fishing gear

Tenkara

I agree with those who have said Tenkara is great for ultralight backpacking but not for fishing from the shore. A nice spinning set-up is great from the shore. I've given up on poles that breakdown and just buy telescoping rods now. They are not as great of rods, but they are so much easier to break down and carry. It is a PIA trying to keep track of and protecting all of the pieces for a rod that comes apart.

I would look for a telescoping rod 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 feet with as light of action as possible. The tiny little lures don't cast well with a stiff rod. For a spin set-up, the standard recommendation is to spend your money on the reel, not the rod (vs. fly fishing where you want a solid rod and don't care too much about the reel).

A cheap decent telescoping rod is South Bend:

https://www.amazon.com/South-Bend-Neutron-Spinning-Telescopic/dp/B00GIA9IF4/ref=pd_day0_hl_200_3/145-5623006-2978351?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00GIA9IF4&pd_rd_r=b06a9bb2-6b90-11e9-81c3-e19ee3aed6a0&pd_rd_w=HUvrt&pd_rd_wg=Vd2x6&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=FHH3TMQ49E06Y74B4CM9&psc=1&refRID=FHH3TMQ49E06Y74B4CM9

​

I have one and its a great deal for the money. If you want a real nice one I bought a Balzer rod. Definitely nicer than my South Bend rod but a heck of a lot more expensive. If you want as cheap and light as possible check out Pen Rods: http://penfishingrods.com

I ended up not getting a Pen Rod because they only work with their reels and those reels look pretty cheap and crappy to me.

For a reel I like the smallest Pflueger President PressP20 Spin reel: https://www.amazon.com/Pflueger-President-Spinning-Reel/dp/B074WHM4PV/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=pflueger%2Bpresident%2Bspinning%2Breel%2B20%2Bx&qid=1556661646&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull&th=1

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It is a heck of a deal for the quality of the reel.

Ok, here is what I would recommend my friend. Probably the daiwa beefstick spinning rod about 10 - 12 feet long. Its medium heavy action and would be perfect for fishing from the shore for smaller fish and even big game I actually have one that I use for sturgeon out here in oregon and they get to be huge! Fishing Rod That is the one I have. I would head down to where you plan on fishing and talk to some of the locals that are fishing. Let them know you are new and interested in fishing and try to ask questions about the techniques they are using and if they have any helpful tips. Local tackle shops are also a great place to get knowledge. Pick the employees brain and buy a couple lures or pieces of gear each time you go in and talk to them so you arent wasting their time. Get a good reel to, don't skimp on that and keep it clean from the sand!

does he have any brand allegiances? Do you think he might want to go to a baitcaster? Lots of Red fishers in Louisiana and some in SC (where I am) are taking up baitcasters for accurate and distance casting, but it isn't everyone's cup of tea.

The likely breakdown will be $175ish for a reel and $100ish for a rod at that price point. My buddy and I like St. Croix and Falcon rods - medium to medium heavy power with fast action and a 7'-0" or 6'-6" length.

St Croix Triumph - have to wash down the rod each time (saltwater is corrosive) - 6'6" rod - spinner rod

Falcon Coastal Clearwater - a little more expensive but I love it. This is a baitcaster rod though, they do make others...

Falcon Coastal Rod - Spinner rod. I would likely go with a 6'-6" or 7' medium with these guys

anywho - If he goes baitcaster, Shimano Tranx200 or the Curado K are both good choices from Shimano while Lews has 2 inshore models that are pretty good. One at $130 and one at $190 (I am getting a lews next, so one of those!)

I do not have familiarity with spinner rods to recommend. Most i have used are older and have been junky...

Type|Item|Price

----|:----|:----
Reel | Penn Battle 2 2000 | $73.97 @ Amazon
Rod | Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod (you determine what lenght/strenght you want) | $19.99 @ Amazon
Line | KastKing SuperPower Braid Fishing Line (10lb/547yards in moss green) | $22.98 @ Amazon
| ||Total: ~$116.94

Reel: The Penn Battle 2 is the leader in quality in its price range. Super tight reel that I can't suggest enough. Taken care properly, it will last years and years. Full body metal, so no flex. Sealed bearings meaning it's very hardy and less susceptible to rust.

Rod: It blows my mind how cheap it is, but the Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod is a great rod. I've had mine a few years.

Braid: I use Power Pro braided line, but there doesn't seem to be a decent size/length/price for you. KastKing has a terrific price for their braid. The one I suggest you will just about fill your spool twice, so next year you'll already have fresh, new braid to spool your reel with.

Lure: When it comes to bass fishing, there are two main lures I use: Rapala's Jointed Shad Rap and Yamamoto Kut Tail Worm Bait

Rapala Jointed Shad: The one I linked is the exact one I use 99% of the time. I keep my tackle box stocked with different sizes of them and diffrent colors. Just gotta know what the fish are wanting that day.

Yamamoto Kut Tail Worm Bait: This is a second go-to lure for bass. I primarily use Watermelon Black Red Flake color, but I do keep other colors with me incase the fish are wanting something else. There are many ways to use this lure, this video will go over it.

Hey Josh, I'd guess you're in the UK.

While you can get pretty much any fish with some line and a hook, there are different practices and equipment according to where you are.

The kit you linked is for carp. It's a fascinating practice, but for me is somewhat passive: you lay your rig and wait for a bite, you don't do much because carp is easily spooked.

You can start with a VERY basic kit and have lots of fun in lakes and rivers. I'd buy a 6' to 7' telescopic rod with a 2000-3000 series reel, some 6 lb to 10 lb line and an assortment of hooks, weights and lures. This shouldn't cost more than GBP 50.

Take a look at this video for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXuEMPMMvpI. Here are a couple other channels from the UK you can get tons of info from. And the odd one with great info but I find Graeme difficult to tolerate.

Here is just an example of a "good enough" kit that only needs more variety in lures/bobbers/etc for $10. You can get lower prices too. But by all means support your local fishing shop, they know their stuff and many act as clubs organizing expeditions if you'd like to find like-minded people.

Orvis carries tenkara, don't know much about the kickstarter but these are widely available and used.

Disclaimer: I don't tenkara fish and probably never will.

From what I've heard from shop owners and guys in the industry is that this is a dying form. It got big in the past few years but it seems like the fad is already dying down. I'd spend the money on a fly setup with a reel. Much much more versitile and probably cheaper. (http://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Anglers-4-Piece-Fishing-Outfit/dp/B003CTX2GU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377711468&sr=8-1&keywords=scientific+anglers)


From NYC I would recommend going up towards the Catskills and fishing the Beaverkill, Battenkill, Willowmoc, East, West, and Main stem Delaware rivers. Famous waters, and you will get a great lesson just from being up there are fishing the waters.

Thank you! This was a huge help! I purchased this collapsible rod (https://www.amazon.com/PLUSINNO-Telescopic-Retractable-Saltwater-Spinning/dp/B00YBV7WRS?th=1&psc=1) and I have been using the "whipping with a bobber" method. My friend tied it up for me the first time I went fishing and taught me the knot you use. I'm definitely going to make one of those kits you made (lead, swivel, hooks, & and beads) for when I travel. Some questions:

1. Should I debarb all my hooks? When and where should I use a barbed hook?
   
2. Where should the method of "casting out and leaving it there" should be used? I see a lot of people use that at the pier and in the movies.
   
3. Is there an app that shows you depth of the body of waters/what type of rig to use/bait to use? Or is it mostly trial and error?
   
   Again thank you so much for the informative post!

$75 should get you a pretty nice rig. Most of the combos sold go for less than that, and looking at amazon I would choose this one.

If you want to put your own combo together, I would be looking at reels with a higher bearing count, and maybe a longer rod. My favorite set-up right now is an Okuma Alumina on a Shakespeare Ugly Stik Lite. I have three like this as well as some larger version of that reel and am very happy with them after three years.

I'm not 100% sure what a snakehead is, but for cats I wouldn't bring anything lighter than a medium-heavy pole. Judging by Google Images, I'm not sure I'd use a lightweight setup for snakeheads either.

Anyway, on a budget, here's a decent looking rod and reel that won't break the bank, and will probably be adequate for what you need. If you plan on getting serious about chasing cats you may want to upgrade later though. Don't get too hung up about the gear though. For years I caught cats on my lightweight Ugly Stik and whatever cheap reel I happened to be able to afford at the time. Bait choice, time, and location are far more important than your gear. Be sure to have good line as well.

As far as cut bait you'll have to check the local laws on what is legal, and the locals for what works.

Hopefully someone from that area can fill you in some more. Being from Montana I'm not much help for Florida fishing. But if you have any more questions I'll do what I can to help.

Daiwa Ardito. Tremendous rod (I own a couple) with Medium/Heavy action. Travels well too.

Fenwick is also making some awesome rods for the money these days. Good luck.

I’ve had luck with this one. Surprisingly well made for the price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019TWHQVU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_.fTFDbRWVFEDZ

Sure bud,


Reel:
https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Revo-Low-Profile/dp/B00927037M/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1492185050&sr=8-8&keywords=Revo+stx


Rod:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019TWHQVU/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&smid=A118ET3SYKM3QX&th=1&psc=1

As with all Ultralight the cheaper you go the heavier it gets. But this combo will weigh around 5-6 total oz more thana tenkara and you won't be limited in casting distance, drag power, or lure selection.

Sorry for the formatting, on mobile.