Good all around rods and reels

I'm sure there will be may opinions, but most will be more informed than mine. Want to start fishing more and wanted to get some recommendations on set-ups. I don't want to start off with the cheap cheap because I always spend more $$ on upgrading, but don't want to break the bank because I have too many hobbies as it is. What would you suggest for the following.

Spinning reels, don't have the skills to baitcast.
-trout
- bass
- Steelhead
- Salmon

the penn spinfisher V is getting really good reviews and I bought two last season a 3000 or 3500 for perch and surf casting.....hold enough 30lb braid to not empty the reel on hail mary casts

and a 5000 for bigger kayak work...although most folks here dont like a spin caster in the kayak..I use it to drop or cast light lures ----get down quicker..but more and more my conventional reels are getting used all day
they are supposed to be really good fully sealed spincasters for salt work..and so far mine are great..but they came late in the season

I have been through a lot of mid range $$ spinning reels in the kayak ...they all stil work but get cleaned a lot and have had breakage and repair issues.....

a cheaper to mid range spinning reel in saltwater is just a waste of money and time...ask me how I know 

but for just a season or to get fishing you can buy 60-90$ reel and get by knowing it has a limit/time out

for that a penn fierce will work   4000 or up size maybe

My opinion is to spend more money on the rod rather than the reel.I slowly bought these setups for freshwater kayak and shore fishing. I waited for sales and got great deals on decent gear. I like Shimano reels (but they no longer include a spare spool which costs $20+) and two piecerods for easy transport.

Fly fishing (still learning howto): cabelas backpacking fly rod, 5wt fly reel

light spinners, flies with mini casting bubble: shimano sedona 1000 reel, 4lb mono, st croix triumph TRS66LF2 rod, 6'6" L Fast Action, 1/16 to 5/16oz. 

medium spinners, light trolling: shimano sahara 2500, 6lb mono, st croix triumph TRS70MLF2 rod, 7' ML Fast Action, 1/8 to 1/2oz. For trout jigging I use 20lb powerpro braid on spare spool with leader.

bass, heavier trolling: shimano sahara 2500, 8lb mono (sometimes w/ 4-6lb leader for trout), cabelas fish eagle 50 rod, 7' M Fast action, 1/4 to 3/4 oz

multipurpose for steelhead/shore rockfishing,perch: shimano sedona 4000, 10 lb mono, shimano clarus CSS-96MH2B,  9'6" MH Fast Action, 3/8 to 1oz.

Well How much money do you want to spend??

You can get a decent setup for under 100 bucks.

I have numerous poles.

For trout / fresh water.

I use this.. It was actually onsale for 8 bucks shipped..
http://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-Sweepfire-Medium-6-Feet-6-Inch/dp/B0011N8MRS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1424446926&sr=8-7&keywords=fishing+rod+daiwa

I have it with a 4000 shimano sienna reel.

So this setup is under 50 bucks.

I have this as a backup in the kayak.

My wife caught many trout. with a cheap 30 dollar big 5 rod and reel combo.  Made by Mitchell. It is used for 2 season so far and still works smooth.

Maybe you should look into shimano clarus rods.

I had okuma, Mitchell, and shimano reels.
IMO for the price, even the lower end shimano reels are better built, and smoother.

You can use one setup. But you will eventually have numerous, for different type of fishing.

However I think a good setup will run you under 200 bucks.  Something you will enjoy using. 

Steelhead & Salmon:
Okuma Celilo 9'6" spinning medium
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FFZJG6/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_2?qid=1424450440&sr=8-2-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=okuma+celilo+9%276%22+med+spin

Take care of this rod. Great rod but easily damaged. If you dent or crush this rod at all, it will snap.

Phleuger President http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EBA9HE0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1424450552&sr=8-4&keywords=pflueger+president&dpPl=1&dpID=41v5lxzasiL&ref=plSrch

Great all around reel and deep spool. Comes with extra spool. Load one with flouro,  one with braid. Clean and lube this reel at least once a year.

Trout & Bass:
You could run a crossover combo here. Same reel as above.
http://www.powellco.com/inferno-series-rods/Inferno-702-MLEF

Powell Inferno 702 spinning

Well How much money do you want to spend??

You can get a decent setup for under 100 bucks.

Spending between $100 and $200 for a set up would be fine. Just didn't want to get into $400+ set ups.

do you currently have a rig?  If so what is it.

I would look into the Pflueger line of spinning reels (President, Purist etc.). From them you can build excellent set-ups that will cross over and cover many of the bases.

Light trout, crappie, bluegill (4-6# line). 6-6.5 ft rod. Smaller Kastmasters/spinners/crappie jigs etc.

Trout, smallmouth, spots, finesse largemouth/smaller cats (6-8# line) 7 ft rod for smaller crank baits/light worming/trolling/jigging/Powerbait egg sinker rigging etc.

There is merit to spending extra on a great quality rod (of course). I own one St. Croix (Premier 6.5 ft) but there are many other good quality rods in the $40-70 range that
will do just fine in these lighter range set-ups as well.  Fast/light/medium actions but (still) with a bit of a backbone in the butt section. Not too stiff, not too soft. The one thing
I don't like is a total wet noodle where the whole rod sways down all the way to the handle section. You can lean close to that for crappie but everything else needs at least some
backbone. Tap the forward (near tip) section in the store. You want to feel that clink clink very well on the handle/hands.

If you buy good quality reels to start, you can switch them out and mix/match various rods to exactly what species you are targeting.








 

do you currently have a rig?  If so what is it.

20 year old Zebco Quantum reel with Med/Hvy Kunnan rod and a Cabelas prestige II 5 wt fly rod. So definitely room to upgrade.

any ugly stick rod from wal mart even- 5 year warranty on most rods...tough...all levels of action available there to most days too----last a long time and no need to baby em really

ugly stick coastal in shore (39$) and shimano sedona 4000(70$) with 30 lb power pro slick 8  moss green braid(20$)

the whole rod -reel-and line ---140$ish...you could easy catch  most fish you mentioned, on this set up and kayak ocean fish it too  ...with that set up imo...I can pull in 30" ling in 80 fow or  surf perch fish it---tad short for shore casting but a lot of perch are in 2 f.o.w...
I have the 'coastal inshore' ugly stick from wal mart with sedona 4000 and 14 lb clear mono..i got this set up for casting smaller stuff in the ocean.....a blast to toss swimbaits into kelp and count to 20....a blast!!!!set the drag right and most lings can get near the kayak net lol 

Trout & Bass:

http://www.powellco.com/inferno-series-rods/Inferno-702-MLEF

Powell Inferno 702 spinning

This rod will work for bass, trout and crappie/blue gill. I like Shimano reels, so pearing that up with a Shimano Sahara 2500FE may go over your budget by some, but worth the extra money spent.

Spinning reels, don't have the skills to baitcast.
-trout
- bass
- Steelhead
- Salmon

For midrange rods, based on using them for a few seasons I would reccommend: Shimano Clarus, Ugly Stik Intercoastal or Lite, Fenwick Eagle or HMX, St Croix Triumph, Lamiglas Classic, Cabelas Prodigy.
For midrange reels: Shimano Symetre/Sahara/Spirex, Pflueger Presidente or Supreme, Okuma Avenger or Epixor, Mitchell 300, Penn Fierce.

So what's more important? Good rod or good reel?

So what's more important? Good rod or good reel?

Line...