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I'm also new to fishing, so I don't have any "expert" advice. But this is what I did:
Cheap... this way, if I decide I don't like what I got, I don't end up 'wasting' a ton of money. I got 2 rods (one I usually use, and one for either a back-up, or for friends/family tagging along and would need to borrow). My rod was $12, and the spare was $9, both at Wal-Mart. I'll probably go somewhere "fancy" (Cabela's, Sportsman's Warehouse, etc.) for my better rods when I decide on a real one.
Type - I got the closed spinners, with the trigger. First rod I ever used, on a vacation, was the spinning reels with the 'bail' you have to flip over...and I was constantly forgetting to flip it! So until I actually get good at the basics, I'm going to use the closed reel/trigger kind. However, the open/bail kind is really good, for the fact that you rest your finger on the line, and can feel the real light/subtle bites much better than having to "feel" them through the whole rod.
By the way, I don't know what the spare rod is... but I know that my own one is a Shakespeare. I've heard that Ugly Sticks are good.
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Nothing wrong with starting out with a combo. Pike fishing you should have a 7ft rod that is med-heavy. Your reel will have to fit the line your useing and will say it on the reel. I prefer an open faced spinning reel, so I can change lines quickly. As with everything else, you get what you pay for.
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[#008000]Hey JDieter,[/#008000]
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[#008000]Welcome to BFT ![/#008000]
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[#008000]First off, appropriate rod length has nothing to do with your height. [/#008000]
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[#008000]Get a rod that feels good to you in your hand and that will work within the situation you find yourself. [/#008000]
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[#008000]To start off, I would suggest something around the 6 to 7 foot range in either a spincasting (trigger rod) or spinning (straight handle rod) reel format. A medium or medium heavy action rod would be a good all around fishing set up. [/#008000]
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[#008000]Spincasting reels are the easiest to start out with, but they have some limitations. Spinning reels do require a little practice at first, but are overall, tend to be higher quality, more versital, and in the long run, a better choice. [/#008000]
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[#008000]Spool the reel (or have it done for you) with a good quality line in the 8 to 10 pound test range.[/#008000]
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[#008000]You can get a workable rod from Cabelas or Bass Pro or even WalMart for cheap. I don't know anything about the Whuppin Stick, but, they are supposed to be similar to the Shakespeare Ugly Stick (which I would recommend). Ugly Sticks are inexpensive, very durable and I have several models that have worked well for me over the years for many fish species. You could easily find a Shakespeare combo within your budget - whatever that may be.[/#008000]
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[#008000]Here are a couple of links that you really should investigate for more information on some of the basics that you want to know. If you have any other questions on specifics, feel free to ask.[/#008000]
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[url "http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/fishopedia/bait-and-equipment/rods"][#000000]FISHING BASICS - RODS[/#000000][/url]
[url "http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/fishopedia/bait-and-equipment/reels"][#000000]FISHING BASICS - REELS[/#000000][/url]
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