What is a good beginner fly rod and reel combo?

Whats a cheap salt water rod and reel combo for a beginner?

• it has to be able to catch snook and tarpon and is easy to use for beginners in salt water fishing or pier fishing and can it be used in a lake

• Answer:

  If you're after small tarpon the same rod you use for normal size saltwater fishing or lakes will do. For large tarpon you need a good strong boat rod or specialized tarpon rod. As a general purpose rod a medium or medium/heavy spinning rod will be fine, around 8 feet long. Shakespeare and Daiwa do good value combos with everything sorted, matching rod and reel, usually pre-wound with suitable line for the size of the outfit, and maybe some hooks, swivels etc included but those sort of bits are cheap to buy anyway. The combos come in sealed packages so where you buy isn't of great importance if you're going to be a low-usage fishing guy, but your local fishing shop is the best if you need any more supplies and/or advice. Those shops are friendly chatty places where you get good advice from people in the business and who go fishing, which department stores can't normally match. Around $30-50 will get you a good starter with years of use in it but look first at what there is. Take some time...buy once and buy right. Here's a combo from Shakespeare about right for what you want if you keep the tarpon stuff down to reasonable expectations. Trouble is a medium spinning rod sometimes isn't a good casting rod for a big lake. One rod fits all only fits some things about right. That's where that friendly local fishing shop comes in real handy.....have a chat and get some looks at what there is, right in your hand. http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP107822497msk.htm . . . Dozens more on here... The one above is on spinning rod combos page 9 on the right... Viper Spinning combo 8' 0"..$33... http://www.fishreports.net/tackle/casting-rod-reel-combos/ Best of luck