When getting started fishing, I recommend that you buy a complete fishing outfit off-the-shelf. You should be able to get a reasonable starter outfit for $30 to $50. Once you have developed both some skill and interest, you will want to upgrade.
Starter Fishing Combo
I wouldn’t expect the rod/reel starter outfit to survive too many seasons around salt water, but it will get you started. The rod and reel will be on the heavy side so casting for long periods will be tiresome. The rod will be soft (flexible). If the reel comes loaded with line, it will most likely be monofilament and it will be quite elastic. If the reel is not loaded, get it spooled with 15lb monofilament. You will want to select a rod/reel combo in the 9-foot range. The length of the rod will govern the reel and line. Attempt to purchase the lightest combo without sacrificing stiffness.
- Through a combination of the soft rod and the elastic monofilament, you won’t be able to impart the same action on the lure as a stiffer rod and inelastic line.
- Through a combination of the soft rod and the elastic monofilament, it will be difficult to feel when the lure touches the bottom or when a fish nudges the lure.
- Through a combination of the soft rod and the elastic monofilament, you may have to pull a little harder to set the hook.
However,
- Through a combination of the soft rod and the elastic monofilament, the outfit will be very forgiving for a beginning caster. The timing of when you release the line in the cast is less critical.
- The investment is small so if you damage the equipment, your losses are small.
Upgrade Fishing Combo
Once you have established a skill and interest in fishing, you will want to upgrade. You want to achieve two objectives in the upgrade, (1) lighter equipment and (2) stiffer, more responsive equipment.
- You achieve light weight in the rod through different materials
- You achieve light weight in the reel through different materials and smaller size
- You achieve smaller size reel through different line which is smaller in diameter so you can get more length on the same reel or the same length on a smaller reel
- You achieve stiffness and responsiveness through primarily the line, but also the rod. Because the new superlines don’t stretch and because the rod is stiff, you will feel every nibble and you will sense when your lure is skipping of the bottom (which you may want to do from time to time.)
On the flip side, your timing when you cast must be better with a stiffer rod and non-stretch line. Also, you must learn to give line to the fish when it shakes because without the elasticity of mono, the fish is more likely to get slack from you and shake the hook. Lastly, expect to cut your finger with the line more frequently; the thinner line and greater pressure will split the skin if you’re not careful (see Casting for more about cuts and prevention). Expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $300 for your new outfit. You can spend quite a bit more, but you needn’t.
Starting with the line, you will typically want 15lb test superline (aka “ultra braid” or “Spectra Fiber”). For details, review the section Line. You will actively use about 100 yards off the top, but you will want another 100 yards in the event you hook into a locomotive.
Moving back to the reel, you want to purchase a salt water reel that holds 200 yards of 15lb superline. Because superlines are smaller in diameter than monofiliment, you can pack more superline on the reel. Said another way, you can pack the same amount of line on a smaller reel. But smaller reels are typically designed for smaller fish. Reels that hold 200 yards of 15lb Spectra may not have been designed for battling fish over 20 lbs (see Reel for details). You will want to review the specifications of the reel regarding drag, bearings, anti-reverse, and weight. Generally, once you get into a reel over $100, the quality of the reel will be self-evident and its preparedness for dealing with bigger fish is almost assured.
The last component is the rod. You may want to stick with the 9-foot length or you may want to increase the length. You are shopping for light-weight and stiffness (see Rod for details). Every rod without a reel will feel light to you; therefore you must handle a lot of them side by side to get a feel for them. You will probably be happiest with a medium action rod made primarily with carbon fiber. In most cases, you will want a two-piece rod which makes transportation much easier.
For your Kayak
Purchasing a rod/reel outfit for my kayak has been a great challenge. My first outfit was a $30 fresh water outfit with a 6 foot rod that I got at K-Mart. The drag system was incapable of higher settings and the reel began seizing after 10-12 uses. I was reluctant to buy an expensive outfit that it might become submerged and seize or lost overboard. After two additional cheap outfits, I eventually sucked it up and bought a $50 reel that with a little extra WD40 has lasted one season so far and is still going strong. The rod was less of an issue; however, there is one important consideration.When selecting a rod for use in your kayak, it must be long enough that the tip over-hangs either end of the kayak (when bent with a fish on). When the fish passes under your boat, you need to be able to lean forward to guide the line to pass across the end of the kayak to the other side. My first rods were long enough, but not when bent. I’ve recently upgraded to a stiffer 6-foot rod and while I enjoyed the whip of the cheaper rod, I no longer have problems shifting the line from side to side across the bow or stern of my 17 foot kayak.