Ultra light to light graphite spinning rod or a medium light fiberglass spinning rod in the length of 5.5 to 6 feet is very good for light fresh water fishing with lures, jigs or small bait. If you’re going to fish the brush you’re going to need a medium to heavy graphite or fiberglass rod. As the graphite is much stiffer a medium is ok but if you’re planning on a fiberglass get a heavy one kind of like what you would use for salt water fishing.

For fishing in saltwater for game fish like redfish or stripers with lures or live bait you need 7 to 8 foot rod medium graphite spinning rod or medium to medium heavy fiberglass spinning rod. The graphite spinning rod is light enough for use with smaller lures but can still sling larger ones 1/4oz up to 1oz. The fiberglass spinning rod can handle 1/2oz to 1 and even 2oz lures and or bait with ease.

If you’re planning on fishing wide type rivers with lures or live bait you can use either a fast action or a medium fast action tip on a 7.5 to 8.5 foot spinning rod either in graphite or fiberglass. Depending on the size of the lures used will determine the strength of your spinning rod. Such as medium light to medium graphite and a medium fiberglass for smaller lures. With medium to medium heavy graphite or fiberglass for heavier lures and or live bait like live eels or large sea worms or chunks of mackerel.

When looking at the guides if you’re getting a rod with ceramic inserts in the guides is sure the frames are painted or have baked on black paint. The reason is they are normally a far better grade guide they will not corrode as fast as the non painted cheaper ones. If you’re just starting out and this is to be your first rod you may want to start with chrome plated spinning guides. You will need to look these over carefully the V type are much better then the boxy type. Also another tip makes sure the first guide up from the real seat is# 50 or larger this is very important as it will allow you to cast further then if you have a smaller guide. = usalures.com

Grips and reel seats for grips you have a choice of either cork or foam it’s a toss up as which is best, it’s just what ever you prefer. Reel seats there’s a lot of cheap graphite styled reel seats out there the best are made by Fuji they have a stainless steel insert for the reels feet. There are aluminum and chrome reel seats even wood reel seats and most will stand the test of time. http://usalures.com/rods.html