When I was growing up, somewhere between 8 and 12, I had exactly one fishing rod: a six-foot bamboo stick with line tied to the end and a homemade bobber. We'd wander along ponds and rivers, dropping bait wherever we thought fish might be hiding.
And we caught fish! Sometimes surprisingly good ones. We simply had to find places where our one fishing method worked.
Fast-forward a few decades. Fishing has become one of my favorite ways to unwind and recharge. Today, I own a fishing tackle store, with access to hundreds of rods. Somehow, even that doesn't always feel like enough.
But let's forget about fishing fanatics like me. How many rods does someone who fishes once or twice a month really need?
My answer is three.
1. A light spinning rod, 6–7 feet.
This is your trout and panfish set-up. Use it for PowerBait from the bank, drifting worms down a stream, or catching bluegill and crappie from a dock. You can also troll small spoons. A forgiving tip helps protect light line and keeps small hooks from pulling free. A practical starting point is the seven-foot, light-power Okuma Celilo CE-S-702Lb, retailing for $39.99.
2. A medium-power rod, roughly 6½–7½ feet.
Think of this as your eve...