Re: Need some help with set up
 

For what you plan I'd go with a 5' 6" or 6' L or UL spinning outfit. You aren't going need to cast super long distances on those rivers and the shorter rods will cut down on snagging overhanging branches and bushes.

The Pfleuger President is a darn good reel for the money (about $50). For a good rod that won't eat up a lot of your budget, consider the Berkley Lightning ($40) or the Bass Pro Shops Micro Light ($50). Both give you a lot of rod for the money. Moving up in price somewhat, but still not breaking your budget, I like the Fenwick HMG series and the Shimano Clarus. I'm not a fan of the St Croix Triumph, which is in the same price range. I have one and it's my least favorite rod. It seems so chintzy and overly whippy compared with the HMG and Clarus.

The above leaves you $100 to $150 for tackle. That will get you a cheap, but serviceable pair of hip boots for wading (its pretty important to be able to wade in rivers such as the Ramapo). I say hip boots because a decent pair of chest waders would eat up the rest of your budget and more. That leaves money for a few small Rapalas, Yo-Zuri Snap Beans, spoons (Kastmaster, Little Cleo, etc.), inline spinners (Vibrax, Mepps, Rooster Tail etc.) and some Power Baits, hooks and weights.

Re: Need some help with set up
 

I use the president myself. Five foot ultra light rod. Baby night crawlers. Fatheads and butterworms. Hit me up in the spring and all take you to my favorite haunts in the po.

Re: Need some help with set up
 

Totally agree with Briansnat and shrimpman. I have had good luck with pflueger spinning reels. I use the 30 series for trout fishing on a 5.5' light action rod with 4# flouro.

Check out a president combo. They run about $80.

Definitely get a set of chest waders if u don't have them. I don't like hip boots cause I always push the limit and wind up wet. Can be a problem in the frigid spring time water. There are options from cabelas and proline that won't break the bank that have the boots sewn right into the wader.

That will leave you plenty left to gear up. In addition to the lure suggestions previously mentioned get yourself a fishing vest, small Plano boxes, trout net and magnetic net release to keep it out of your way.

Good luck!

Re: Need some help with set up
 

If you want to get specific about bait, read the article in On the Water coming up in April. A 6-foot light power rod will cast those lures, but if you want to try super-light, casting single salmon eggs, you can catch a lot of those rainbows, if you get good at it, with the lightest rod you can find, which would be 4 or 4 1/2-feet using 2-pound test. Used to be at least one 3 1/2-foot rod on the market so light I can almost bend the tip of mine back to the shaft, and the butt is a little thinner in diameter than the tip of my stand-up rod for offshore and the pier. I built another for my son, not able to find any for sale a few years later. Missing hits will drive you nuts, but that's part of what makes it so much fun. And on tackle that light, a 10-inch rainbow makes the drag sing. I fish North Branch Raritan with that tiny rod and only one situation where the river's especially wide calls for a double leader--two salmon eggs, NO weight, except for a tiny snap, to get all the distance I need casting with a 3 1/2-foot rod. If you fish salmon eggs, you don't want 5 or 6 feet of leverage for hookset. 4 or 4 1/2 feet is the magic wand you need to have close feel of the drift, and if you can find a 3 1/2-footer, even better, but no shorter than this. Ice jigging rods are not the ticket.

Re: Need some help with set up
 

Having multiple rods is an ideal situation. My river trout fishing spinning outfits consist of a 30 year old 4 1/2 ft Fenwick UL rod with a Plfeuger President 6920 and 2 lb test for tossing really light baits such as salmon eggs and real small lures, and a 5' 6" Shimano Clarus UL with a President 6930 and 4 lb test line for pretty much everything else. Since the OP was on a budget, the idea of 2 rods and reels was out of the question and I don't think a 4 1/2 ft or smaller rod is versatile enough, since it will be his only rod for a time.

Re: Need some help with set up
 

If looking for a simular rod check out the 48" ht ice blue rod, yes it's an ice rod but you still have the 48" length. You can touch the tip no problem and take abuse. Only thing better is the price tag for $12. I've caught trout up to 9lbs here in jersey and steelhead up to 12lbs. Really a great rod for casting tiny lures and bait

Re: Need some help with set up
 

I go with the tiny pflueger president as well.

but no one uses braid? I use #5 power pro (with a long #4 flouro leader). Add yards and yards to your casting distance and get better hook sets at distance. I've used braid for almost everything for years and I'll never go back!

Re: Need some help with set up
 

I second this - for have a St. Croix Avid 4'6" spinning rod I use for drifting and it works outstanding.

p.s. - Bruce, I enjoy reading your articles when I come across them

Re: Need some help with set up
 

I tried braid for trout fishing years ago, and I lost so many fish! The way they would hit the lure, it just ripped right out of their mouths. The stretch from the mono seems to absorb the shock from the hit, and basically sets the hook itself. I can see how it would be good for drifting bait, but I will never use braid with lures for trout again.

Re: Need some help with set up
 

I loved those little Fenwicks growing up. I only used a rod I built myself for rainbows and brookies, but always had an eye for those Fenwicks (and used Fenwick glass to build my rod). Since those years, I've incorporated various baits & lures into the scheme, but always have preferred salmon eggs...only in the past couple of years, I've been fly fishing a little more.

Thanks, Ugly Stick. There's two things I can't live without: fishing and writing.