I would recommend you go to a good fresh water bait and tackle store, not Walmart or a big box store. Explain to them what you want to fish for and the price range you are looking to spend. They should be able to give you good advice and set you up right. Depending on where you live there are a lot of great stores with knowledgeable people working in them. If you’re going to fish in NJ for trout a 5'-6"- 6' ultra-light or light rod is fine. Ultra-light is better but if you want to mess around with some bass in the summer then just a light rod rated for 4-8 pound test or something similar to that. For these little trouser trout that they stock in Jersey 4 pound test is all you need. Pinch a little weight (split shot size 7 or BB) about 15"-18" above a size 8 or 10 hook and tip it with a salmon egg, worm or meal worm. The state is stocking all rainbows now because of disease and rainbows LOVE salmon eggs (if you can find Mikes pink shrimp egg they are the bomb)Cast out and let your line drift down steam, you want just enough weight to tick the bottom every once in a while, if you keep getting snagged your using too much weight. If your line stops drifting or you feel a tick that's a little different from normal pick up on your rod tip slowly, if you feel a fish set the hook, if not lower your rod tip and continue your drift. In the smaller streams look for short deep runs or any water that appears a little different, fish the current edges (seams where fast water meets slow water) as that is where trout hold and feed. I hope this helps.
