Need some help with set up

[WhaleFart]

Hey all,

I pretty much only fish salt, and consider myself a very knowledgeable surf, back bay fluke, and canyon fishing. I have never seriously fresh water fished, but living in NYC now, I want to embark on north jersey for some spring trout in between surf trips. My budget for everything is $250, rod, reel, and mix goods of tackle. I will be fishing the ramapo and saddle rivers with occasional oradell res trips.

Appreciate it very much!!!!

[AndyS]

Since you already know your tackle well this should be easy. You know a 6 foot rod will cast farther than a 5 foot rod. Daiwa, Daiwa, Daiwa for your freshwater reel, any decent St. Croix rod. Jigs, Rapalas, spinners.

[WhaleFart]

Thank you sir!

[Jigman13]

Daiwa exceler 2000. About $75-80. 6 ft st croix triumph, lite. About $90. Should do the trick. CD3 rapalas, pins minnows, some bumble panther Martins.

[bassnblues]

I agree with Daiwa/St Croix. Pick up some 0 and #1 size spinners, #8 hooks and split shot and your all set.

For bait, I like meal worms and power bait.

[shrimpman steve]

There are no fish in the 'Po

[Lard Almighty]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Daiwa exceler 2000. About $75-80. 6 ft st croix triumph, lite. About $90. Should do the trick. CD3 rapalas, pins minnows, some bumble panther Martins.

This is a winner. I'd also add some 2" white grubs on 1/32 to 1/16 oz. jigheads. Four lb. test mono should cover most situations.

[WhaleFart]

The pros have spoke and I will follow. Thank you guys, I'm going to binge read in my free time on tactics

[briansnat]

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.

[shrimpman steve]

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.