gnat

I've been scouring different store sites on the net but the amount of products and information is somewhat daunting. I was wondering if the pros here can help out with any recommendations on a rod and spinning reel that can together meet my relativelly small budget of $200 (I did NOT win the Lottomax yesterday  ). I have usually been targeting bass, pike, and perch but I'm open to other species like steelhead and salmon. I'd like to find something that is a decent quality all-around rod, but I know there's a definite difference in rod lengths when it comes to lake vs. river  angling. Any tips would be appreciated!! I'm a noob, go easy

Hey all,

I am considering myself a born-again angler girl, living in TO. Born-again meaning I used to fish a lot as a little kid with my Dad, who is a pretty avid angler, but due to an unfortunate "incident", I haven't really touched a fishing rod in close to 20 years. Well I'm not sure if it was nostalgia, but this spring I got the itch, grabbed a rod and headed to High Park not knowing what to expect. After several casts with nothing, I shuffled spots and WHAM! Caught a decent sized smallie which put up an adorable fight. Needless to say, I was hooked again(pardon the rather bromidic pun), and it has become a bit of an obsession over the summer. Some of the places we fished this summer: Long Point, Hastings, Couchiching, Port Severn, Orangeville, Dalrymple, Oastler Lake, west trib, north trib, and various spots in Toronto.

When camping at Oastler Lake in September I caught my first pike! Sadly, when taking it out of the water, the pike freaked, I freaked (a little), line went snap, fish went kerTHUNK and off it shot before we could get a pic. I am determined to catch another pike this fall...that was exhilarating! I'm stoked to have found this forum and look forward to learning a lot more!

Cheers!