Picking a First Rod — Easy

Rods are easy for beginners. Just remember you need the kind that has the handle with what appears to be a trigger.
You’ll want a 5-1/2 foot or 6 foot rod that comes apart into two pieces. Discount stores offer these starting at about $8. Look for small print on the rod that says either light or medium action. Durango by Shakespeare is one inexpensive rod brand.
Stores offer combos, the rod and reel together, at a discount. These are usually a good way to save money and get a rod and reel that match – but you don’t save if they add in other equipment that you don’t want with the package and the price goes up. Also, only buy a combo if it has one of the better reels. Check the prices of the reels separately, and frankly, if they’re offering one of the five-dollar reels in a combo, don’t buy.
With fishing rods, you could pay any amount of money. There are plenty of hundred-dollar rods out there, and some that are hundreds of dollars. Those work better and last longer (and you can feel really cool carrying that expensive equipment.) They’re completely unnecessary for the beginner.
Also, the more expensive rods are often one-piece rods. Once you have tried to fit a six-foot rod in your car, you’ll quickly realize any loss of performance with a two-piece rod is completely acceptable.