Are there fishing rods that can be used for both fresh and salt water?

I am new to fishing and am planning on going a couple times with some friends. Some may be freshwater everglades and others could be off a pier. It would be nice if I could get a rod that can be used for both. However, I don’t know rod and reel brands whatsoever. I’m a college student so It would be nice if the rod and reel didn’t exceed $60-70 total.

Your request is a tall order!

#1. Pier fishing generally requires a heavier action rod than Freshwater/Inshore Saltwater ‘Glades fishing. The reality is- you need 2 different outfit’s.

Can you go Freshwater/Brackish-water Glades fishing with an 7-8FT Pier outfit?-Yes.

Will it be major “over-kill” and will you look like an @ss?- Yes

Can you go Pier Fishing with a 6′ 6″ – 7′ ‘Glades outfit? Not really. Why?

Pier fishing generally requires you to use Pyramid Weights in the 2-5OZ range. Even an expensive 7′ Backwater/Frshwater rod can’t handle those weight allowances, (period). Add the weight of your bait and the weight of the potential Pier fish your trying to catch and BANG!

You’ve got a busted rod or broken line!

(On MANY, MANY occasions (while fishing a variety of Florida Piers) I’ve watched poor, ignorant, souls trying to land a medium-sized Saltwater fish with an obvious “crappie spinning outfit”. None succeeded, and in most instances, they ended up tangling their neighbors lines in the process- resulting in “bad blood” and “comments made”. When you go to the pier, look at your average neighbor- do they look like people you want to “upset”? Esp if your using a “Mickey Mouse rod” that couldn’t land a 6LB fish?)

#2. $60 – $70 (for the rod AND reel) won’t get you anywhere NEAR quality.

You could start looking in pawn shops and at garage sales. Having a slightly used Penn, Shimano, Daiwa or Fin-Nor reel would be 100% better than purchasing a “Walmart Special” POS combo.

Here are some specific Brands and reels to look for when prowling the pawn shops & garage sales:

1. Daiwa, Black Gold model BG15- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_2038____SearchResults

2. Penn, “Slammer” model 360 or 460- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_96639____SearchResults

3. Fin-Nor, Sportfisher model FS50- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10204504_151001002_151000000_151001000_151-1-2

4. Shimano, Symetre model 4000- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_102360_100001002_100000000_100001000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

Rods????

Because of your designated budget, Ugly Stik, Daiwa Coastal, and any big dept store brand, (like Bass Pro Shops, DDicks Sporting Goods, Gander MT, Cabelas, Etc) will be your best bet. If you can, purchase your rod NEW. Used rods tend to be abused more than reels. Here are some specific Brand examples:

1. Ugly Stik, INSHORE Lite 7′ MH- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_17946____SearchResults

2. Daiwa Coastal Inshore 7′ M- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_97106_151002002_151000000_151002000_151-2-2

3. BPS, Goldcup 7′ 6″ – http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10204611_151002002_151000000_151002000_151-2-2

Even though you may only intend to use your rod & reel a handful of times, it’s important you understand that it’s better to have a quality product than to purchase garbage that “might or might not” work the 8th time you decide to use it.

Do you have an account at Ebay? Ebay generally has great deals for reels.

If you decide to purchase a combo outfit know this- Buying a “combo” outfit is rarely a good idea. Combo outfits come 30 to a box- with very little packaging or care taken to keep them safe during the shipping process. Combo outfit’s are frequently “2nds” that the manufacturer has sold at a discount price and assembled to get rid of surplus that is slightly defective or un-popular. They will match a good reel with a 2ND rod or vice versa…….That is how a retailer can SELL a combo so CHEAP……..be LEARY of any “insane deal”.

Hope this info helps ya somehow?

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