So my G/F and I are headed to the coast in a couple weeks to catch a little of the redfish run. I've fished the salt for years but she never has. I'm having a little trouble deciding what sort of set up to get for her as far as rod and reel. All my rigs are bait casting and I'd rather not spend half my trip with her upset at the bird nested spool that is sure to occur. I think i'll get a spin caster for her as we will probably be casting shrimp and soaking croaker. I cant decide on the rod though....She is not a proficient caster by any stretch of the imagination...6'? 6'6"? 7'? Medium heavy? Im just not sure. Any of you have a set up that your ladies use that you could reccomend?

7' med/light spinning rod and 2500 series reel will serve your purpose well. Spool with 20 lb braid, and she's set up. I can have the rankest beginners being successful in minutes with that setup.

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agreed...

Great information! Thanks guys.

Just to further add a bit-IMO a good starter rig is an Ugly Stick Med or Med/ Lt, 7', with a Black/Gold finished Penn spinning reel. Won't blow the budget, totally fishable. Spool w/ braid, tie on a fluoro ldr and catch fish.

I'm kinda special on Shakespeare's Alpha Spinning combos. Seems like everyone on the Jetties and surf have at least one easily seen white rod. I'd suggest the 8' combo for under $40.00 rated at 10-25. It would be good for surf, pier and bay fishing. I've used mine to catch Bull Reds and it does well catching Whiting, Trout and Pompano. Yes, you can get the 7' Alpha combo, but it is only a medium rod and if you want to use it for all around, I'd still recommend the 8'. Shakespeare also sells a 'pink' combo with an Ugly Stick medium heavy for catfishin' that looked pretty good when I saw it recently at Outdoor World.

Ugly Stik +1. Check into a 40 series Okuma spinnig reel. Won't break the bank and will easily pull in a 40" red. I fish ABU's and Okuma's and have had them for years with no prolem. Spray them dowm LIGHTLY when you are done.

I would go with the ugly stick or a Penn pursuit combo both lightweight a easy to handle I have both of them and spool them with 30lb braid and these are the rods my girl goes for first I prefer the penn and I agree with fishlady I have a 10ft shakespeare alpha combo and I use it for pier fishing, surf fish, freshwater for catfish I just beat the hell out of it pretty much and it just keeps going

DAIWA WHISKER SS TOURNAMENT 1300,1600 spinning reels.