Thanks for all the feedback. It sounds like I should start out with a good spinning combo (what do you guys think of the one I posted on top?) at least until I get the hang of things and decide more on what I want to do. That will also allow me to have a functional rod with some bait in the water while I fix my backlashes

I am fishing from the bank just with spinning rods using artificial,but i never fish with rods under 10',so i can't give some advises about 7" rod.

The best spinning reel under $100 for salt water is DAIWA WHISKER SS TOURNAMENT(1300,1600)

depends on the application...

they both have there uses but if i only had one it would be a baitcaster

Baitcaster!!

Ok, I used to be a baitcaster snob, wouldn't touch a Spinning reel of course I only fished for Bass and catfish, well 20 years ago I started fishing for crappie and sandies and went out and bought a nice medium light spinning outfit , well I ended up really liking the ease of use and cast ability of a spinning outfit, so I went out and bought a med. heavy setup for chunking plastics for bass, well to this day I probably fish a spinning reel more often than not, I think a baitcasters biggest advantage is its winch like retrieve while fighting aggressive fish, because hands down you can cast almost everything better with a spinning reel . I'm sure some people are going to argue with that casting statement, but physics are physics, less friction with a spinning reel

Don`t want to spend alot of money while figuring out what u want check out the pawn shops be surprised what u can pick up in there pretty damn cheap and good brand names sometimes...

I don't think the baitcasting reel are better comparative with spinning reel and for this reason i am fishing just with spinning reels catching a lot of nice fish(fresh and salt water).

"De gustibus e coloribus ,non disputandum"

It's nice to hear there are still some spinning reel fans out there. I decided that at least for the beginning I won't mess around with a baitcaster. I think it would be pretty discouraging to go fishing and have to respool line the whole time. I have a lot of other stuff I need to learn as it is. Maybe my 2nd or 3rd rod I'll give it a try and see for myself. Thanks for all the feedback and ideas.

Spinning is easier as you rarely get backlash. A bait caster, if you get one, can backlash - plan on it. I use spinning for salt water and bait caster for fresh water. Suggestion, if you get a bait caster, use braided line. It will avoid backlash 5x more than flour or other line. Also, it is easier to recover from a backlash with braid.

Get a good reel, thinking $100 minimum and on it. I like shimano curado / chronarch. However, I do have an academy h20 mettle, very nice reel for $60 or less on sale. I have pen saltwater reels.

Just as important, you need a good pole. I have a loomis pole for freshwater, light, stiff and casts great. For saltwater, the pole excellence is less important - they just need to be bigger and not fall apart.

I use a bait caster for everything...my wife hates them, she has taken over my spinning combos...I also use fly rods for everything too

Well this weekend I got to try a baitcaster at the lake and surprisingly after 2-3 dozen casts I didn't get any backlashes. We did start out with the tension set a little high (lure would not fall down all the way) and then decreased it to where lure would fall down with a medium speed. I was dying to try it with the tension really low but we had to go. Needless to say I'm not as intimidated by them anymore after this experience then again I didn't have to fix a backlash yet

Watch out for that first long cast into the wind. Just when you think you've mastered it....