What are yall's thoughts on a rod specifically for speckled trout? Looking to add a rod to the arsenal for when I come down next Spring. I throw a lot of plastics if that helps. 'Ppreciate your help in advance!

i had one custom made it was mainly supposed to be a trout rod 7'6 M action. But it works well for reds as well.

For spots and slot reds, a good medium 7 to 8 foot (7.6 being the norm) rod works well.

Spinning or bait casting is more of a personal preference. For me, I like to use bait casters for throwing artificials, and for baits and very light lures spinning.

This is the area where a bass rod works best in my opinion.

Shakepeare Ugly Stick, 7', medium action hard to beat (especially for the price) for all-around speck/ red fishing pole. Your choice-spinner or caster. I use both with no particular pattern other than spinner with light baits.

Thanks. Yall got any specific brands or models? I've been looking at some of the St Croix inshore models and the Castaway models. Anybody have opinions on these or have some other models I should look into?

i am using the 7' ugly now and i am big ugly stik fan but looking at the 7'6' or longer for when the wind is blowing in my face throwing the small glow TTF shad rig. not sure if 6" is going to make a difference but looking at the ugly stick inshore select. example: http://www.basspro.com/Shakespeare-Ugly-Stik-Inshore-Select-Spinning-Rods/product/10204690/ i have also found that switching from 30lb braid to 20 lb braid has helped with the long cast.

I have a 7' M spinning Ugly Stik Inshore Lite and I don't like it for throwing lures, especially light ones. It's pretty good for bait, though. The freshwater Ugly Stik Lites are a better rod for this, but I feel there has to be a better option with a quicker, crisper action.

I have two rods I like for slots. Both of them cost me less than $20 each.

All Star Classic 7ft Medium, 17lb class. It seems to have a more moderate tip and works well for throwing light stuff especially since I use 20lb 832 on a 4000 Penn Pursuit reel. I bought this one on a clearance sale at Academy for $19. I think they normally run about $50.

I also have a 7ft Medium 17lb class Tournament Choice (Academy's house brand) Angler, it has a Lews Speed Spool reel with 20lb fire line on it. They run for $10 all day long. It is more like a medium / fast tip, and is fiberglass. To me it is a great all around rod inshore fishing.

I had the original gold Angler, and gave it away, and felt like I lost my best friend, I got the one that just came out and they are very nice, stainless guides, will cast up to an ounce and will handle just about any fish I have caught on it.

I liked them so much that I bought two of them in spinning and one in bait casting, put a H2O mettle on it and use it for most of my heavier moving baits.

I like ugly sticks, but preferred my old Whuppin' Stick from Cabela's, the medium was a definite coach whip. I had two 7 ft mediums for over 10 years until they wore out. It would cast weightless shrimp, up to a 2 ounce weight with a 4 inch croaker.

I caught everything from freshwater minnows to 30lb blue cats, from bait fish to a 4 foot black tip on it. It was one tough rod.

For light plastics for trout go with a med or med light 6'9" in 1/16 to 1/2 or 1/8th to 5/8th. You want a fast tip it will help you throw it farther and you'll get a better hookset. ...it has more backbone.

Really happy with my Tightline... TiteLineFishingRods.com... it's basically a rod upgrade without the cost of customization. Solid rod.

I was out with a guide 2 weeks ago that had us on American Rodsmith and Diawa spinning rods. We limited out and all of the rods worked great on croakers and lures.

I really like TFO's 7'6" rods med/fast They have been great for my charters its all I use.

I bought a Shimano Convergance Insore 7'2" Med/Fast this spring. I really liked it, especially for $70. I liked the lifetime over the counter warranty since it's a 5 hour roadtrip with kids to get to the coast!

I really like the falcon HD spinning rods. But normally throw LB with spinning rods. Or tandem jig rigs.

GLoomis ProGreen: PGR 882 s. Its medium power, fast tip, 7'4", rated 6 to 12 lb test, 1/8 to 3/8 ounce baits. Mounted with a Shimano 2500 Sustain. Awesome saltwater inshore fishing setup. Everyone has their preferences for how a rod feels in their hands, check them out at Bass Pro if you get a chance. I don't own a lot of rods compared to most bass fishermen, but I splurged on this one.