That could depend on the type of fishing that you plan to do. I recommend what has worked the best for me for an all around outfit to meet almost every fishing situation for over 30 years fishing in the North, South, Midwest and Northwest. I have more recently updated to the newest versions of this equipment for both me and my wife.

I guide some and teach people to fish. When they ask me what I would recommend for one all around outfit then this is what I recommend. They get it and they stay with this same equipment because it works so well for them just as it always has for me.

The Shakespeare Ugly Stik, Medium, 7 foot for 6 - 15 pound line. Match this with a 35 or 40 size spinning reel. I am currently using the Mitchell Avocet II size 4000 (40) spinning reel. Load this reel with Stren Magnathin 10 pound test line. You would probably want the walleye or lo vis green color. If you fish clear water use clear line. Second choice of line would be Trilene XL in the 10 pound size. They are strong thinner lines. If you are after the up feeding fish like crappie or trout then a blue line might be the best in other than crystal clear water.

If it is your preference, the Ugly Stik Lady or Lite versions that meet the same specs will also work just fine. This combination will give you a rod with the fast or limber action that will work well for all types of fishing. It is limber enough to be a trolling rod, long and sensitive enough to be a casting or jigging rod. It works well for Bass, Panfish, Walleye, trout and everything else.

The thinner 10 pound line works well for crappie or trout and is strong enough for walleye and bass. If you want to go after the much larger catfish or the northern pike then have your spare spool loaded with 14 or 15 pound Stren Original and the rest of the equipment can handle it. I stay with the 10 pound line for all of it except salt water fishing.

I have trolling gear, casting gear and other spinning combination's. I have outfits designed for and using the super braided lines. This Ugly Stik combination that I just described is the one the catches fish for me and I have landed fish as big as about 50 pounds with it. That will bend this Ugly Stik in half and it can take it. I have much more expensive graphite rods and when the fish get big the graphite rods snap like a dry twig. The additional fiberglass makes the Ugly Stik a little heavier but it is also makes it as durable as it is.

That is equipment that is not very expensive yet will last most probably the rest of you life.