spinning rods for trout

Noodle rods on larger creeks or open areas-same ones that I use for steelhead
7' med Ugly Stick when going back into the woods

I've always used a 5 foot or 5 and 1/2 foot rod, never had a problem, but i normally fish pretty small creeks

I use a 5" ultra light and 4# mono. I like to go small. Most of the trout fishing i do is small streams and the light outfit allows me to get into the tight areas. Its a bonus to get a bigger fish on the small outfit.

Trout Man

when fishing bait i use a noodle rod, same as steelie fishing.  if throwing spinners and lures i use a 6' - 7' med-fast action, ultra light graphite rod or a <6' for small streams. but 80% of the time i'm fly fishing.  so i usually have 5 - 6 rods with me for an overnight trip like for 1st day.

Fisherlady2 likes her 10' crappie rod on the streams we fish in Elk County! - More reach with less wading I guess.
 
Ask her about her technique of hand-lining undercut banks...I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself!

i don't see the need for anything more than an ugly stick when it comes to spin fishing... and this is coming from someone who owns 6 fly rods, some of which are quality blanks/graphite. I mean, you're using weight to propell your casts... why would you pay 100 dollars or more for something that is likely to break w. the abuse spin rods endure?

I picked up a spin rod last year and seriously looked like an idiot trying to cast one. I innately tried pulling line it to create water tension for a roll cast lol... and just out of snyc w. body functions in a cast with little weight. i.e. waxworms in low water conditions and the need for a 20 or more foot cast. Looked foolish!

funny to think I can wallis cast a centerpin or shoot line into my backing better than I can cast a spin rod.

It really depends on the stream and the situation, but my go to rod for spin fishing for trout in Pennsylvania is a 7'6 Okuma ultralight. I go smaller or larger when the situation dictates. 

st.croix avid series 7' ultralite for trout. one of the few moderate action trout rods i have found. for steelhead i use the same series in a 9' light action.

ORIGINAL: BehrendFisher

st.croix avid series 7' ultralite for trout. one of the few moderate action trout rods i have found. for steelhead i use the same series in a 9' light action.

Agreat rod. My personal favorite. But I've always wanted a 9ft. St. Croix light spinning rod made on a fly rod blank.

Any rod-builders here on the site?

7'6" light action graphite rod with 6 # line and 4# flouro leader. I use lighter leader so when I do a long drift and get a snag, the leader snaps and I get all of my line back.

i fish 7 or 8 ft ultra lights even on small streams
like WF said, its alot more accurate and can give you presentations others can't do with very short rods
mine are all 2 or 3 piece so getting them there isn't an issue

i made a real nice 8ft our of a 3 wt fly blank last year, fishes great :)

My son uses a 6'6" Fenwick HMG medium action for trout...perch too...the rod is caked with emerald shiner scales...lol

Depends where im at. If its super tight I end up using an ul, average I use a 6' light an fairly open I use my noodle rod an high stick em

FishinGuy

I have 2PC 7'6" fast ul that I think is a very good all around trout rod. With 3 lb braid it high sticks like a10' noodle rod and it casts a joes fly a mile with no weight. It does not however excel in throwing heavier spinners, like a larger vibrax, or a medium to large float rig. A noodle rod, or a more modern faster action ml float rod is better for that stuff. I don't fish much real real tight water though, nothing I can jump across anyway.

 
This is probably the route I'd go if i were in the market today, especially considering I already have the MLXF for heavier offerings.  The only thing I'd even consider changing is going from a 2pc blank to a 1pc if I could find one, and dropping to 7'0".  I know this configuration would fit in my car, and I prefer a 1pc to a 2pc in any situation other than travelling.

I'm on the team w/ the short rods. I use an old Shakespeare 5' spinning combo w/ 4 Lb mono. Love it for trout streams, easy to get it in & out of the deep brush to get to the stream & I've caught so many trout on it over the years, it just has alot of fond memories.  Old reliable....