Need fishing outfit recommendations

[Rangersedge]

I’m planning to buy a fishing outfit for my girlfriend for Christmas – possibly spending somewhere in the $250 to $300 range. She is somewhat petite with small hands and a wrist injury from skiing so I want to keep it fairly light. Most of the fish she’d catch would be bluegill and largemouth bass up to 6 pounds max.

She prefers spinning reels with the trigger that automatically opens the bail. What is the best spinning reel with a trigger?

The rod needs to be a multi-piece model (two or more pieces) that takes down so can store / transport easily in a car. One that would take down to less than two feet would probably be best. I know longer rods can cast lighter lures (bluegill jigs) further and help cushion larger fish’s runs. Light weight is a definite asset as mentioned above. She’d be casting instead of trolling or jigging. What rod would you recommend?

She’ll mainly be fishing for bluegill, redear, and largemouth bass. She probably doesn’t need a lot of lures as will be with me most of the time; but should have a good variety. What specific lures would you recommend?

We may be walking around the ponds / lakes as we fish. She probably wouldn’t switch lures often at all. The type of tackle box I’m envisioning would have a strap that goes around the neck and shoulder, contoured to body somewhat, and not be burdensome or awkward to carry. The not burdensome or awkward is a big factor. I’m basically seeking something that goes almost unnoticed until you decide to switch lures. What lure containment system would you recommend?

She’s also asked me about how to cook different fish. We may do some camping and traveling too. What fish recipe / cooking books would you recommend?

Thanks!

Jeff

[dixieangler]

She prefers spinning reels with the trigger that automatically opens the bail. What is the best spinning reel with a trigger?

I have a Quantam Snapshot SS10F with a trigger bail. Don't know if its the best or not .

What rod would you recommend?

The rod is a Quantam Snapshot SS also and came with the reel as a combo outfit. Its an IM6 and 5.5 feet long. Unfortunately the one that I have is a one-piece.

What specific lures would you recommend?

Some beetlespins (small spinnerbaits) in white with a red dot and some chartreuse and black stripe ones. Some jigs in 1/32 and 1/16 oz. in white and green chartreuse (maybe some plastic ones also). Some purple and black plastic worms with some bullet weights (I like Texas rigs) mainly for bass. Don't forget hooks, floats, small splitshot and egg weights for live bait fishing.

What lure containment system would you recommend?

I like the small two sided Plano boxes model #3213 I think. I would carry it in a small fanny/belly pack or sling a lanyard on it.

What fish recipe / cooking books would you recommend?

I usually like to fillet my fish so they are boneless and soak in milk for a few hours to remove any gamey taste before frying. See this link:

http://www.jimporter.org/recipes/

Best of luck :D.

[flycaster]

Most of the fish she’d catch would be bluegill and largemouth bass up to 6 pounds max.

Why would you limit her to a 6lb fish?http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/images/smilies/wink.gif


John

[Smallminnow]

My wife and I are in our golden years and she was complaining about holding the rod & reel combo's we were fishing with. She said that her hands and wrists just would not hold up to several hours of fishing. One day while walking through a sporting goods store in Georgia,(we live in Texas) I came across a Zebco combo that I thought she would like. I got her one and she dearly loves it. She will not fish with anything else. To make a long story short, I now have four of them. We find that they will do anything we want them to do and weigh about half as much as the other ones. She has three fifteen inch crappie to her credit now and would not change.(photo upon request) Go to www.bassproshop.com and look for Zebco's Bill Dance Pro Staff # 2010 combo. Six pound line with matched 5' two piece rod, medium light action. She will love it. (and you won't spend a lot of money)
Good fishing
Small Minnow

[Smallminnow]

My wife and I are in our golden years and she was complaining about holding the rod & reel combo's we were fishing with. She said that her hands and wrists just would not hold up to several hours of fishing. One day while walking through a sporting goods store in Georgia,(we live in Texas) I came across a Zebco combo that I thought she would like. I got her one and she dearly loves it. She will not fish with anything else. To make a long story short, I now have four of them. We find that they will do anything we want them to do and weigh about half as much as the other ones. She has three fifteen inch crappie to her credit now and would not change.(photo upon request) Go to www.bassproshop.com and look for Zebco's Bill Dance Pro Staff # 2010 combo. Six pound line with matched 5' two piece rod, medium light action. She will love it. (and you won't spend a lot of money)
Good fishing
Small Minnow

[Smallminnow]

Sorry bout that. I didn't intend to post it twice. something went wrong.
Small minnow

[Rangersedge]

Thanks for your responses. They'll give me something more to go by.

[Rangersedge]

I traveled from Illinois to Oklahoma over the weekend to check out some cattle. Bass Pro Shops in Springfield MO was right on the path so had to stop in. I didn’t have much time to spend so probably did more by impulse than should have… Oh well. This is what I got.

Got a light action for my girlfriend and a medium light for me.
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...=SearchResults

Got this 3 wt for me. :D The flyfishing dept staff were great!
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...rTarget=browse

She wanted me to get a combo for her friends so I got a couple these (her friends travel) at $10 each more than what they are on the website.
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...=SearchResults

I really, really wished I had gotten these for her friends instead as they are 4 piece (breakdown shorter) and appear to be better rods for same price as I paid.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...rods&noImage=0

I’m not sure how these compare to the Brownings I got for her and I.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...rods&noImage=0

Went with Shimano Spirex 1000 (for her) and Solstace 1000 (for her friends) reels. I have one that she likes and it has been a very good reel for me.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...eels&noImage=0

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...eels&noImage=0

I got small tackle packs for both her and her friends. I have a lot of lures so just going to sort through some of those to fill them.