I have a few cheap rod/reel combos (think 25 or less) from Walmart/sporting goods stores, they were okay for pan fish and going fishing once a month. 

With my desire to go out fishing more and looking to catch bass and trout, I feel it is time to upgrade my equipment for that goal. My budget is about $400, I'm hoping this covers everything for a beginning setup (Rod, reel, line, lures, bait, etc). 

Please help me spend my money. 

Thanks, 
Scott 

Get a cabelas fish eagle 50 medium fast spinning rod an a pflueger president. That's $100 sice the Eagles are on sale now. Spool up some 8lb trilene XL and get some 3/0 EWG worm hooks and a few packs of 5" senkos for let's say $20 and you have $ in your pocket to go from there

trout:

 

well I love fishing for trout depending on the water temps at the lake lol, but for trout i use anywhere from 4'6-5'0 ultra light rod with a pinnacle tiny deadbolt usually with 4lb fluro sometimes with a 2lb leader for hooks i like a size 12 and the split shot depends on how fast the waters moving.

 

bass-spinning:

 

for my all around spinning setup, i use a falcon Bucoo 6'6 medium with a abu garcia orra s with 8-10lb fluro that ill usually use for weightless flukes, finesse worms, stick baits, small crankbaits, small topwater lures

 

bass-casting:

for my casting I'm a lews fan, so i have a lews carbon fiber speed spool 7.0 to 1 gear ratio, with a denali jadewood J2 series 7ft med heavy 

 

goodluck let me know what you get

I ended up getting an Ugly Stick Elite 6'6" Med with a Daiwa Exceler 2500 with 8lb Trilene XT line. Picked up some crank bait, stick bait and spinner bait as well. Now to wait for the 2015 season to begin.

 

Scott

I ended up getting an Ugly Stick Elite 6'6" Med with a Daiwa Exceler 2500 with 8lb Trilene XT line. Picked up some crank bait, stick bait and spinner bait as well. Now to wait for the 2015 season to begin.

 

Scott

 

goodluck