Gear: Two rods and reels to set you up for catching catfish, carp, bass, shad, bluegill, striped bass, snakeheads, and more

There are so many rods and reels out there, to say nothing of choices for fishing line. It can be bewildering, and pricey.

There is no need to blow a ton of money to go angling. With these two rod and reel combo sets, you will have all you need to chase just about any freshwater fish.

Rod #1: For chasing catfish, carp, and bigger stripers, go for the Ugly Stik GX2 7-foot rod/reel combo. Currently, the best price is at Dick’s: $60. (Get it here.) This rod and reel combo is nearly indestructible, and I’ve brought in a 40 pound fish with it. You can also rig this rod for stripers, carp, and snakeheads. Note: The price of this rod/reel combo may well go down at the end of the season.

I line my Ugly Stik’s with 40-pound braid. (Get it here.) For a leader for catfish, I use 50-pound monofilament. (Get it here.) I use braid as it allows for longer casting, which is helpful when I am shore-fishing wide rivers. But if you are averse to braid and want to go cheap, buy 20-pound monofilament. (Get it here.) NOTE: Some of you readers may live in places where the catfish do not get more than 10 pounds. If that is the case, then buy lighter monofilament line, say 15-pound, which will cast well and stand up to the yanks and rolls of catfish on the hook.

By the way, you might want to get a pair of fish grabbers to help you haul in larger catfish. Yes, you can jam your hand into their mouths and pull them in that way, but you risk an abrasion and not everyone is game for that experience. (Get grabbers here.)

Rod #2: For fishing for bass and just about anything else that is not a big catfish, carp, or striper, I love the Daiwa D Shock DSK25-B/F662M rod-reel combo. This 6.5-foot rod runs around $40 usually, although, again, if you buy during late spring or summer you will pay more. (Get it here.) My go-to fishing line with this rod is 12-pound braid, which is super light and thin and casts very far. (Get it here.) For leaders I use clear monofilament that varies in size. For bluegill, go for 4- or 6-pound. For shad, use 10- or 12-pound. A good all-purpose weight is 10-pound. (Get it here.)

Oh, having advised you to put line your reels, I should mention that I find this contraption very helpful for putting line on my rod: the American Spirit Ultimate Winding System. (Get it here.) Using it is self explanatory. And to get the line tied securely to your reel, use an arbor knot. The video below will show you how.