Lightweight Hiking Rod?

[Janderson45]

So I'm on the market for a new rod... often times I go fishing in somewhat remote locations, and being able to have at least 1 hand free, if not both is ideal.... because of this I'm moving from a hard to a soft tackle box (back-pack and utility boxes) and i'm also looking for a lighter weight rod that's AT LEAST a 2 piece rod that i can break down and carry in the back-pack as well..

I've seen a 4 piece rod from browning, and st croix, not sure of others. I'm not entire sure a 4 piece is necessary, but it seems like it'd work nicely.

I'm thinking a medium-light spinning rod, but am open to suggestions... want to use it to complement my heavier st. croix rod that i use for frogs/flipping, and want to use it for more lighter crankbaits, swimbaits, and some lighter top waters as well.

So any recommendations on a rod and reel? Haven't looked into the reel much, how are the pro qualifiers from bass pro? Seems like it gets decent reviews for the price, and the extra spool is a cool bonus to me, I'd probably keep both of them with me and spooled with different types of line..

[thehooligan]

Any kind of budget ?

Id go with a two piece premier, medium action, and pretty much any shimano reel starting from the sahara series and up.

[RobertBG]

I have a eagle claw trailmaster and a trailmaster 3 ul that my father gave me and they are my go to rods.I keep them in my car ready to go whenever the chance comes.I have to say for the money they cant be beat and fish as well as rods that cost quite a bit more.I can honestly say it's a rare time when I look for another rod to use and the biggest bonus I think you'll find is you'll be fishing more often as they can be kept handy.

[Goose52]

I've been using the same fiberglass 5-piece spinning rod since the mid-60s for travel or hiking. It breaks down to just under 14" and fits into a pack or suitcase. I also leave it in the trunk of the car so I always have a rod with me. It has been invaluable for those purposes. Not an everyday rod...just another tool for a specialized purpose. A modern 4-piece graphite rod I'm sure would be much better but I'm not sure they would fit in a day pack - perhaps a frame pack or larger suitcase.

Another option I have is a 3' spinning rod. I sometimes carry this when on a short hike (<2hrs) and I know I will be passing by some "fishable" water. Even if I don't use it for fishing, it's great to carry to cut through spider webs on the trail...