Striper rod and reel recommendations

[Batzel103]

Ive been fishing around my hometown in rivers and such for several years now, and I want to start stepping up my game to lake fishing for stripers and possibly muskies.  Could someone recommend me a good enough rod and reel setup, under 200 dollars if possible?    I'm not sure if I want a spinning or bait casting reel yet, so recommendations of either kind would be appreciated.   Thank you. 

[fishnkamp]

I think you have to answer some questions.  What do you intend to throw for your stripers. Are you talking live lining bait like bluegill and shad?  Are you going to troll or throw artificial baits and if artificial, then what lures will you throw?

 

I live on the Chesapeake Bay and striper fishing takes on different equipment depending on the time of year. In the spring the fish are located on the Susquehanna Flats, here you can cast baits like Super Flukes on weighted jig heads.  During the Summer a big boat with planer boards is needed.  This time requires fishing with large planner boards,and big parachute lures.  In the fall the stripers follow bait into the warmer waters of the tidal creeks and rivers.  Now I get to chase them with my standard bass tackle. I throw 1/2 and 3/4 rattle traps and Reaction Innovation Skinny Dippers on swimbait jigheads.  Hard bodied jerkbaits work as well. All of these baits are fished on typical bass rods, mostly 7 foot medium moderate action rods.

 

You will need to match your rods to the techniques and lure weights you intend to fish.

 

[Deleted account]

First, NEVER take striped bass (rockfish actually) fishing advise from anyone from MD.

 

Second, striper tackle is going to vary widely depending on where and how you are fishing for them. You might be fishing in 3 feet of water for ones only slightly larger than LMBs, or you can be fishing for 30, 40 or even 50 lb fish in a 2 knot current. You mention fishing for them in fresh water and possibly using the same tackle for musky. A 4000 size spinning reel with a 7' MH rod will do the trick. You can also do something similar with baitcasting and maybe 40-50 lb braid. Give us some specifics and we can narrow it if you'd like.