Good starting panfish poles?

[wingedworm]

Starting to fish panfish, lol. Good starting poles and reels for catching artificial hardbaits? I'm not looking to spend lots of money, either. 

 

Ps;. can I just get a pen fishing rod? will that cast well? 

 

Tight lines!

[Angry John]

Ugly sticks cannot be beat for treble hook baits on the cheap.  There moderate action works well and keeps them pinned nice.  I hate them for the same reason for fishing plastics.  They are sold as an all around rod and that frustrates a lot of people trying to fish single hook texas rigged plastics.

[XpressJeff]

Wal-Mart has a variety of cost conscious candidates. 

 

The have some GREAT aluminum cane poles too!

[CroakHunter]

Walmart has the Shakespeare micro lite combo for like 25 bucks. Awesome little bluegill rod and reel

[Looking for the big one]

My brother recently bought the Daiwa Presso 5'6" ultralight rod. It's perfect, and although slightly pricy is much nicer than any 20$ Walmart special. If you buy this rod you won't regret it. He's got it paired with a pflueger president 6920. Well balanced ultralight combo, he's been slaying big sunfish on it.

[frosty]

I use an ultra light ugly stik combo. Not the greatest setup, but it is fun catching a big feisty bluegill on a little tiny rod!

[Bankbeater]

I got my Abu Cardinal spinning reel, and Berkley lightning rod at Wal-Mart.

[Jigfishn10]

I'd honestly would get a cheap 4 or 5 wt flyrod and a few dry flies and have at it. Lot's of fun!