Originally Posted by
rekmeyata
One thing I forgot to mention. When I do fish in states I don't have a license, I fish using barbless hooks. I do this in the remote event I get caught I can explain that I was catching and releasing without damaging the fish with the barbless flies. Not sure if that would work real good, it may prevent my equipment form being confiscated, but I would probably get the fine. You see if you catch the fish to eat your poaching that's what the fine is all about, if your catching and releasing it's not poaching. Not sure how legal that is but it's not poaching.
Still poaching. The term here in CA is "Take" which by def. is to harass, harm...or attempt to...Just by wetting a line with terminal tackle it is Take. That is why they can write you a ticket for fishing even if you don't have fish in possession. I can assure you that in most states the fact that you were fishing barbless would get you nowhere with a Game Warden. Also just because you use barbless flies doesn't mean you haven't harmed the fish. There is a certian amount of mortality associated with catch and release. It's called hooking mortality. In waters with mandated C&R and barbless regs it is assumed approximalty 2-5% hooking mortality for Rainbow Trout. Obviously higher for some species and lower for others.
As to the OP check bass pro shops or Cabela's for a nice medium weight 3-4 peice 7 foot travel rod and a 2000 series reel. Their house brands can be very nice for the price. Something in the IM6 range should be affordable and give decent performance for a travel rod. If your mostly going for bass you probably just need some bullet weights, darter heads, a couple different sizes of hooks, a few different colors of plastic worms (Aarons magic and margarita mutilator are my go to's) and of course some Senko's.