st croix 6 6 spinning rod St. Rods Triumph Travel Rod, 6'6" (Tsr66Mhf4) : Sports & Outdoors rod technology and more St. Croix X-Trek Freshwater Spinning

I also usually use higher speed reels but wasnt sure if this is really true about the torque aspect

Having caught enough for dinner we busied ourselves in arranging our tents, preparing our beds, etc

For general pike fishing, look for rods rated between 30-80g casting weight

Baitcasting reels offer greater precision but can be more challenging for beginners, while spinning reels are generally easier to use and suitable for a wider range of fishing styles

Otherwise, you are going to end up with a twisted main line

There are even specialty knot tools on the market for this very purpose, though I personally find them to be overkill