Need rod/reel recommendations?

[lokidog]

What do I want for action and line size? This is where I get totally lost.. Since allot of guys get what I call an undersized rod and I ask how they landed a 30 pound fish on a 10lb rated rod and the answer is always technique, well if you have no techuniue then are you better off to get a heavier stiffer rod?

This is the key question.  I don't like a rod that is too soft, but I also like to feel the fight of a smaller fish, or be able to downsize a lure and still feel it on the end of the rod.  The best way to figure this out is to try different rods as the ratings on them may be the same but they have a completely different feel from each other.  Hopefully you could borrow some and see how they feel before spending a bunch on one that you end up not liking.

I've been lucky for the fact that I have found (for me) the perfect spinning rod (8' med action) and an 8' trolling rod (med heavy) that are both less than $20.  On the trolling rod, I have one of the same brand's that is 8'6", medium heavy as well, but is is substantially lighter on the tip than the 8' one.

My only specialty rod is a 10' spinning that I bought for surf fishing.

[fish vacuum]

Rating depends on what you'll be fishing for. A medium-light rod rated 8-12 will work for pinks, hatchery steelhead, and smaller coho. A medium-heavy rod can be taxed by chums and kings and big coho.
A rod rated for 8-15 or 8-17 will handle most river fisheries. It might be a little stout for pinks, and it might be a little under-gunned for kings, but it'll do as a do-it-all rod.