Best choice: Redington Chromer 907-4 ($300) Designed for steelhead and salmon, the Chromer has the backbone to throw heavy intruder flies and fight 15-lb fish, but isn't a broomstick at shorter ranges
It is fun to find bargain reels at tag sales, online auctions, etc
The most popular swimming fly is the streamer, which comes in almost every color, size, weight, and variety
In the Topock Marsh, use chicken livers or worms for cafish
The darting, rolling, flashy action of the spoon stands out in just about any level of water clarity and allows you to cover a huge amount of water in a relatively short time
Rods are also determined by what kind of reel you will be using