My favorite rod for backpacking is a sweet little 5 piece Daiwa ultra-lite I picked up more than 10 years ago for about $80. I sometimes pair it with a tiny spinning reel I used for ice fishing, although I usually go with a 1000 series Shimano for the added spool width and casting distance. I can thread the rod into the case of my 5 weight fly rod, which I often bring along, too. But depending on wind/brush/steep rocky banks, the fly rod can be tough to use.
I can’t stand to use casting bubbles on a spinning rod. Feels like watching paint dry to me. Hands down I’ve found the best lure for trout in mountain lakes is a small spoon. If you use a light rod and 2-4 pound test, you can really bomb it out there, which is nice given the wind often seems to be blowing. I like a variety of Little Cleos, from the very smallest size up to about a 1/3 of an ounce (or even bigger at times). It’s amazing what can suddenly appear out of the depths chasing your spoon after spinners and flies (which are great at times) are ignored. Best to switch out the treble to a single hook, if possible.
The little Daiwa I have is only 5’6”, super light, and makes 12 inch trout feel like steelhead…but ideally, a seven foot light/ultralight spinning rod that packs down to 5 pieces would be perfect. I think there is a Cabela Fish Eagle II that fits this bill, although I’ve never fished it. On day hikes, I’ve taken 2 piece 7 to 7’6” spinning rods, and that length feels about perfect for pitching small spoons into mountain lakes.
My experience is that any of the lakes on main paths are average, at best.
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