Thank you all so much for the replies and such excellent information! I’m extremely grateful. I appreciate hearing about your favorite reels to start out with in both splurge and tighter budgets. It’s great to hear that I can start out a little less expensively and still enjoy the process if I can’t afford the “dream reels”.

@Denny O, what you described is exactly what I read other people had complaints about on the Quick Fire reels, in order for them to get to their necessary position, they backspin enough to cause loss of the fish in certain instances. I suppose everything has tradeoffs and maybe some people prefer the one handed casting with the price of the lid of occasional fish. I have to admit, after watching the mechanics of a few casts on YouTube, I began wondering about how much a one handed car would really help add you still have to reel it in with both hands. It’s not like you can just be drinking something, reading a book, out using your cell phone with the other hand. Plus, it sound like even with the one handed Quick Fire cast-ability, you have to immediately reel in a bit too try to stop the back spin issue losing whatever was gained by the one handed benefit. Many thanks to @Huntingdave as well for such a clear and succinct description of a cast. It’s kind of what I was thinking that if I’m going to learn a spinning reel, just go ahead and learn with a standard one.

I also appreciate hearing about the Zebco undersign trigger spin reel. I had actually seen that one in passing and though it was cool to have options that would work with a spoon rod if I had to much difficulty in learning the spinning reel starting off. I’m grateful that you were thinking outside the box which gives me another viable option just so I have somewhere to go if I get frustrated with the spinning reel rather than quitting altogether. I hope I’ll be able to learn the spinning reel right off but I’m happy for the knowledge of an alternative.

One further question, as I’ve been reading, I’ve come across some interesting and I think relatively recent recommendations about spinning reels. The idea seems to be to go up in size on a spinning reel from what would traditionally be used for a given type of setup (even an API around one). My understanding is that with the improvements in design and weight over the last few years, that the larger spools have less line issues and other benefits making it essentially easier to use and perhaps more versatile. It sounds like the proponents of this idea feel that the benefits of the larger reel size outweigh the small weight increase. I’m just curious as to what you feel about this concept. The price difference for going up in reel size from most of what I’ve seen, is negligible and I’m curious if it might take out some potential challenges with smaller gear.

Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with a newbie. I’m truly grateful!