Gear

Rods: My rod recommendations for trout fishing with lures and bait are essentially the same. An ideal rod would be between 6'6" to 7'6" and rated for 2-6lb test. Needless to say a graphite rod is ideal and there are lots of good ones out there. Don't buy something that is really stiff or has a heavy tip because you don't need that for trout fishing and you wind up losing fish because the hook tears out. I sometimes bring a little 5' ultralite for fishing small streams with 1/32oz panther martins or split shotting salmon eggs, but micro rods like this are pretty much useless in lakes and larger streams. Gloomis' best offering is the SR841-2, a gem at 7' and rated for 2-6lb test. Fenwick has some nice rods also with the HMG GFS 70 another 7' rated for 4-8 and priced below the Loomis.

Reels: For reels I would definitely go with Shimano. Their Stradic and Symmetry reels are both excellent and have high retrieve ratios and smooth drags. Get the smallest of either of these and you are set. You get two spools so you can fish 2lb on one and 6lb on the other.

Line: I really recommend triple fish camoescent line. It is hard to find in 2lb test, but I consider it the perfect trout line. It doesn't have super small diameter but it fishes great on spinning reels, has excellent abrasion resistance, and just the right amount of stretch. At $6.97 for a ¼lb spool it's a bargain at twice the price. Spool one spool with 2lb and one with 6lb and you are set for any trout fishing you might encounter in California. Whatever you do don't buy cheap 2lb test or you will wind up nothing but pissed off and disappointed. It happened to me twice before I figured things out, but once I got some good stuff and realized how far I could cast and how much more action I got out of my lures, I became a total convert.