No matter which polls you choose I would not go under 8 foot for spider rigging 10 to 14 foot would be better. I have 14 foot poles I use for spider rigging and that is a lot of work when you get into them so 16-18 foot is over doing it it seem to me. I have and still use 8 foot B&M telescopic rods (all my rods are B&M) and like them a lot. I have pulled in 10 -20 lb cats with them rods. Any good spinning reel (around $30) will be all you need.