all good suggestions so far, but ill add a couple things. if you are gonna spend a good chunk of money on something, spend it on a nice reel.

as for rods, i like the mid grade ones, quality while still getting value. im a big fenwick fan, so when i look for a quality rods at a value price i go with gander mountain rods. they are fenwick blanks with gander markings.

for a baitcaster, i like 6'6" 2 piece rods for canoe country. i have golf club tubes mounted in the canoe to store the rods inside and keep them safe. i like the longer rods to help cast farther and play larger fish better. longer rods are also more forgiving while trolling and a big one slams your bait. i like medium action with an extra fast tip. good backbone yet the tip is soft and supple to help cast better.

for spinning rods, im really polar. a lot of people like a 6-7 ft spinning rod. i have a 5'6" and an 8' both light action and wouldnt use anything else. the short rod is really easy to handle and land fish with because you can reach them easily. the long rod handles the fight better and casts farther, but is harder to land the fish with because of the length.

but, here is yet another thing to consider... do you sit primarily in the front of the canoe or rear? that matters!!
or, if you fish a lot from the shore, longer rods are better!!

in the rear i like the short rod for spinning, but i prefer the baitcaster from the rear. im right handed and usually have the starboard side of the canoe toward the shore if im casting. gives me lots of room to cast.

in the front of the canoe, i like a longer spinning rod because i can fight the fish around the bow if i have to, you dont want line dragging on the hull. the short rod on a big fish just doesnt cut it when you try to swing around the bow. baitcasting from the front we go port to shore so i have more casting room.

also your fishing partners equipment/preferences come into play. half the guys are purely spinning rod guys (big heavy ones for trolling) and the other half are baitcaster guys. we are all right handed so matching right handed baitcaster guys in the same canoe doesnt always work smoothly.

with that said, i mainly sit rear (unless im trolling around the lake and i want a break) and i bring 2 baitcasters and a long spinning rod.