Recommendations on bank gear from some Oregonians

Hi All, I'm looking for a few recommendations for a spinning rod/reel setup for a friend. I mostly flail around with a fly rod, so I'm hoping you guys can help me out. It's for someone that lives in Oregon and is just getting into fishing, but wants to fish the salmon runs in the river by their house. They'll be fishing from the bank. Not sure the river or the runs, so lets say a coho setup. $200 is what they want to spend. Something solid but basic. Thanks for your input!

Wouldn't it depend on the river?  Big or small, deep or shallow?  I like bank fishing and before becoming an elitist fly-fisher, I had one spinning rod and reel for the small, shallow rivers; and a different setup for the bigger, deeper rivers where I'd be using heavier weights.

I'd hate to say, "This'll do ya'!" and then find out they're trying to use it to fish in a deep hole in a big river.

I like Daiwa DXS spinning rods for bigger rivers or deeper holes - they're fast-action for 2/3rd their length, soft at the tip, and rugged.  I like Shimano Clarus rods with their medium-fast - leaning towards fast - action for more shallow rivers and coastal streams.  Between those two rod families, there'll be a rod that works for wherever your friend is fishing.

(I'm using "fast" and "medium-fast" the way we'd use them to describe the action of a fly rod)

I like Pflueger President and Daiwa Lexa spinning reels.  I had all Shimano reels, but now that they've removed the anti-reverse lever, I no longer care for them.

Hope any of that helps.

P.S. Why would it be different here than in Alaska?   

Okuma SST "Salmon" rod  +  Pflueger President reel. You'll have enough $ left over for line and a couple of spinners and you are fishing! It's a real adequate setup for the budget.