My first big leap was a $99 Citica Bantum CU200 (which I still have) and it retired every low cost reel I had. I would re-tie everything to that rod just so I could fish it. That was the end of inexpensive BC's for me. All my Spinning combo's are lower shelf Diawa's, Pflueger's and Shimano's but they are not considered cheap in my eyes.