Make A Spinning Rod And Reel Recommendation.

[ReelMaster]

Recently I had my spinning rig that I had for years stolen. I still have several baitcasters and why they left them I have no idea.

 

Anyway, now I am in the market for a new one and it has been a long time since I have shopped around.

 

I want a 6'6" medium action spinning rod with a spinning reel that can hold 6 to 10 lb test.  I fish for smallies in rivers and bass in lakes from a kayak.  

 

I am willing to spend up to 250.00 but the least expensive but quality gear the better.

 

What would you recommend. 

 

Thanks

[Catch and Grease]

Thieves are scum on this earth. Hope you like whatever you end up getting!

[DFrench97]

Sorry to hear about being robbed.  Pflueger President with a Fenwick HMG is a nice combo for a sweet price.  Will run you only $160, but there are many other options for the $250 budget.  Maybe a good condition used Shimano Stradic FJ or CI4 and your choice of $100-$120 rod.  Buying slightly used with a $250 budget will go along way.

[The Wilkin]

Just picked up the Abu Garcia Orra S30. Really great reel. Super smooth and nice construction.Worth a lot more than the 69.99 they charge for it. Spooled with #10 power pro it casts like a dream. I have that on a 6'8" MXF BPS johnny Morris carbonlite rod the new white one and its a really great combo. Rod is super light and sensitive and has a great backbone for hook sets. Will only cost around 170 for the set up

[Tywithay]

The rod would 100% be a 6'7" medium *** for me. Nothing else is close for $100. I'd probably put a 2500 Stradic FJ on it with the remaining money. You can put it together for $225ish during sales or ebay.

[0119]

Penn Conflict Spinner $130, St. Croix Premier rod, $100

[GANGGREEN]

Sorry to hear about being robbed.  Pflueger President with a Fenwick HMG is a nice combo for a sweet price.  Will run you only $160, but there are many other options for the $250 budget.  Maybe a good condition used Shimano Stradic FJ or C14 and your choice of $100-$120 rod.  Buying slightly used with a $250 budget will go along way.

 

Yep, you could do a lot worse than the Fenwick HMG and the President is a good choice too, though I might go with a Pflueger Purist instead or you could easily make the argument for an Abu Orra or several other reels.

[timsford]

That sucks! Id go with the *** black rod mentioned above, the fenwick, or a powell max or endurance on clearance at a lot of places right now. As far as reels the pfleguers get a lot of good press on here, and daiwa and shimano make some excellent reels in the price range you are looking at, especially if you keep the rod around $100. My favorite in that price range is the lews team gold carbon. I have the 300 size, but you could probably go with the 200. Super lightweight, strong drag, and very smooth retrieve. They are 130 retail but can be found cheaper new. Used is another great option to get some really high quality gear for $250. I bought my team lews for $80 and it had only been casted once. It also came with a full spool of nanofil braid so i saved on line

[Senko lover]

I don't own a new spinning combo, but I've heard really good stuff about the St. Croix Mojo Bass rods and Shimano spinning reels. That's probably the route I'd go.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The Pflueger President is possibly the best bang for the buck there is for a spinning reel. I'd skew the budget toward the rod and pick up the highest end St Croix etc that you can afford. 

[lordpaxin]

St croix rage medium 150$

Daiwa ballistic EX from cabelas on sale for 99$ right now

[WIGuide]

St. Croix Avid 6'8" M/XF with a Pflueger President.

[Djman72]

Reel - Anything Pflueger. They are outstanding reels

 

Rod - I prefer Fenwick or St. Croix but everyone has their own tastes.

[Blues19]

Tackle Warehouse has the old Daiwa Eceler model on sale for $55.  Its a darn good reel for that price.  I am probably going to get another one pretty soon. I already have two of them, but at that price its pretty crazy to me that i havent already picked up another.  If you are not sold on Daiwa I would go with a Pflueger, cause it seems they know their way around a spinning reel

[ReelMaster]

Thanks for all the replies. I now have some options to look at.

[Fishes in trees]

To stay well within your budget, I'd say look at the Fenwick HMG or the slightly more expensive AETOS line.  Two words - lifetime warranty.  I know other rod companies offer similar warranties, but I've never had any issues with them, even when I've done some stupid stuff to break the rods.

The HMG will run you $100 more or less.   The Aetos is around $50 more.

[SirSnookalot]

I've used or owned most reels from the major brands, $75-$100 buys me all I want or need for freshwater fishing.  I have at present $200+ reels that IMO don't perform as well as some at half the price.  Recently we saw advertised a Pflueger supreme for $49, a deal pretty hard to pass up.  I own 3 of them and that's what I mainly use in freshwater, smooth light and have been durable.  It's actually harder to buy a bad reel than a good one, I'd be interested in a reel that matches the rod I plan on using.  I only use inshore rods for my bass fishing as I prefer a foregrip.

[jbw252]

The Pflueger President is possibly the best bang for the buck there is for a spinning reel. I'd skew the budget toward the rod and pick up the highest end St Croix etc that you can afford. 

 Great suggestions from a guy who knows his stuff.