Dedicated fluke combo - need rod suggestions

[jdr99a]

I’ve fallen in love with throwing the fluke around the banks of my neighborhood ponds. It’s been the most productive lure throughout the summer and was decent for me in the spring as well. I’m looking forward to the fall. 
 

I want to treat myself to a decent combo dedicated to throwing nothing but the fluke. I have been using a Walmart exclusive lews crankbait casting rod which has been fine, but I want to upgrade. I have a DSG, BPS, Academy all local to me and I’d prefer to buy in person. What would you suggest? I’d like to keep it around the $150 mark but could bump that a bit if the consensus says there is a clear winner. 
 

What are your thoughts on my best options?

[GReb]

There are a lot of good rods in your price point and even below. For me maneuverability is most important when looking for a rod that is stroked down such as a jerkbait, spook, fluke. Then I want to make sure the top 6-8 inches of the rod is nice and soft. I want to be able to work the bait with the tip, not the backbone. And with a fluke I really want to be able to stroke the bait without blowing it out. But you also need enough backbone to set the hook and handle the fish. In most applications a medium power fast action rod is about right. But each maker is different. And you want to make sure the rod power matches the hook diameter and cover. 
 

Ive been use a Dobyns Champion 683 for a year or so now and have caught plenty of bass on a fluke. It may not be the perfect fluke rod but it’s performed flawless for me. 

[OnthePotomac]

I fish mine on a BPS 7' Carbonlite 2.0, medium spinning rod I grabbed on sale for $99 with a Shimano Sahara 3000 Hg  spooled with 8lb BPS mono (I traded in an old BPS spinning reel on it at the Spring Classic sale) and could not ask for a more more comfortable rig on which to throw the fluke all day if I had to.

[MN Fisher]

I run budget rigs - so here's what I use...

 

Pflueger Trion-30 on a Diawa Aird-X 6'6" M/F - under $100 total. Add a spool of 8# Sufix Elite and it's still under $100.

 

I use this for single flukes, donky-rigs and light, soft swimbaits (1/8oz jig head)

[Tizi]

I throw them on a Shimano 6'10" MxF SLX with SLX reel. I also just got a 7' MR Tatula/Tatula SV TW, a little more expensive but nice combo.

[fishwizzard]

I use a SC Avid M/XF 6'3" casting rod for flukes and love it.  It's got a very soft tip but a ton of backbone, so I can twitch a fluke as fast/slow as I want but still have enough power to fish them around and in light to medium cover.  The only thing I don't like about it is the thicker cork on the handle, but I have smaller hands.  

[Glaucus]

Do yourself a favor and make sure you throw it on a casting setup. Absolutely awful jerking on spinning gear.

 

I've been using a Fury 703c