years ago I gave up all my heavy, expensive fishin tackle when I started fishin with Stanley Fink. Still got the first one I bought back then and except for some bent eyes and noisy gears it still catches trout, reds, drum and all the hard heads and gaff tops allowed, tightline and poppin cork.
Due to the minimal expense I have 10 sets rigged with every color and shape lure and cork combo required.
Yesterday I added 2 to my collection. Berkley Cherrywood grahite 6ft medium heavy @19.99 ea at Academy.
2ea Shimano FX2500FB spinnin reels few months back at Gus's for 15.00ea
I also have 2 combo of Shimano rod and Shimano Curado bait casters 50 bucks ea for the rods and 179ea for the reels. I have just as much luck with the Less expensive setups
Save your money for gas

For the price, I like OKUMA

I shop at Walmart.usually get a good combo for about 50.and put spiderwire on it.60 or 80 pound@ 20 pound size.or I buy rhino rod and get the real I like. About the same thing.

i use the 7' med ugly stick intercoastal rods from walmart sell for about $39 shimono Or okuma spining reels in the 40 to 50 price range will last a long time in the saltwater

Its a little out of your range that you posted but I LOVE my Stradic 2500s spooled with 20lb power pro paired up with a Falcon Original or a Castaway. Either rod with a fast/med action. Shimano makes some cheaper versions like a Sierra or a Sedonia that are really good too.

me

Bayou Blue Trip Specks,Reds,Drum

I use medium Heavy Rhino w/ Glow Tip or Ugly Stick 6'6'-7' Rod w/good Spin Cast Reel Have caught some Nice Bull Reds too on this Combo w/ 12 lbs line

I just bought a 6ft8in Shimano Convergence rod, Med action with lifetime warranty and a Shimano Sahara 3000 at Chags for 130$. I think its a nice set up for trout IMO.

Just my humble opinion, but you get what you pay for. Buy a decent combo that'll last several years and replace it as needed or save your money and get a quality set up. I have two Shimano casting reels, a chronarch and a calcutta that I bought in the mid 90's. Have had both serviced and worn parts replaced twice and both are still going strong. Same applies to rods.
Generally, the better you get, the longer they'll last you.

Can't beat an okuma castaway combo

Slaughter pole fishing the lights on the Grand Isle bridge :)

was a Shamino Cronarch setting nice and pretty on top of a medium action Lommis saltwater rod,, now the combo rests on the floor of Lake P. Bumpy ride got it... :(

Okuma spinning reel on a 7ft castaway rod or allstar rod. The Okuma holds up against the saltwater and are great reels for a not too expensive price.

For me okuma has been the biggest piece of crap reel I have ever owned. Im having good luck with penn slammers and I have Mitchell 300's for back up. Also use penn and american rod smith rods.

I went thru FIVE All Star rods within a 6 month period. They were all breaking about 6 inches from the tip. Even brought 2 of em back to a different Academy just in case they had a bad batch of rods

If you look at the cost of replacing a cheaper reel every other year as opposed just putting down 100-150 on a reel, buy quality is probably cheaper.

I like Penn and Shimano. I like the Penn spin reels better but Shimano makes some awesome casting. I have a chronarch and a calcutta.

Abu Garcia used to make ambassadors well. I fished one up one time that had been in fresh water for months and restored it. I'm not sure the new ones are like that

I use a St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod TSRS70M with a Shimano Sahara 4000FD. It does what it's supposed to do and does it well.

I wrote an article about the Sahara and why I like it. It's called 'Why Your Fishing Reel Sucks' http://www.swampstallionfishingadventures.com/wordpress/why-your-reel-sucks/

(With that said, I know a lot of LAS people use great fishing reels)

Captain Devin
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Just purchased the new C5 Ambassador a few months ago and love it. Some people are critical of them because you have to oil them every now and then, but take care of them and they last a lifetime...Literally

This is another one of those post that everyone is going to tell you that the set up they have is the best. There is nothing wrong with that because it tells me that you have confidence is your equipment. I have owned the cheap stuff and the expensive stuff. Bottom line is how you take care of it and maintain it. I have seen anglers with the $300.00 plus set up not keep it clean or maintained look for a new set in a couple years where as the $100.00 or less set up last for years because it was properly cleaned and oiled. Just my opinion from experience and seeing what others went through.

The Okuma refections 7 foot med. action spinning rod retails for 59.99 at Pugla's sporting goods pair it up with a shimano sahara 300 at 79.00 retail or a Saros 3000 119-129.00 fill it with 20# power pro and thank me later!

I have 5 of these combos Okuma refections rods 7 foot med action and a saros 3000 filled with 20# power pro and they are going on there 4th year and are tuff!

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I'm trying really hard to stay out of this one! Don't know how much longer I can do it!

Capt E
CATCHDAT.com

Jump on in capt. you know what they say . Opinions are like a certian part of the human anatomy, most near everybody has one and most of them stink.

OK but, I'm fixin to get accused of just trying to sell reels!
Yes, we do sell them but, we sell them because we use them and like them. We could sell any brand.
You owe it to yourself to try a US Reel Supercaster 1000. Look them up, buy it where ever you want to but, try one!

Capt E
CATCHDAT.com

for some reason, people think, the more you pay for a rodnreel, the more fish they catch??? i think, it's more the bait, you got on the end of the hook, is what really counts???

Great question and follow up. I as a beginner appreciate all of the good feedback and hopefully one day, I'll be able to share some good knowledge to others.

Depends on what kind of fishing youre doing.dont think if youre going to the causeway with an ugly stick youll catch as many fish as you would with a shimano crucial.john rucker swears by dobyns.ive never tried one but hes a trout master so im sure theyre great.but if all youre doing is fishing with a popping cork or catching aggressive biting fish you can go spend 50$ on a low line castaway that will never break unless you slam it in a car door.not opinions here,tested this theory out.as far as us reels go,great concept not nearly as durable as shimano,not even close.i own a salt and it never leaves my house.i dont trust it.sorry captain.

I have a Pfluger Presidential on a Pfluger IM8 graphite rod bought as a combo at Academy for $80. Also have a Shimano Sahara on a Castaway graphite, paid $40 for reel and $50 for rod. All are about five years old and still in good shape.

Had same combo.had reel repaired 3 monthd after I bought it and rod broke trying to shake a bait loose out some marsh grass.would have never bought it but old lady wanted a pink combo and the purple they had was the closest id let her get.might have got a bad one I dont know.if my check was on it id go with shimano.

In my experience there are some that work&some that don't, To me if you have the drag set rightthats the Key!!!!! A good medium heavy rod works well w/ABU 5000-5500 C 17 lbs flurocarbon line

Spin caster shimano Sahara best bang for your buck all day long. Baitcaster shimano citica best bang for your buck. With that being said I love my US supercaster and the new revo sx. For rods just start with a Med/hvy fast action and make sure its graphite, if you fish enough you will have plenty of opportunities to try different rods.

Get you a Shimano Symetre 2500 or 3000($90) and go to Dick's Sporting goods and get a Cailco Jack Hurricane 7'6'($55) rod either medium action or medium heavy both work well.
Most people do not realize you have to have balance in your tackle in order for it to work properly.Most people use to heavy of equipment and it hurts you in the long run.

I like the way you think Capt Clicke&drag set right&your on for long time

So do you want baitcasters or spinning reels? For baitcasters I still use 25 year old ambassador 5500 cs. If you go that route get an older one made in Sweden. I haven't tried the new low profile baitcasters though. Now here is my opinion on the spinners I have.
Shimano Sedona 2500 Really good reel at a good price. Mine has been used and abused and the only thing I ever had to do to it was to tighten the bail screws.
Shimano Symetre 3000 Very smooth slick reel, casts great. Caught a huge stingray with it and it is still going strong. But, this reel hates to get wet. Splashed it once and had to replace a bearing.
Daiwa tournament ss 1300. Old fashioned but still my favorite spinning reel. Cast a mile,great drag, needs very little maintenance. Go on fleabay and get an old one made in Japan.

Now the spinners I have used but don't own.
Penn Sargus, all metal reel very smooth, looks good, but it is the same reel as an older pflueger model. (Penn and pflueger got bought out a few years ago, so they are really similar now.) It is made in China so I won't buy it though.
Shimano Stradic This is a really nice smooth reel, if you want one go to Puglias, they have the best price I know of.
Abu Garcia Soron, Very smooth all metal reel, but it is made in China.
Daiwa Black Gold, old fashioned heavy reel that will put up with a lot of abuse.

...and in the end go back to 'greasy steel balls' and get away from graphite...(we still have the old Penn and Ocean City w/a oil fitting at every friction point...(don't get tongue twisted w/the title)...cheers

...no they not for sale...what 'funny' is when 'Great Pappy' kicks the bucket they all there to drop their 'upgrades' and grab the antiques !!!...cheers

Just bought my second Penn Fierce 3000 and a 7ft. Falcon coastal rod all for right at $150 at cabelas this weekend....I have had every shimano from the $29 to the $99 versions and I just don't find they are of the same quality as a few years back. I switched to the new $59 Penn Fierce last year and love it....the $99 Penn is even smoother. As far as rods go...I've found a way to break every rod they make, so now I just by the one with the best return policy lol...Falcon and Allstar coastal models are my favorites.... Just my two cents!

For the money I recommend the shimano sahara in 2500 or 3000 size. Puglias has great deals on them . I put 15 to 20 lb super slick power pro on it. Has a good drag and is the cheapest model for shimano That has corrosion resistant bearings . I always dpeay with reel magic before and after use. I think its like $68 at puglias. If using popping cork you can get by with whatever . 7 foot is standard. I like okuma rods and the reflection I think is the low end model. I like to get rods from chags because I don't like the way Puglia displays their rods.