JaxBasser

Suffix 832 and Power Pro Ss8 are the best I've used. I've heard great things about Daiwa Samurai but I haven't tried it yet.

The big bluegill love eating the tails off of my rage tail baits and speed worms/craws.

Jeez I don't need to spend anymore money right now...must resist

I can never resist a good clearance sale. I always end up buying everything they have. I have so much stuff just sitting around because of that.

They had some in the markdown section of my walmart. A red tag with 129.99 on it....lol

The Kistler KLX is a really really nice stick for under $200.

I just got a KLX and it is a fantastic rod. Fishes way above it's price point. I love my *** but it blows it out of the water.

The Tec-Spec rods at Dicks are around that price and are solid. Add $20 more to your budget and you can get a Veritas though.

I have a 7`1 MF *** and use it for everything you listed. It's a great rod. I have a st croix ltb and it's a much nicer rod, still love my *** though.

I love craiglist. I just picked up a like brand new St Croix LTB casting rod and a Pflueger Patriarch 7.9 for $200. Congrats on your new combo. Go catch some fish!

The lightning rod shocks are good rods for the $.

Bought 8 Lucky Craft Cranks and Pointers for $10 each buy one get one free.

I got run off a lot from spots like that when I was younger. With all of the bad things 15 year olds can get into you'd think people wouldn't mind you fishing.

Music is one of my biggest loves in life besides fishing, I never listen while I am fishing though. I enjoy the silence.

Go to walmart and buy yourself a bulk spool of Berkley Big Game mono. Cheap to learn on and it's actually decent line.

Been using them a lot more the last year or so. Have had good luck with the KVD 1.5, Bomber Square A, and the Xcalibur XCS. I recently pick up 6 Lucky Craft ones for $5 each on clearance at Dicks and I'm gonna give them a try soon. I throw mine on a 7'1 M/F *** Black with a 6.4:1 Revo S.

Two days ago first cast with a brand new LC Pointer I hooked a huge soft shell turtle. Destroyed the hooks but I got lure back and the turtle got to live.

Every time I set a cap my next purchase ends up going over it. I said I'd never spend more than $100 or so on a reel and just a couple of days ago I spent $150 on a ***. Now I'm looking at rods in the $200 range. Every purchase just gets higher and higher lol.

I usually use 14#. If I'm in heavy cover I'll just switch to straight braid.

Tons of good options in the $100 range for rods, and the Pflueger President is a good reel for around $50. *** *** Black and the Fenwick HMX are a couple of good options.

I use 30 but it can dig into itself at times. I'd go with 40.

5.x are good for deep diving cranks and slow rolling other large baits 6.x is probably the most versatile. If you're gonna be throwing a lot of different techniques on one reel this is that I'd go with. 7.x+ is good for worms, jigs, and other presentations where you could need to take up slack line in a hurry. Also like them for topwater frogs and buzzbaits. Pay attention to IPT also. Really it's more important than gear ratio. A 6.4 from one manufacturer could have 2"+ less IPT than a 6.4 from another for example.

Lews Speed Spool Tournament Pro or a Daiwa Tatula Type R. The Tatula Type R and Lews TP are $200 reels but can be had for less than $150 brand new.

SK s11.

I've never had any problems with sunline breaking. I've used the Super FC and the Sniper. Both have been pretty strong. The BPS XPS floro has also held up really well for me.