dude loves to fish

revo

The new Kistler KLX rod is very sensitive and it is in your price range. I have 2 of them and no complaints at all.

Power Team Lures Finicky Tickler, awesome bait that will catch fish year round, especially when the fishing gets really tough.

7' all the way

I have a Kistler z bone 7' heavy that I use for froggin - super strong and very, very light. Also use it for jigs.

Berkley 100%

BUZZ BAIT...............

I own 3 of them and they are great. Two of them for cranking and the other for jigs, can't go wrong.

Power Team Lures Finiky Tickler and the new hammer shad. Awesome buoyancy.

It is a great rod. They do not make the Argon's anymore and if you can get your hands on it for that price I would say go for it. I also have the Argon cranking rod and love it. The 7'1" is very light and sensitive and that is a plus for flipping all day. They also have a great flipping stick in the magnesium series to.

I have the Kistler magnesium micro spinning rod and the z bone spinning rod. Both are great rods. The magnesium is in your price range. The z bone is a little higher but to me it is well worth it, probably the lightest and most sensitive rod that I have ever had in my hands.

REVO

I am using a Kistler 7'-11" heavy rod for my Alabama rig and a REVO STX reel with 50lb braid. This rod is designed just for the bama rig and you can tell it is. I found it on their web site. With this rod and reel set up you can cast the bama rig way way out there. The rod is very light and that is a plus if you are planning on throwing the bama rig all day.

I use a 6'-6" MH Kistler Magnesium for fan casting spinnerbaits - 7'-0" MH Magnesium for bigger spinnerbaits and longer casting. I like the MH for Spinnerbaits all around.

palomar for braid and clinch for most other

I have a stock Kistler 7'-6" z bone that I am using for jig fishing. If sensitivity is what you are looking then the z bone will be perfect. I also went on their web site and built my own jig rod. I built a 7'-8" z bone flipping stick with micro guides, great rod for big jigs. I also use it for deep water carolina rig fishing. This rod is super light and very sensitive.

Buzzbait should do the trick, if not pull out the rattling bait. That seems to work for me.

I as well have never tried the KVD rods so I couldn't give you an answer on those rods. I have a Kistler Magnesium crank bait rod and it is awesome. I use this rod for all my shallow running crankbaits. You can cast a bait well beyond your target so it can get down to the strike zone quicker. It is 7' with fast action. Super strong as well. I just bought a new Kistler rod with the micro guides and man this thing is sweet, talking about slinging a bait way out there, almost unspooled my reel.

I started using the Kistler magnesium jig & toad rod for my flipping. I am using 65lb braid and I have yet to have a problem with the line, I actually like the micro guides better. With the sensitivity in my rod and the line laying on your rod you will feel more bites. I think it is easier to pitch and flip with the micros.

all around good rod would be a 7' medium heavy / fast.

I used it a couple of times and yes you can cast longer but it does fray. I am also having trouble with the line breaking and I can't tell if it's breaking at the hook or other places. I pulled it off my reel just for the uncertainty that I had - was it gonna break with a fish on.

Check out the Kistler Magnesium rods and I would go M or MH with your setup. These rods are super sensitive and plenty of backbone to handle what you catch. The Shimano 2500 is a great reel to be paired with this rod. I have a Abu Garcia reel on one of my magnesiums that I use for this application and it works great. Drop shotting and senkos I would go with the MH.

I agree with Steve, the Energy's are awesome reels. I as well have never used the Curado but I have used the smoke and all in all the smoke is a good reel but it can't beat the Energy. Have you thought about trying the Abu Garcia Revo reel? The Revo is a great reel. Anyway, good luck.

I own several Kistler rods and to me they are all super sensitive. I'm with North GA Hillbilly, if you want a very sensitive rod I would go with the Helium LTA.....to me, they just don't get more sensitive than these rods. I've owned the Falcon Cara and the Magnesium beats it in sensitivity. I've never owned any of the other mentioned rods.

Jig and buzz bait.