dude loves to fish

both are great rods, it's preference

A good medium heavy rod will work for all 3 of those applications, in the 7' range. I would suggest looking at the Kistler Mirco guide Carbon Steel rod, it's within your price range or maybe even one of the magnesium rods. Super light and very sensitive. As for the reel, I also like the BPS pro qualifier for the price, which I just bought one.

For an all around combo I have a Kistler magnesium all purpose rod teamed up with a Revo reel. The magnesium is 6'-9" medium heavy rod and it can be used for just about any application, it is super sensitive and very light. The revo is the SX. This is a great rod and reel combo.

Revo

President is a good reel at a good price.

Yo-Zuri ultra soft 8#.

For spinner baits I like the medium heavy rods around 6.5 to 7'. Kistler rods just put a new rod out on the market in the Carbon Steel with micro guides and it works great for spinner baiting and it want break the bank as well. Medium Heavy rods to me are just a good all around all purpose rods. Good luck

I have the Kistler all day power tool and it works great for this application. At 7'-8" you can get the cast on out there and down deep. Great rod for those deep fish and enough back bone to pull em out.

BPS ProQualifier for the price. Better reels for just a little more. Any of the REVO's.

Low Profile - saves your wrists.

For cranking - Kistler Micro Magnesium Crank Rattle n roll teamed up with a REVO STX or check out the new z bones. For Drop Shot - Kistler Magnesium Finesse Special teamed up with a Revo Premier.

Personally I like the craw type baits for punching. Power Team Lures has an awesome bait that I like to use while punching heavy grass mats, called the Diesel Craw. Team this bad boy up with a one ounce weight and hold on. These baits are impregnated with a special blend of scents that will make the fish hold on to it so you can get that hook in him really good. Punching grass mats - What a fun way to catch a fish.

Just started using the Power Team Lures baits. These baits has some awesome buoyancy. I have been catching some good fish here lately with their Craw D'oeuvre, this is a great looking creature bait. Also like the zoom products.

yes it works but like rboat said, it is illegal to use game fish as bait.

I own a Kistler Magnesium jig rod and a Helium LTA that I use for what you are asking and they both are great rods. And if it's sensitivity you are looking for, these rods are very sensitive. I just got a micro guide magnesium in the other day and after fishing with this rod I think I will be going all micro guides from now on. I think it made the rods just that more sensitive and now maybe I want be tangling all my rods up now.

I have several Kistler Micro rods teamed up with the REVO reel. The z bone or the mags hooked up with the revo are awesome combos. These rods are super sensitive and very light. The revo's are just awesome reels.

Power Pro

I have 2 of the Kistler Mag CRR rods and it is a great cranking rod and it is around your price. I also have a couple of the Kistler MgJBTW68MS rods and they work great for cranking as well, especially shallow cranks.

Good rod for Shallow cranks. Braid and/or 100% fluro.

7'3" Kistler z bone cranking rod - revo reel with 15lb berkley fluro. reel is very smooth and my new rod is super strong and sensitive. Can cast a crankbait way out there with this set up and keep it in the strike zone longer. Love to crank.

I have 4 of the revo SX's and 2 Quantums. The revo's are my favorite reels out of all of them. Never had a problem with them, but I have never had a problem with my Quantums either. Personally, I prefer the revo's, great reels.

Power Team Lures Craw D'oeuvre works well.

when you get a new reel, that's usually when I change mine.

I would suggest looking at the Kistler Magnesium rod. I have a 7' cranking rod that I have had for several years and to me it is the perfect rod for cranking. It has mod-fast action and it's as light as a feather.

You can't go wrong with the Supreme. They are some awesome reels and there is not a whole lot of difference in the XT. I own each and also the President....all great reels.