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It's hard to beat a Duckett, but I'd also look into the Dobyns Savvy Series as I tend to prefer them for that price range.

I own Legend Tournaments which are my favorite for right around 250.

If I could only have one combo it would be a Dobyns Champion 734 C because it's one of the most versatile rods I have owned and used. I would pair it with a Lew's Tournament Pro with a 7.1:1 gear ratio. I would get the high speed because it would come in handy when you need to pick up slack quickly or cover water quickly. If you need to fish slow you can always focus on what you are doing and slow down your retrieve.

1. Rapala Rippin Rap 2. Spro Aruku Shad 3. Strike King Red Eye Shad

My favorite is the Missile Baits D Bomb. Other good ones are the Berkley Havoc Pit Boss and the Reaction Innovations Sweet Beavers.

War Eagle and Strike King are my favorite makers of spinnerbaits. However, I do use Booyah spinnerbaits from time to time.

I have caught them down to 50 degrees maybe even lower like many other members have said. When the water is that cold I like to reel it to where it is just ticking the bottom or just ticking the top of whatever cover you are fishing. I have only consistently caught fish with chatterbaits in the fall when the water is that cold, just like wnybassman said.

I have heard nothing but good things about the Erie Darter and I would like to start using them. I know they're a killer Smallmouth bait especially on the Great Lakes. I have used them a few times, but I ended up switching back to something I have more confidence in before I could get bit. I was just wondering the best ways to rig it and how you guys like to work it (drag it, hop it, etc.). Thanks

My favorite has to be Sunline FX2 for heavy lb test and FX1 for light lb test. Sunline makes the best braid in my opinion, but if I had to choose another brand it would be Power Pro.

The boomerang tool works great and so do fiskars safety scissors.

I like a 3/8 oz Dirty Jigs Swim Jig because of their vast and detailed color selection. I like 3/8 oz because I can use it in a variety of depths and I can make long casts with it. My favorite trailers for swim jigs are Rage Craws, grubs, or Lake Fork Magic Shads depending on how active the fish are. For trailers, I tend to go with a grub in cooler water or when the fish aren't super active, a craw when their somewhat active or in the later stages of the prespawn period, and I use a swimbait trailer when the water is warmer during the summer months or when the fish are feeding. However, if one trailer is not working I will experiment with other trailers and retrieve styles until I start catching fish.

I like a Dirty Jigs pitching jig in Alabama Craw with a 3 inch green pumpkin Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw.

I have minimal experience with dropshotting and it is something I definitely want to build my confidence in this upcoming year. The few occasions where I have used the dropshot, I did well using the strait tail Roboworms. I was just wondering what your most successful baits for dropshotting are. Thanks

I'd get a Legend Alpha 211 like this one.

My next combo will be an all around set up. I'm getting a Dobyns Coalition Weapon 734C (7'3" Heavy Fast Action) and pairing it with a Lew's Tournament Pro 7.1:1 reel. I will primarily use this for jigs, texas rigs, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, and buzzbaits.

I've heard nothing but good things about the St. Croix Mojo Glass Target Cranker (6'10" Mod Medium) which might also be a good option. I do not own that particular model, but I have the 7'4" Mojo Glass rod which happens to be one of my favorite rods.

Duckett Micro Magics start at $149 and they're pretty sensitive in my opinion.

You won't be disappointed I have never had a problem with any of my 5 Shimano reels.

I have three so far and I love them. They are very sensitive and strong rods. They are slightly tip heavy but not as bad as some make it seem. As far as the rod you are looking at, I do not have that model but I'm sure its great because I have never had a problem with these rods, let alone the other St. Croixs i have.

I would recommend the Shimano Stradic FJ or the new Stradic CI4+. I would lean more towards the FJ only because there are not a whole lot of reviews on the new CI4 yet but I'm sure it's a good reel anyway.

The best fluorocarbon lines I've found in that price range is Seaguar Red Label and Sunline Super Fluorocarbon. I don't really prefer one over the other I just buy which ever one is available to me at the time that I need it. They both break at higher weights than what they're rated for, and they are pretty abrasion resistant. Yes they have more memory than other types of fluorocarbons but that's what you will get for this price range. You can make them more manageable with some line conditioner but they work just fine without it too. These are actually the only types of fluorocarbon I have been using the past 2 years to save some money and I have had no problems thus far.

I like to use a 4/0 EWG with a 3/16 oz weight with either a Rage Craw or Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw. A texas rig with one of those baits is something I almost always have tied on.

A buddy of mine kills them on a Blue Fleck Power Worm which he buys by the hundred pack. They are purple with blue flakes in them and they actually work very well.

I used the same rod for primarily spinnerbaits, but you can use it for just about anything. I caught more fish with that rod than any other rod I have had because it was so versatile.

I will not fish any lighter than 3/16 oz on this rod.