Ok so im looking at getting a heavy spinning set up for things like channel cats, muskie, sturgeon, and carp. So far my reel of choice is the BPS CatMaxx because of the price, heavy drag, and build quality. I would also like to troll with this, but thats not as important. Looking for a whole set up, im aiming for 80 dollars. Please help.

On a budget the good ole Ugly Stik might do what you want: http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/index_rods.html

$80 for the combo the combo might be kinda of tough. Can't go wrong with an ugly stick for that kind of fishing, 30# rod would be my choice. My partner has a Daiwa regal bri, incredible drag for a 60-$70 reel, max drag of 33 pounds (not that you would set it that tight), same drag thru out the line up, difference is only line capacity and weight, for your needs I'd pick the 3500 or 4000 size, weighs about 14 oz. I have used this reel, it's smooth, and handles kingfish, cobia, snook, some over 40#. One of the best bangs for your buck out there in a heavier spinning reel, and it's a bait runner too. Can't address the BPS reel, never seen one.

Thanks for the info! if more money is needed, then il spend it. Lets just go with best bang for your buck combo.

And would i be better off going with a bait casting set up?

A bait runner is not a bait casting reel. A baitrunner is a spinning reel with a secondary drag that can be set so a fish can pull line out, then you deactivate the secondary drag and activate the main drag which is already set, by hitting a bar on the reel. Sounds confusing , but nothing could be easier to operate, these reels are very popular, about everyone I know has one.

Baitrunner is actually Shimano's name for the reel, other mfgs that sell reels with the same format call them similar names.

I'd say talk to some cat guys. They argue about bait casting gear versus spinning gear all the time. I don't thing there is a correct answer. Just use what you got and upgrade should you run into fish that start tearing up your gear.

The only guy I personally know who fishes the Missouri river for big cats a lot uses heavy duty spinning gear. He has to get to some pretty gnarly spots and says the spinning gear makes casting a little bit easier once you get there. He has an impressive collection of cracked and busted 12'to 14' surf rods. I know you wouldn't use that stuff for Muskies, for the most part. Sturgeon?. . I don't know a thing about sturgeon fishing. Carp, I don't know, I don't think heavy duty spinning is the way to go for carp. Something that might help, a few years ago In-fisherman magazine ran a few articles about gearing up for carp, going into their archives would be a place to start. I know that serious carp fishermen can get just as nuts or even more nuts that bass fishermen about their equipment.