In your opinion, what is a good workhorse combo that you use?

Within a reasonable price range of under $200

BPS Pro Qualifier & any $99 (or so) M/F or MH/F rod that feels good to you.

This forum's flea market might also get you a nice Shimano reel or St. Croix rod for short dough too.

Shimano Citica and the $100 rod of choice...at MSRP that would be a little over $200 but you can find them on sale for $100 without much effort.

LH or RH reel?  Here are 3 Curado 201B for $75 + $5 shipping if there are any left.  Many people don't update their ads.  Add a Fenwick HMG of your choice, and have enough left over for some 12# Neon Tangerine Siege. 

 

EDIT:  Apparently my link was to one of the forums we are not allowed to link to.  That boardy one.

Lews speed spool, lfs, or daiwa tatula( can be found around 100) and shimano clarus(old style can be found under 75), team daiwa t, or *** black. I have a tatula on the *** black and paid 205 shipped and its my favorite all around bc combo

For the reel I would get a tatula, for the rod I would comb through flea market here, you can find some really good deals

well for the reel I would also vote for a tatula, its a great reel.

Another vote for a Tatula, and pair it with an HMG.

BPS Carbonlite rod, BPS PQ reel. Now have about 9 of these setup's and I love them! Also look into a Tatula. I am planning on purchasing one from all the great feedback from this forum on them. Seem to be great reel's. *** black is also an option for rod to match it up with. I have a 7'6 MH for flipping light brush and structure. I love it. It's paired with a 13 *** reel though.

tatula and $100 dollar rod of choice. Id go most likely with the fenwick smallmouth rod...

Reaction baits ---> St. Croix mojo or Triumph and a Daiwa Tatula...

 

Bottom Contact---> Daiwa Tatula Rod or a falcon bucoo micro with a Skeet Reese victory reel(can be found for about 50-60)...

 

Mitch

Tatula for 100 dollars and *** *** Med Heavy of your choice in length.

7ft MH BPS Carbonlite and a Lews Speed spool. 

You can't lose with any of the recommendations above.  For $160 you could get a pro qualifier/carbonlite combo from bps.  Go with a medium/heavy rod and a 6.4 reel.

Another vote for a Tatula, and pair it with an HMG.

That would be really good.

 

Or you could get a 5:4 Tatula and a Diawa DX M/H and go all out You could put some 17# on there and be fine lol You wont be able to spool the reel any ways. I sure you could still cast stuff weighing 3/8 or whatever np also. Thats what I would do anyways if I had $200 for a combo.

To the OP. If you have the accessibility handle the rods and reels that have been recommended. Then purchase the one that feels right to you.