So I have been struggling with this for awhile now. I need a spinning setup but can't quite determine what I want. I do have a budget of around $200 I'd like to stay around if possible, but can go more if people tell me it's worth it. I've been looking at a St. Croix Premier, probably a 6'6" M fast action. Also, I've been looking a the Quantum Accurist PTi spinning reel. I'm not 100% sure on the sizes for these as there is no close store to me that I can go see these. Lastly, I fish Lake Erie smallies a lot and that is what this will be mainly for. Thank you to whoever takes the time to respond to this.

I just purchased that very rod. I put a Shimano stradic 2500fj on it. Somewhat over your proposed budget. It has a real good feel to it. Can't wait till springtime to get to try it out.

Hootie

Ok I'll look into that. I've been going back and forth between shimano and quantum (I know that's a whole other convo). But it's good to know you like the rod.

Thanks for the input

A Shimano Sahara will keep you within your budget. They are a nice reel also. By the way, I am not trying to push Shimano on you. Just telling you what I have experience with.

Hootie

If $240 is close enough, this might be the ticket:  http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/pinnacle-spinning-review.html

Sahara or Symetre would be in your budget. 

Grab a 30 size Pflueger President on sale somewhere $50 +/- and the highest end rod you can find with the rest. St Croix Rage or maybe Avid on sale, something similar. I'm leaning more toward ML/F for my spinning tackle. It depends what and where you want to cast. 

I have looked into the Symetre and I like that a lot as well. Is Shimano kind of the way to go vs. quantum? It seems everyone likes shimano a lot, which is making me seriously consider them. I've always been an Abu guy but I want to try some other brands out.

Thanks

Grab a 30 size Pflueger President on sale somewhere $50 +/- and the highest end rod you can find with the rest. St Croix Rage or maybe Avid on sale, something similar. I'm leaning more toward ML/F for my spinning tackle. It depends what and where you want to cast.

Mike has a good point on the power. Not sure if you've fished a St Croix rod before, so sorry if I'm telling you something you already know. But their rods usually handle 1/2-1 full power heavier then others. So their M spinning is almost a MH, and their ML is very close to some others M. Just make sure you look at the lure and line ratings and match you're intended techniques to their powers. I do love my St Croix spinning rods!

For example I use a St Croix M/XF and M/F for weightless 5" and 6" senkos with a 4/0 EWG hook. These rods handle that great, but an older M/F Loomis GL2 (the blue one) is a bit underpowered for them, especially the 6" and especially in any cover.

Good luck!

I don't know about the new Accurist PTI, but I owned a size 20 of the previous version. The clutch bearing got rusty after a season. I did fish in the rain though. There was also clicking noise when the spool was at farthest position. That being said, it handled a few 6+ lb catfish, bass, and walleye with ease thanks to its nice drag. 

I've personally not enjoyed any Quantum reels or Abu spinning reels I've tried. My preference for spinning reels is Shimano, Pflueger, or Daiwa depending on price point. I'd agree with Mike again given your budget look for a Pflueger President and invest the larger portion of your budget on the rod. Also I recently saw Pflueger Supremes on sale at Cabelas for 70 or 80 which is a good deal.

But everyone has their preferences and you should get what you will enjoy. If you can get somewhere to feel them first that's best.

I've have a few quantum spinning reels, no complaints. Now quantum casting reels on the other hand I wouldn't even consider buying.

You can grab a daiwa Lexa pretty well below retail brand new on eBay fairly easy.

I got mine for 79 shipped

And. ....here comes the quantum bashing.

Any $50+ spinning reel in a 30 or 40 size is just fine for bass fishing. Find one you like, or one on clearence, and get it.

Spend your money on the ROD. Techniques that require a spinning rig, are normally bite sensitive. Buy the best rod you can afford, and any name brand mid-upper level reel.

We all could talk about how I had this reel or that reel, and they're junk yadda yadda yadda....does this need to degrade into that?

For 220 I would use a Duckett Magic pro at 160 retail probably cheaper shopping around. I cannot say enough good things about this rod. Light weight and versatile with good sensitivity thrown into the mix I think this rod is highly under rated I'n the sub 200 range. After checking out eBay myself in the past i got mine for 130. Which brings me to the pflueger presidential. At a 60 dollar price tag retail this reel can compete well up into the 150 dollar class for spinners. Smooth with a solid drag and it looks pretty to boot. All in all a good setup.

Was just on Cabelas website and fwiw they have the Pflueger Supreme on clearance for $80 which is pretty good deal.

Thanks everyone for all the input.  This gives me a lot to go off of and I think I am going to spend the extra cash on the rod, like many of you have suggested.  I still have to definitively decide on the reel but this helped me narrow down to a few.

 

Thank you everyone!

Best of luck, let us know how it turns out!