Ive always leaned towards high end tuned reels with mid level rods (cumulus & cumaras)

 

Id say my first high end rod was the Jackall poison glorious, once i fished it, it was all over, lol.

 

Gotta have both now...

On payday... Both!

It really depends on how I'm fishing and what I'm fishing for.  I'd give the nod to more sensitive rod over the reel fishing contact type baits.  Fishing conditions that are going to be harsher on my gear, the reel gets more consideration.

Short answer, the rod.  To me the rod does the the main things you want, set the hook and tells you to set the hook.  The reel cast the line and brings it in.  So in the end it depends on which is more important to you.

I seem to have a 50/50 split on my budget for rods and reels. 

I am a 60/40 split with the rod having the higher percentage. 

I feel that the the dollar goes a lot longer on a quality reel. The reel will certainly give you way more ROI being that if it's your go to - you will certainly have it on multiple different setups and more than likely, a newer rod over time. It also houses line that certainly isn't cheap. Bird nests add up and add to the premium of a cheap reel that just can't be dialed in. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I've been 50/50 on this one until I started to get higher end reels and really noticed the difference. I just feel that you're going to be actually mechanically using the reel (pitching, casting, flipping, etc) way more than you are going to be fighting a fish. 

 

Besides, the rod isn't going to lose you fish unless it breaks. 99% of the time it is human error, lack of experience, or just plain old bad luck. Theres plenty of low cost rods packed with adequate specs out there that will do the job and do it well with some time out on the water. 

 

Just my opinion. 

I currently fish all St. Croix rods, including a legend extreme, and all bass pro shops reels .. so that should probably answer that question.  Granted they are pro qualifiers and johnny morris signature series so they are the higher end BPS reels..

 

One exception is my inshore spinning combo that I use for bass fishing as well.. It has a Stradic FJ 3000 as I needed a reel that could be used in salt...

 

I am considering trying out a Lews tourney pro on my next outfit too.

 

As others have described, I feel that as long as I can cast the reel well without lots of backlashes, get some good distance on my cast, and have a reliable and smooth drag.. that's all that really matters to me.  I feel that all of my reels accomplish these expectations for me.  I do like the stradic the most though.. 

Shimano.

Rod...