I'm looking to buy a new ML spinning rod to throw drop shot/split shot rigs. My budget is $250.

I'm biased but a st croix medium light fast action is a very versatile rod and my favorite in a spinning rod.

My absolute favorite rod is a St Croix 6'9" MLXF. Soon to be replaced with a 6'10" MLXF extended to 7'

That's funny.  My favorite spinning rod is a St. Croix SCIII 6'10" MLXF.

I am not a St. Croix fan though they are popular. Favorite spinning rods are the original Cumara 7'2 medium XF dropshot and MB Orichi XX shakeyhead rods.

I have St Croix LTB 6'8" MXF that is my go-to rod for plastics and sensitive enough to drop shop.

I like the 13 *** finesse 6'10 ML/XF and the Dobyns champion 702 as those are what I use, but I have also heard great things about the Orochi XX ds rod. I've also heard St. Croix are quality rods, but slightly tip heavy, and that's a big no no for drop shotting.

I like my 7ft falcon bucoo medium. It actually performs more like a ml. I love it

I'm a big St Croix advocate and I have an Avid X ML/XF that fishes almost anything finesse wonderfully. I'll use it for everything from drop shot rigs to throwing light topwaters for smallmouth. It's become one of my favorite rods really fast.

The tip heavy criticism is with the Legend Tournament Bass line, though it really just becomes a matter of taste. This is built on the SCIV blank. The SCIII blank is comparably less tip heavy and comes to a pretty fine taper in M and ML powers. St. croix makes the Avid, Avid X, and Rage models on the SCIII blank.

A suggestion - try out the rods and check them out in store if possible. In the $200-$250 range you'll find Avid, Avid X and LTB lines. Also, keep an eye out for Legend Elites (usually in the $320-$340 range) on sale or used for about your price range.

St. Croix Avid.

St Croix. I don't have one, yet, but the 6'10" ML/XF Legend Tournament Bass would be an excellent option.

6'8m cumara & 6'5m cumulus have always been my favorite spinning rods.

My absolute favorite rod is a St Croix 6'9" MLXF. Soon to be replaced with a 6'10" MLXF extended to 7'

this

St Croix SCIII blanks, so Avid or the new Mojo Bass.

To answer your question, Fenwick makes my favorite spinning rod.  

To answer your question, Fenwick made my favorite spinning rod.  

My favorite is a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'9" M-XF but the Fenwick Aetos 7' M-F is very good and has sensitivity to spare. I will say this, the new St. Croix Avid X in a 6'9" ML-XF is a rod I don't need but want, it weighs just about the same as my Aetos, similar sensitivity but in the 6'9" length I like with the extra fast action, killer versatile set up.

I used my wife's 6'9" MLXF avid this past weekend with a Ned rig. It was amazing. Now I'm trying to justify a 2016 legend elite 6'10" MLXF.

St Croix Avid 7' ML

Well, my favorite spinning rod is my DX702SF. But, if I were limited to only one spinning rod, it would be my Legend Extreme 70MLF (2012 version with cork handle and recoil guides) since it is the most versatile. 

6'8" ML Shimano Zodias, one of my favorite rods and it's right in your price point.

To answer your question, Fenwick made my favorite spinning rod.  

 

 

Sorry my post wasn't that accurate.  You are correct.  Fenwick made my favorite rod. 

I can answer the favorite part... maybe on the right sale it would fit into the price range.  My favorite for what you mentioned would be Dobyns Extreme 742s.  My overall favorite (heavier action than you're talking) would be the 743s.  The work.  They're "dead", overpriced, have horrible guides, the cork splits, the material isn't as good as other rods, they're not made in America, they're not sensitive...  With that being said they work well for me and I think a lot of people would be pretty astonished to see them used properly. 

Delaware Valley Tackle....

Delaware Valley Tackle....

 

I didn't know we were getting that specific.  My answer would then be:  Me.  I make my favorite spinning rod........on St. Croix blanks.