Okay, so my wife and I both go new spinning reels recently and she wants to keep her old reel mounted on a rod so I might give her my current rod to put her new reel on which means I'll be needing a new spinning rod for myself. I don't want to go crazy but would like a nice solid rod for around $75 or less. I'm thinking 7ft. MH/F action would be the most versatile setup.

Berkley E-Motion 7' MH-EF can be had off Walmart Online for $62.52 with free shipping, but of course tax has to be added on.  I've had a Berkley Lightning (not the Shock) 6' Medium for umpteen years, and still like it.  Ethos rods from Sports Academy get good reviews, but I have no experience with them.  Could also check out the Filed and Stream Tec Spec and Tec Spec Elite at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Berkley lightning rod shock

Paleus has hit the nail right on the head. Best bang for the buck.

From the reviews check out the Powell Diesel on TW. $79.99 but gets good reviews. I don't own one.

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Berkley E-Motion 7' MH-EF can be had off Walmart Online for $62.52 with free shipping, but of course tax has to be added on.  I've had a Berkley Lightning (not the Shock) 6' Medium for umpteen years, and still like it.  Ethos rods from Sports Academy get good reviews, but I have no experience with them.  Could also check out the Filed and Stream Tec Spec and Tec Spec Elite at Dick's Sporting Goods.

I wish I could find the E-Motion somewhere local to see.  I really would like to hold one in person.

I see that TW has the Denali Jadewood J2 on sale for $81.79 too but don't have much experience with them.

Do a Google search comparing the Powell Diesel versus the Denali Jadewood J2. Alot of times I come up with threads from this website when I versus searches.

According to this post it looks like the Denali is the way to go.

 

I know what you mean by wanting to hold it in-person. I like to put the reel on it too and see how it feels balance-wise (whenever possible)

Go check out Academy's H20 line of spinning rods.  They have a 6'9" M rod which will do almost anything you want to do with a spinning rod.  $59.99 with a instore/over the counter warranty.  I've had mine for over 3 years.  No issues and I would rank it up there with $99 rods.  Nice components and a nice blank.  If you want a second opinion, ask Bluebasser about this rod.  I believe he fishes the same one as well.

I also really like the blue ethos rods at acadamy sports. I was pleasantly suprised at them for $59. Lightweight rod with fuji seat and alconite guides.  

I have 9 Ethos rods, so yeah that's my vote 

Daiwa Procyon, they are like $69.99 and have a 5 year warrant and aren't bad at all, the sensitivity was better than I expected. The rod was given to me as a Christmas present and I was going to send it back but decided to use it first and I was surprised at how well it performed. I have the 7' ML-XF but it does fish 1/2 power heavier so the ML is more like a medium power. The 7' medium power, extra fast action is rated 1/4oz to 3/4oz and I think that will be your best bet, you'll get a lighter rod and still have the versatility and as I said, 5 year warranty for a rod at that price point is just nuts but the rod is decent, even if it was $80 I think you get a decent rod, very much worth the money it is going for.

Fenwick HMG $99, at Gander Mountain right now, $25 mail- in rebate and a $15 e-gift card nets you out at $60

i just picked one up... 

6 minutes ago, bassin is addicting said:

Fenwick HMG $99, at Gander Mountain right now, $25 mail- in rebate and a $15 e-gift card nets you out at $60

i just picked one up... 

Just what I was going to say, a HMG on sale. 

***.com has a Denali Jadewood J2 on sale for $76...would this be a good choice?

the only "great" things i've ever heard about denali rods came from their "pro staff".  i think a pulse and money are all that they require for that program...

i'd spend my $ on a berkley lightning shock (i have 2 and they work great).

Any rod under 75 is going to perform around the same. The few rods that have been mentioned a few time. The Berkeley lightning To point out one. Is a great rod that can usually found for around 40$ at any Walmart and there truly hard to beat unless you get a used rod for around your 75$ price point.

The Denali J2 is the way to go on sale or even full price. Best $100 rod on the market. I'm a fan of the Lithium and Kovert series as well.

On 3/8/2016 at 2:16 PM, Puggz said:

Just what I was going to say, a HMG on sale. 

 

On 3/8/2016 at 2:10 PM, bassin is addicting said:

Fenwick HMG $99, at Gander Mountain right now, $25 mail- in rebate and a $15 e-gift card nets you out at $60

i just picked one up... 

I've heard that Fenwicks are a little softer backbone than let's say an Abu Garcia. One review I read said that the Fenwick M is more like a ML in an Abu so if i wanted something with a little more backbone i should go with a MH Fenwick and it would act like a M Abu...is this true?

What you heard is the Abu Garcia rods are under rated meaning a medium is more like a medium heavy from other rods but I don't think that is the case. Another thing is don't compare casting rods to spinning rods, most of what you heard deals with casting rods, spinning rods tend to be softer than casting rods in the same power and action. Abu Garcia rods are faster in taper and they aren't soft and because of that a lot of people think they are more powerful but when you fish with one and start slinging lures or hook up with a fish it becomes evident that they are close to the ratings, perhaps a little more powerful but not a full or even a half power over. The Fenwick HMG spinning rods are different, they fish a little heavier because they have a deal called "Carbon Bound" blanks, you hear a lot of rod manufacturers talking about wraping carbon tape in an "X" patter to make the rod stronger in the butt section. Well Fenwick has done the same only they use a carbon thread and they reinforce their blanks with it, on the spinning rods it makes them a little more powerful than their rating so if you want a medium power spinning rod and you are looking at the HMG, opt for the medium light and you'll be fine.

19 minutes ago, smalljaw67 said:

What you heard is the Abu Garcia rods are under rated meaning a medium is more like a medium heavy from other rods but I don't think that is the case. Another thing is don't compare casting rods to spinning rods, most of what you heard deals with casting rods, spinning rods tend to be softer than casting rods in the same power and action. Abu Garcia rods are faster in taper and they aren't soft and because of that a lot of people think they are more powerful but when you fish with one and start slinging lures or hook up with a fish it becomes evident that they are close to the ratings, perhaps a little more powerful but not a full or even a half power over. The Fenwick HMG spinning rods are different, they fish a little heavier because they have a deal called "Carbon Bound" blanks, you hear a lot of rod manufacturers talking about wraping carbon tape in an "X" patter to make the rod stronger in the butt section. Well Fenwick has done the same only they use a carbon thread and they reinforce their blanks with it, on the spinning rods it makes them a little more powerful than their rating so if you want a medium power spinning rod and you are looking at the HMG, opt for the medium light and you'll be fine.

Actually I want something that is the most versatile for both trout and bass, if I went with an HMG would you get the Medium-Light, Medium or Medium-Heavy?

for both bass and trout, i'd be looking at a ML or maybe M, but no more than M.