My brother has a $200 budget for a spinning rod. He will be pairing it with a Rarenium 2500 Ci4+ and 8lb fluoro. What will be his best bang for his buck?

With a firm $200 budget I'd go St. Croix Avid.

I was thinking St. Croix Avid as well.

https://www.*.com/G-Loomis-IMX-Bass-Spinning-Rods-p/g-loomis-imxbassspin.htm?e=Y

IMX on sale join the mailing list puts it under $200. I'll let you decide if you want the 852 or 853.

Avid..... Do it.

 

Fenwick Aetos. It fishes way above its price. 

I really enjoy fishing my Avids. I own 7 and love them all. 

Phenix M1 series, I'd go with the MXS78M

You should be able to get a st croix ltb on sale for that or possibly less if you time a rebate with a coupon or sale at gander mountain.  I'd wait and get the ltb 68mxf.  It's my favorite spinning rod, and I don't leave home without it

Only $200 spinning rod I bought was a GL2, waste of $200.