I am thinking about getting a Daiwa liberto pixy and pairing it with the 6' ML BPS crankin stick. Thoughts, suggestions? I don't want to spend over $80 on the rod. I want to use this setup for small crankbaits and rooster tails for trout.

I had the 6' ML Crankin' Stick from the earlier generation (the top rod in the photo). If the new model fishes the same, it will be perfect for what you want to use it for. Same with the Pixy; the market has softened on those and prices are way down on eBay. It is an outstanding reel for what it is but is getting outclassed by the latest generation of BFS reels and is a "dead-end" platform since it has a unique spool size no longer used by Daiwa. HOWEVER, it will work great for your purposes with perhaps only a drag upgrade that you might consider.

I have two Pixies and was considering selling them and went on to eBay just the other day to check current pricing and was surprised at how low prices are now. It's the right time to be a Pixy buyer, less so to be a Pixy seller...

The ML crankin sticks load up very nicely for casting small baits. I like my 6' 6" ML for small square bills like the kvd 1.0

GLoomis CR721/722 IMX .... but you don't want to spend more than $80.

I'm using my 7' ML Crankin' Stick to cast 3/16 oz. Shad Raps with an older gold colored Carbonlite.  Does a fine job casting this weight.  No doubt a Pixie will have no problem casting even lighter.

You would hurt my heart by putting a limited Pixy on a BPS rod. A silver mica might be forgivable.

Here's the hard truth about stock Pixies. By today's standards, they are pretty lousy reels in a lot of ways. Weak drag, cheap handle, clickless drag star. What turns them into special reels is the Pixzilla upgrade; TD-Z line guide, full drag stack replacement plus Carbontex, PX Type R drag star and cast control to facilitate a clicking upgrade, and probably a carbon handle because at that point why not? If you knew this and are up to the challenge and costs of performing this upgrade with parts that are now discontinued and getting harder to source as well as more expensive, then you know what you're getting into and I wish you all the best and to see the finished product. However if you're more on the casual or casual-enthusiast side of things, purchasing an Alphas SV or Alphas Air is a far better use of your time and money.

 

Goose there aren't any Pixies in that picture.

37 minutes ago, Cgrinder said:

You would hurt my heart by putting a limited Pixy on a BPS rod. A silver mica might be forgivable.

Here's the hard truth about stock Pixies. By today's standards, they are pretty lousy reels in a lot of ways. Weak drag, cheap handle, clickless drag star. What turns them into special reels is the Pixzilla upgrade; TD-Z line guide, full drag stack replacement plus Carbontex, PX Type R drag star and cast control to facilitate a clicking upgrade, and probably a carbon handle because at that point why not? If you knew this and are up to the challenge and costs of performing this upgrade with parts that are now discontinued and getting harder to source as well as more expensive, then you know what you're getting into and I wish you all the best and to see the finished product. However if you're more on the casual or casual-enthusiast side of things, purchasing an Alphas SV or Alphas Air is a far better use of your time and money.

 

Goose there aren't any Pixies in that picture.

Didn´t mention the composite spool too ( feature improved in the 2005 LE Airy Red edition where the spool is aluminum ) and the low speed.

As of today, I may love my 3 Airy Red Pixies, but I wouldn´t purchase a Pixy nowadays, there are much much better reels that can do the same and don´t need any "upgrades", the features are already there..... like the Daiwa SS SV 

Can get a used PX Type R for $250 in very good condition.  I'd go that way.  Save money and time upgrading the Pixie.  Almost bought an Airy Red, but see no need now that I have a PX.  I don't fish light enough baits often enough to have more than one PX / Pixie.  Besides I have a few other reels that get down to 3/16 oz. with no problem, and that is a light lure for me to be using for bass.

4 hours ago, Cgrinder said:

Goose there aren't any Pixies in that picture.

Here they are!  The one on the left is stock. The one on the right has ceramic-hybrid spool bearings and the drag upgrade. No full-boat Pixzilla upgrades for me - that's what my PX Type R is for.

The next time these reels will be seen in public will probably be on eBay in a month or two...