I'm looking for a good finesse spinning outfit that won't break the bank. I'm hoping for something in the $200 range. I've looked at ***, Dobyns, and St. Croix for the rod. I have no idea what reel or size of reel to get. (I will mostly use this for dropshot and shaky head). I would be very thankful for your suggestions. Thanks.

I just bought a 6' 10" st croix mojo bass dropshot finesse rod for 120 at basspro a 2000 or 2500 sized reel will work just fine.,,, I will most likely get a shimano, stradic or saros, more like a 300+ dollar outfit, but worth it

What Keith said or a BPS combo like the Carbonlite or Johnny Morris. You really can't go wrong with any of those 3 choices. I'd stick in the 6'10" to 7'2" range. Either ML or M fast or Xtra fast tip.

Good suggestions above.

If St. Croix is your rod choice, I recommend ML.

Carbonlites, M.

You can often find Carbonlites on sale at BPS,
and Shimano Stradics on auction site for a very
good price...

As far as sizes, my favorite for bass fishing is a 
1000 size. Keeps overall rig weight down, and
can handle serious bass.

If you are not into Shimano, there are great reels
from Diawa (Lexa), Pflueger, and others.

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I will go with the St. Croix and then look into the reels a little more.

St Croix also has their Triumph X rods on sale with a free Daiwa Laguna spinning reel, for $90 shipped.  Just something to consider!

My finesse outfit is a Shimano Crucial (M) rod with a Shimano Spirex reel.  The two together came in right about $200.

Falcon bucoo 6'6 medium action with a shimano sahara 2500

I'd go with the new Mojo Bass, probably their drop shot model, and probably a Pflueger President or President limited edition in the 25 or 30 size. It should make a great finesse rod. 

11 hours ago, WIGuide said:

I'd go with the new Mojo Bass, probably their drop shot model, and probably a Pflueger President or President limited edition in the 25 or 30 size. It should make a great finesse rod.

^^This^^ ... New upgraded blanks in the Mojo bass series at the same price as previous Mojo models = sweet !

I' m a Dobyns fan boy. Go with the St. Croix. I dislike any dobyns spinning rods below champion, I have a fenwick elitetech smallie rod that is far superior than a savvy, which I also got for much less $$$. But I will recommend the Lew's reel, they make some of the best spinning reels on the market. Just make sure to shy away from the American Hero line. 

To me thats really 2 different rods. I have a St. Croix ML in the eyecon series that's a great dropshot/ ned rig rod but it's awfully soft for a shakyhead rod..Maybe the Mojo has more power ?

 I live in Lews country and they are great folks but I'd stay away from the spinning reels....for now.

On 6/15/2016 at 9:51 PM, Darren. said:

Good suggestions above.

If St. Croix is your rod choice, I recommend ML.

Carbonlites, M.

You can often find Carbonlites on sale at BPS,
and Shimano Stradics on auction site for a very
good price...

As far as sizes, my favorite for bass fishing is a 
1000 size. Keeps overall rig weight down, and
can handle serious bass.

If you are not into Shimano, there are great reels
from Diawa (Lexa), Pflueger, and others.

I scooped a Lexa last year when Dick's would have those random crazy sales, and I love it.  Paired it with my DX702 and it has been fantastic.  My other spinning reels are Pfluegers, which are also great.  A President should run you around 60, leaving you plenty of money to get a BPS or Mojo rod.

19 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

St Croix also has their Triumph X rods on sale with a free Daiwa Laguna spinning reel, for $90 shipped.  Just something to consider!

Where did you see this sale? I am really interested now.

3 hours ago, daviswill said:

Where did you see this sale? I am really interested now.

St. Croix's webite! http://stcroixrods.com/shop/freshwater/triumph-x-spinning-rod-combo/

For dropshot/shaky head I'd look at the 6'8" MXF or the 7'0" MF, or if you need a 2-piece the 7'0" MF2.

Consider another rod. Try an Irod Genesis II IRG712S.  It has a fantastically sensitive and feather light 7"1 M blank and is rated as 1/8 to 3/8 6-12 pound test.  My wife purchase its MH brother, a 713S, and teamed it up with a super fast high speed Shimano Symmetre 3000.  The rod will run you $150.00 and that reel ran $99.00.  However for your purpose I would set yours up with a Pfluerger President, either a  model 3930 ( a 3000 size reel) or a 3935.  Either one is a 10 ball bearing reel for $60.  The difference between the Presidents is a little more spool capacity on the 35, but is almost physically the same size. Between my wife and I we own 5 Presidents and 2 Shimano spinning reels. For the money and weight ( the 3935 is only .9 ounces heavier than her new Shimano), as well as the line capacity, I would choose the President 3935. Now if you wish to run some braid or floro you have plenty of capacity. The rod she fishes for shakey heads, dropshotting or wackey riggin is a G Loomis IMX with a President 3935. It is spooled with Berkley Original Fireline in 12 pound and we run a six foot leader of  P Line cxx in 10 pound.  That is her preference since she hates dealing with mono-copolymer-floro lines due to tangles.  If you go this way I would add some decent inexpensive mono or copoly backing and attach lines together with uni to uni knots.  Hope this helps.