What would be a decent rod around 40-80$ for a stradic C3000HG reel? Thanks in advance for the help. 

Check out the Daiwa Aird X or the Fuego. Both are within your price range.

What if I stepped up to around 120-160$ is there something better? 

I have a couple of Stradic 2500s mounted on St Croix Avids.  They work pretty well.

4 hours ago, Chaddy said:

What if I stepped up to around 120-160$ is there something better? 

 

What are you looking to use it for?  Your post is pretty vague.  If you provide more information about how you want to use it you will likely get better suggestions.  Around $100 tends to be the sweet spot that will give you many choices of rods.  But for the most part spending more money will get you better equipment.

I'm just going to fish with it. Fishing has came a long way for me. I was use to just going in Walmart and buying a Shakespeare combo. I'll be bass fishing with all kinds of top water lures and fishing with all kinds of plastics.

Okuma Scott Martin TCS 7' Medium would be a good all around rod for you're price range.

Daiwa Tatula is a sweet rod that can be found for around $100 online.

That is a good quality reel. I would match it with a Dobyns Fury series FR 703SF. That is a very nice rod to fish with. My friend Kris ( a fellow member fishes with 4 Fury rods including a 703SF)  That is a 7 foot Medium power rod with a fast tip.  It handles baits weighing 3/16 to 5/8. I would have no problem fishing Senco worms, any small to mid size plastics, small jigs like a Bitsy Bug or regular 1/4 to 3/8 ounce jig with a trailer like a grub or craw pappy.  You need a MH power rod to throw heavier ones,  That rod would throw small topwaters, even minnow baits like the 4 inch Rapala floating diving minnows.  You should not have any problem tossing small spinnerbaits also.  The Dobyns rod cost $110 but fishes more like other companies rods costing far more.  

I would spool the reel part way with Stren mono in 12 pound test, then fill it up with some nice braid like Berkley FireLine in 14 pound test ( equal to 6 pound diameter). I usually use 8 pound P Line CXX or even 8 pound Stren mono for a 4 to 5 foot leader.  That makes a really nice combo.