Hello . I decided to get my first baitcast combo after using just spinning gear for a long time.I recently bought a Shimano Curado 71 XG and I don’t know wich rod will make a good combo with this reel.

I am fishing small ponds using 80% Crankbaits between 1/4 oz - 1 oz.

My budget is max 100$ for the rod . If anyone can recommend me anything good that will cast the weights mentioned above,that will be great.And a braided line to go with this also. Thank you! Have a nice day!

I have no experience with the XT models but there is a 7' MH Glass with that lure rating.  Fenwick has a 7'2" M-MF rated 3/8-1 oz. that may work.  I have this rod, but have never tried 1/4 oz. on it.  Both these rods list at $99.99.  The new Dobyns Colt line has a 7' Medium Hvy Cranking with that rating at $79.99.  For less money Berkley has the Lightning Shock in 6'6" and 7' models with a 1/4-1 1/4 rating.  The Falcon HD models are listed with a 3/4 oz. upper limit.

 

For even less look at the Cherrywood 7' MHF.  Here is a link to an earlier post on them.  Don't know how "Fast" the action is, but if you research enough you will find several crankbait rods with a Fast rating.  I think my Crankin' Stick is rated Fast.

 

I have my Curado 70XG on a BPS 7' MH fast tip Carbonlite spooled with 15lb InVizX and throw mostly plastics with it. My other XG is spooled with the same line on a Carbonlite 7' Medium and works very well for cranks.  The 15lb InvizX is the same diameter as most other makers 12lb.  Yes, in spite of all the bad mouthing about Carbonlites I have found them to be great rods for ridiculous low prices.  No, I have never broken one or lost eyes.  I am just a user (eight now) in addition to seven other various inexpensive, but excellent rods.  They are not even made anymore.

cabbalas tournament zx 7'1" m moderate if you never want to lose a fish again, with that setup, you can do anything fro finesse drop shot or 1/16 oz spinners to jig fish

Thank you for your advice.I ended up ordering Major Craft Basspara Medium 1/4–3/4 oz.

for the line i went for varivas high grade pe 11 lb braid.

 

11 lb braid may dig in and give you grief. I don't go below 40 on casters but some do without issue. 

DVT, amen to that.  Seems like it would be like fishing with heavy sewing thread.

For 1/4 —1 oz crankbaits i think over 15 lb braid is too much..

Until you get a backlash on a 3/4 to one ounce crank and watch it sail of into the sunset.  I had a breakoff with 20lb suffix performance braid on a one ounce spook and just watch it fly away....