Man I have a 6'9 dobyns sierra medium light with a 3000 series pflueger president that I'm tickled with. Good for drop shots, wacky rigs, I'm sure it'd work for a ned rig ( never tried one.) Looking at a little over $200 for the combo. (Disclaimer: I found the rod up against a trash bin at work with 5/8 inch broke off the tip. It's still super sensitive and Love it)

I have a Dobyns Sierra 702 paired with a Stradic ci4 3000. The combo works great for me. It's the only spinning setup I have on the boat and the 7ft is just perfect right in the middle of lengths. The ci4 is of course very light so drop shotting and shakey head is easy on the wrist. I would how ever consider getting a second setup that's a 7'4 for longer casts in the future. You can probably pickup both brand new for under your expected budget. 

There are a thousand different combinations. You need to decide what matters most and narrow it down. Do you want the most sensitive? Or lightest weight? Smoothest reel? Etc. 

St Croix avid x. 6'9 ml-xf, 6'8 m-xf, or 7' ml-f. Pair with a Pflueger President or president xt. $300 all in and should last quite awhile. 

Wondering why people are using 3000 series reels on light weight rods.  Can't imagine that makes it lite and balanced.

3 minutes ago, Angry John said:

Wondering why people are using 3000 series reels on light weight rods.  Can't imagine that makes it lite and balanced.

Makes no sense to me either. A 1500 or 2000 size is lighter and has twice as much line capacity as you'll need for bass.

16 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

Makes no sense to me either. A 1500 or 2000 size is lighter and has twice as much line capacity as you'll need for bass.

I love 1500 series reels. As long as they balance on the rod their on I've never felt undergunned with one.

Since there isn't any standards for reel size you need to touch and feel them.

I use 1000 size Shimano Stactic for finesse spinning spinning, no reason to go bigger with line under 7 lb test.

Tom

I use a Fenwick Aetos paired with a Stradic CI4, the whole combo weighs less than 10 oz's. To stay in your price range a Tatula LT would fit the bill, great reel and just as light.  Can't go wrong with a Pflueger either, just a tad heavier.

if you're a shore guy - Phenix M1 7'8" Medium/Extra Fast, any 2500 sized Shimano reel.  I carry this single setup and catch 90% of my fish with it.  You can use it for dropshotting, wacky, shakey head, Carolina rig, Texas Rig, Neko, Ned, small jigs, small swimbaits, smaller lipless/squarebill crankbaits, smaller topwater, etc.  It does pretty much everything you need.

Plfueger is an old American reel company dating back to 1881, however they no longer manufacture reels in the USA, Doyo in Korea or China makes them. Doyo makes several reels for Pure Fishing including Abu Garcia and Lews. If the reels look similar it's because they are and have several interchangeable parts, same reels with different name plates.

I don't know of any fresh water reel being made in the USA anymore, all off shore.

It comes down to customer service and warranty and today Daiwa and Shimano are both good companies that maintain part inventory in the US.

Way off topic.

I use Major Craft Fineese spinning rods with Shimano reels within the OP's $300 combo price point.

Tom

PS, my Shimano Aero Stratic 1000 & 2500 spinning reels are 25 years old and in perfect condition without any problems over that time period and caught hundreds of bass on them. The 1000 on 6'9" medium, 2500 on 7' MH are well balanced.