Thanks to @Hammer 4 and his suggestion of sportsman outfitters, I now have a new Abu Garcia ALX bc reel on the way lol $129.99 for a $249 reel and I’m not complaining.

 

Anyway this reel will be a dedicated T rig setup, but I need a good rod in the $100 range. 3/16 to 3/8 oz bullet weights will be used with 12-15# Seaguar Red Label. I’m preferably looking for something in the 6’9” to 7’ length Medium or Medium Light. I normally look at the Abu Vendetta rods first, but they are all gone in my normal places of interest and everywhere else it seems like.

 

Im open to any suggestions right now for a rod and I may go a little higher on the price range if need be.

 

Thanks!

I don't like white rods and have never used a Veritas, but TW has 2 left of the 6'10" MLF.  13 Fishing has a few below $100, but I have zero experience with them.  Lew's has several models.  I've read good things about the TP1.  Or you could be the first to own a KVD IM8. 

I dont fish a T-rig often but when I do its on a M/H or H.

 

Take a look at an Fr 703c which is a M/H, Dobyns are known to fish a little lighter than there ratings. I know that my Vendettas are broom sticks by comparison.

I was also going to say that for a Texas rig I would tend to go with a MH. Unless you're using really light hooks, you're going to want a little backbone to drive that hook home. 

 

Also agree with the above, a lot of people say Dobyns rods fish a hair lighter than their rating. A Dobyns Fury 703C or 733C would be a tad on the lighter side of MH and would get you in just a tad over $100 ($119 list or $109 on Karl's). I'm a big fan of my 733C.

 

I would also recommend either of my two finalists for another MH casting rod I just bought, either the Falcon Bucoo or the one I went with, the H2O Xpress Ethos HD. I got the micro guide/cork handle version which lists at $79. Just fished with it for the first time this evening and I am super impressed by this rod. And appropriately enough to your question, my first fish on it was on a Texas rigged worm with a 1/8 oz. bullet weight. No problem casting that relatively light weight, yet it had plenty of backbone to set a 4/0 EWG hook. Seems to be very sensitive for a rod in that price range as well.

9 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I don't like white rods and have never used a Veritas, but TW has 2 left of the 6'10" MLF.  13 Fishing has a few below $100, but I have zero experience with them.  Lew's has several models.  I've read good things about the TP1.  Or you could be the first to own a KVD IM8. 

I have read some good things about 13 fishing as well and I will keep them in mind.

8 hours ago, Hewhospeaksmuchbull said:

I dont fish a T-rig often but when I do its on a M/H or H.

 

Take a look at an Fr 703c which is a M/H, Dobyns are known to fish a little lighter than there ratings. I know that my Vendettas are broom sticks by comparison.

I tend to lean towards M or ML because I can feel the sensitivity better when I hooping the lure across the bottom.