Dear all. Long story short the rod rip of my ugly stik broke which means UPGRADE TIME. I am a relatively new fisherman. My original setup was a ugly stik gx2 medium 7’ with a penn ii fierce 4000. I’m leaning heavily towards finesse fishing as I primarily fish clear and Pressured water in Southern California. My question is for 100 dollars should I upgrade the just the rod? Hoping to stretch out to a dobyns fury 702sf and use my existing reel. Or should I upgrade both rod and reel?  In which case I’m Looking at the Berkley lightning with the pflueger president. 
 

Thank you for any help in advance. 

The rod is far more important. Get the Fury.

 

Plus, the modern, orange lightning rod is garbage and the clear plastic reel seat will crack or shatter.

The Penn II Fierce is a decent reel - I'm with @ironbjorn...get the Fury.

I did read that for finesse its really all about the rod. Its just the reel seems so mismatched to the rod. Either way, taking your guys' advice and going with the fury.

At the lower price point, if you have a working reel then you really want to spend on the rod. And especially with spinning reels where you can get away with a cheaper reel, this is really true.

I too am an Ugly Stick guy but I’m thinking about upgrading this off season for my Christmas present. Have my eye on the 7’ MH Abu Garcia MLF spinning combo. I have to see it in person though because if I don’t think the tip is strong enough than that’s a deal breaker. It looks nice online though. 

 

50 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

 

I kid you not it was actually my wife that broke it (snapped the tip rolling up the window). Albeit on accident but she felt  bad enough to let me get the dobyns fury.

17 hours ago, Rora said:

I did read that for finesse its really all about the rod. Its just the reel seems so mismatched to the rod. Either way, taking your guys' advice and going with the fury.

 

As long as the drag's pretty smooth (and, in the vast majority of brand-name reels made in the last 5 or 10 years, it will be) just about all fishing is all about the rod.

So I ended up getting the Dobyns Fury 702 SF. The Penn Fierce i already have has 15lb J braid on it with a 8 lb seagar leader. is that appropriate? or do i need to change out the line?

2 minutes ago, Rora said:

So I ended up getting the Dobyns Fury 702 SF. The Penn Fierce i already have has 15lb J braid on it with a 8 lb seagar leader. is that appropriate? or do i need to change out the line?

For finesse fishing - that's right in the ball-park...should have no issues with it.

I run 10# braid to 6# FC leader - but some run 20# braid to 10# FC for the same technique...you're right in the center.