My current setup is a 6'6" medium Berkley Lightning rod paired with a Shimano Sienna reel. I primarily fish off the bank of a river, and will periodically wade. I typically throw plastic grubs, rooster tails, crankbaits, and ned rigs.

 

I am looking for advice in upgrading to another rod and reel. I am currently thinking 7' medium, maybe a Dobyns Fury or Fenwick HMG. Not sure what reel to pair yet. Looking to keep this around $200-$250.

Either rod would probably work well. For a reel, I'd choose a Shimano Nasci, or Shimano Sahara, size 2500. If you like a reel with an AR switch, both Lew's and Diawa make good ones in this price range.

6 ft HMG med light with the Nasci or any one of the daiwa LT reels 

Any reason for 6' over 7'?

I think your 6'6 is pretty much a happy medium for the bank. Long enough to get to winter & summer bass and short enough to give a short game in spring and fall.

My suggestion would be 6’8” to 6’10” Medium fast spinning rod with with either Daiwa or Shimano reel within your budget.

Tom

6'9 ML Fenwick HMG would be best for what you want to throw. 

I'm partial to HMGs.  I like LCG's suggestion.  Also partial to Daiwa reels.  The BG is a bit heavier than some, but a great reel at its price.  Legalis LT, Revros LT or Exceler LT are other options.  I'm more open to rod options.  I like my Falcon rods (casting).  Maybe a Lowrider or Okuma EVX?  Possibly an Abu, but most of their rods in your budget are white, and I'm not a fan of white rods.   Plenty of options in the $100-$150 range, but I've gone almost entirely to baitcast.  My spinning rods haven't been used in quite awhile. 

 

I must admit that my old 6' ML Lightning has caught more fish than any of my newer rods.  Has seen a ton of use with BeetleSpins and Roostertails.

10 hours ago, swohiofishing said:

Any reason for 6' over 7'?

I'm a bank fisherman too and I curse myself whenever I bring my one 7' rod with me. Just too much of a hassle contending with the brush to justify the marginal increase in casting distance. I have a couple of 6'6"s and a 6'3" and sometimes I think even those are too long. I wish quality short rods were more readily available. 

 

Obviously it depends on where you fish and what type of cover you're fighting. You certainly have a lot more options at 7'.  

2 hours ago, Dash Riprock said:

I'm a bank fisherman too and I curse myself whenever I bring my one 7' rod with me. Just too much of a hassle contending with the brush to justify the marginal increase in casting distance. I have a couple of 6'6"s and a 6'3" and sometimes I think even those are too long. I wish quality short rods were more readily available. 

 

Obviously it depends on where you fish and what type of cover you're fighting. You certainly have a lot more options at 7'.  

Indeed. The environment is the key. Close quarters favor shorter rods. When possible I use the longest rod I can get away with and I like 7’. 
 

A longer rod will give you more line control and farther casts with less effort. This line control comes in handy when you drift things like inline spinners or a plastic.  However, those same traits won’t serve you well in tight quarters. 
 

Let the environment dictate the rod  length and most of us like adding new weapons to the arsenal. ?

17 hours ago, swohiofishing said:

Any reason for 6' over 7'?

I find it easier to cast a shorter rod from the bank. I can cast from tighter spots so i have more spots i can cast from.  

I think I am going to pull the trigger on a Daiwa Fuego 2500.

And going to pair that with a Dobyns Fury 703.

5 minutes ago, swohiofishing said:

And going to pair that with a Dobyns Fury 703.

The 703 is a good rod - it's my shakey/wacky/fluke rod.

 

But, as people are saying, a shorter rod from the bank is better - I take my 6'6" rods if I'm walking the bank, leave the 7' at home.

 

Fury 663 would be the ticket there.

Where I typically fish there aren't trees or other obstructions that would get in the way.

On 12/29/2021 at 11:30 PM, Dash Riprock said:

I'm a bank fisherman too and I curse myself whenever I bring my one 7' rod with me. Just too much of a hassle contending with the brush to justify the marginal increase in casting distance. I have a couple of 6'6"s and a 6'3" and sometimes I think even those are too long. I wish quality short rods were more readily available. 

 

Obviously it depends on where you fish and what type of cover you're fighting. You certainly have a lot more options at 7'.  

You took the words right out of my mouth!  You got to be from South Carolina cause here, 7 foot will cause you to loose your religion.  You got to become Batman to throw your line anywhere due to brush or trees.  I’ve read all the articles and watched video after video but almost always I throw that monster pole back in the truck and grab my flee market special Zebco Sling Shot on its 2 piece 5’6” pole with crappy braid.  Recently, I’ve resorted to making my own pole using Mudhole.com.  They got any power, action, length, handles, eyes, colors and reel seat combinations you can think of.  I’d still like someone to give me their take on their setup for same situations.