Basically I am looking for a combo around $100 bucks. Yeah! I know the old arguments about buy the best quality you can afford. The thing is, that is!, about the best I can afford, and less would be better.

I happen to be retired, and I would bet there are a lot of folks on the board that have kids, bills and wives that are limiting factors to what they can spend.

In addition to that, I started with a couple of stainless steel rods, with direct drive bait casters (Shakespeare

Maroff and Pflueger Akron I still got them) So any composite rod, and any free spool bait caster is awesome in comparison.

I fish mostly slop and wood for bass. I am thinking bait caster, but am open to spinning gear.

Currently I use a couple of Ambassador 5500's on Lacrosse graphite rods and a couple of Shimano spinning reels on Fish Eagle II rods.

I don't know of a more qualified group of folks to recommend fishing gear......, so lets hear it.

The Shimano Sedona 1500 or 2500 series....thats a spinning reel though

has a great feel, smooth as hell, has the stopper system...

a great, midlevel reel, that is often available as a combo

i got mine on sale for under 75 bucks and LOVE IT!

looks nice too

Spinning or Bait Casting?

I did say in the posting that I was thinking bait casting, but am open to spinning.

What ever gives the best bang for the buck.

I have three recommendations and I own them. The Abu Garcia Silver Max combo(Silver Max reel and 6'6" MH rod) is an excellent deal. It runs between $60-$70, the reel separately is $60. Another that I picked up a few weeks ago at Gander Mountain, is a Quantum Accurist CX combo( Quantum Accurist CX reel and 7' M Tour Pro IM7 rod) for $99. These are both baitcasting combos and perform well. For spinning, the Abu Garcia Cardinal 302/ Fenwick Venture 7'M combo is great. These are at Walmart and Dick's for $60-$70.

Sorry I didnt pick that up, the closest i can get from first hand experience is a BPS Extreme combo , they are 129, but WAIT they frequently go on sale for 99 Here  is a link for you

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98422_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

I second the BPS Extreme combo if you live close to a Bass Pro Shops store.  I bought this combo two years ago during the spring sale and I use it for flipping and pitching.  Its used 2+ days a week for about 6 months out of the year and has never failed me.

Cabela's has their Prodigy baitcaster on sale right now for $65. It's a Daiwa reel for a nice preice.

Their Fish Eagle rods are alos on sale for $30 - $40.

With shipping, that's a little over your target, but not much.

Cheers,

GK