Spec/red rod and reel combo recs?

I would try and find a stradic ci4 if possible and whatever rod you can afford after that.

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Budget is $300

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You'll get a lot of varied recommendations in this thread. Topic comes up a good bit and you can do a search which will give you a lot of information likely already posted on here.

Falcon Coastal 7' Medium is generally the go to recommendation for rod. If you have a good local tackle store I'd recommend looking for a rod there vs. Academy, Bass Pro, etc.. The local tackle stores will have a better rod selection from a broader range of manufacturers.

Shimano vanford reel ($240) with an ugly stick carbon rod ($80). That's $320 for an incredible setup and its a matching black and red setup.

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Also Lumiglass

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No disrespect intended but I haven't heard anyone using a lamiglas rod in quite some time. Their "Black Inshore" series looks an option in your price range.

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Trying to figure out the main difference besides price

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Rod eye and reel seat quality. Cork vs. Foam. Blanks are mostly all manufactured overseas and you will find that some are stiffer or more limber than specified power and tip flex.

For specs and reds I'd spend most of that on the reel. $200-$250 Shimano or Daiwa (my preference) then $100 on decent 7' rod.

I spend a lot on bass rods because I'm 99% worm fishing, and while I spend the same on my inshore rods I have to admit it's a bit frivolous. You don't have to guess when a slot red hits a shrimp.

If you want to save some money this is the combo that got me interested in Daiwa. It's essentially a free rod.
Amazon

When I kayak fish I usually have that combo and 2 other setups that were 4 times its cost, and I switch back and forth and it's fine. You give up a little bit in weight, balance and smoothness but it's a helluva lot closer to my nice stuff than it should be at that price. I've had more expensive reels that I got rid of because they had small issues that just sucked the fun out of fishing. I've kept the cheap Daiwa combo and recommend it to everybody who asks.

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If you want to save some money this is the combo that got me interested in Daiwa. It's essentially a free rod.
Amazon

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Know anything about that rod? I usually hate combos, but if that rod is good, that's a screaming deal and one a guy could buy multiple of to have around for larger groups.

That probably wasn't that helpful. It looks like the exact combo I have, and they call it a Med-ML. In St Croix terms it's closer to a standard Medium; definitely not as limber as my Avid, which is a ML. It wouldn't be my first choice for weightless anything but it would do it, and I typically have a jighead with a gulp shrimp on it. It's perfect for those. If there's no grass I'll also occasionally troll a Mirrolure or paddle-tail with it and they'll hook without my input, and it flexes enough to keep them hooked until I can get to it.

I checked out the Falcon rods at Academy today. The inshore rod of medium to medium heavy were extremely stiff.

2500-3000 is probably the most common size used on the coast. If you're only targeting bulls, a larger size wouldn't be bad. Lots and lots of big fish have been taken down by that size reel.