I need a rod and reel around the $200 price range. Any suggestions?

what type of fish are u targeting ?

Mainly reds/trout

Ditto on the Stradics. But you are gonna' blow your budget on your reel. My last one was about $169, I think. Add a $100 rod and you see where you'll be. But the drag on a stradic is smooth and that's what you need. I use 4000s....but my buddies use 2500s. I also like a 7 foot light action trout rod for reds as well as trout. It makes the game last longer and with 10-14 lb test, it casts like a dream.

I'd spend $160.00 on the reel and $40.00 on a 7' medium weight Ugly Stik.

Waterloo Rods in Victoria, Tx makes a great Salinity or Phantom 7' and 7'6", that you could get for around $100. I agree with the Stradic reel, even a Penn 3000. I use Penns for customer reels and they seem to take a beating pretty good and have held up for a few years.

Why not a shimano sedona spinning reel and spend the money on a rod? Spin it up with 10-15lb braid and a topshot and use it till the bearings give out.

Or spend a little more and get a Penn Battle II? They have rave reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Battle-II-Spinning-Reel/dp/B01829VLSU

After having some gear stolen last year, I replaced it with Quantum Boca's on Abu Vendetta rods. I've been happy with them. Use them mainly for trout and reds but have caught jacks and bonita with them. Having the extra drag capacity is nice.

Just last week, I was looking to buy the same....the best spinning reel and rod combo I could find for $200 or less aimed at trout, reds and flounder. After a lot of research, then shopping at several stores and handling the merchandise, I chose the following:

Pflueger President spinning reel $60
H20 Express Ethos 6'8" spinning rod $60

I thought real hard about the Sedona and the Symetre by Shimano, but went with the President because it has 10 bearings, is silky smooth and has a good drag. It has a great many strong reviews around the internet as well. It is a great reel for the money, and will do well in salt water with proper care.

As for the rod, Academy's H20 Express rods are going to be real tough to beat, as they compare to rods costing considerably more. I had purchased an H20 Express Texas Slam rod and have been very satisfied, preferring it over the more costly Temple Fork and Duckett rods I had also bought recently, so it was an easy decision to go with the Ethos spinning rod. It has a wonderfully light and very sensitive blank, comes with quality Fuji reel seat and Fuji guides, and is perfectly balanced with the Pflueger President reel. If it breaks during use, Academy has a great replacement policy as well. With the money I saved, I was able to add some nice extra tackle. I have now used the combo on the water several times and love it.

I agree with Capt Nathan above about the Penn reels. I also own a Penn Battle II spinning reel. If you are looking for a reel that is a tank, Penn is the way to go. They will last and last. For around $100, the Battle is a fine reel. My only complaint is that it does not cast quite as well as I would like due to the design of the spool lip, although it is not a big problem. My next reel I purchase for surf fishing will be a Penn Spinfisher V and I am not even considering anything else.

For a sub $100 spinning reel it's hard to beat Shimano, either Sedona or Sahara. The Pflueger President is another great sub-$100 reel. If you're planning on spooling up with 10 or 15lbs braid I would get the smallest reel. It'll hold enough braid and gives you a lighter, more compact reel. The drag will be more than enough to handle reds. (My setup is the smallest reel with 10lbs braid, works great) If you're planning on spooling up with heavier braid, mono, or copolymer then I would go for the 2500 or 3000 series Shimano reel. No need to go any larger than those sizes for inshore fishing.

As far the rod go with a 7 foot, medium power, mod-fast to fast action rod. The Waterloo Phantom, All Star Inshore, or Falcon coastal would get my nod. I'm not too familiar with the H20 series from Academy, but I do see quite a few people using them.

Best reel for the money I feel is the Shimano Sahara, it usually runs 79.99. To me it is as good and the Stradic but if you wanna spend the full 200.00 go with a Stradic. As far as rod, I say either an Allstar or Castaway in 7 or 7.5 ft, they sell both at an Academy near you. If you are throwing straight plastics, buy a light action rod if you are throwing corks ever want to use it for live bait, buy medium action.

I bought a Pflueger 2 weeks ago from BPS for $50. First spinning reel I have ever bought, but has preformed very well. 7 bearings and light and smooth. Paired it with a Berkley pole (red one 6.6 ft) about $40 for an ultra light setup. 6lb line and it can toss a 1/16th lure 20-30 yds. Needed shorter pole for clearance since I bank fish.

Pretty much all new reels work the same, Shimano holds up best in salt. I have been a frequent saltwater angler for many decades and have tried Penn, Quantum, etc... The only spinning reels I found that hold up in salt are Shimano and the old Penn Reels.... BTW as far as size I like the 2500, with 20 lb PowerPro

As far as how the various reels mentioned hold up fishing in salt water, I will add this. No reel recommended in this thread will take a full dunking in the drink without the distinct possibility of damage. Any of the reels mentioned will hold up fine if they are properly maintained and can avoid being inundated. I saltwater fished with an old Garcia Mitchell 300 from 1972 well into the 90's before it gave up the ghost. I rinsed it in fresh water after every use, then kept it oiled and the gears greased. However, none of the reels mentioned are distinctly designed for saltwater use, with the exception of the Boca, and WILL fail if not cared for (even the Boca). I have also owned and used Shimano, Abu-Garcia, Quantum, Daiwa, Fenwick, and Penn spinning reels in the salt, and have had good results.

If you are concerned more about saltwater dependability, the Penn Spinfisher V gearbox is gasket sealed waterproof, with sealed bearings and drag. I don't know of any other reel under $200 that can say this. If there are any, please correct me.