I'm way behind on this and would like to get on board, I use a make shift crappie rod now so I need to up grade, Whats your opinions on a very good set up for this, 400$ or under, 99% of my fishing is at Fork if that helps, Best line? I like Loomis,St.Croix,Daiwa and Shimano.

I use a MBR 782 baitcast rod and a 50 Mg usually w/ 10 lb. fluoro. If you like spinning rods, I also have the Loomis Drop Shot rod DSR822 with one of the new stradic Mg's that would be good for a shakey-head.

falcon LFS-4-1610

with a daiwa Exceler spinning reel. 8lb flouro. 3/16 oz black angel shakey head and a baby rattle snake

I use the same set up however I have it spooled with PowerPro 15 lb test (4 lb diameter).

I use Kistler Helium II with Shimano 50 mg and 10lb flourocarbon.

Same rod with a Shimano Symetre reel spooled with 10# Berkley Florocarbon.

I use a Demon Rod 782 casting with a shimano scorpion mg and a Demon Rod 783 spinning cut down to 6'3" with a Daiwa Sol. 12 pound Seaguar flouro on casting and 8 pound Seaguar on spinning. Both are great, I like the spinning for docks.
Good luck in your decision!
Danny

I use a Daiwa Exceler as well (awesome reel for the price) on a Rapala XLT 7' medium light rod.

I use an AllPro 6'6 lite action the one made in Tennessee and an Ardent XS600 reel. I mainly throw 1/8 oz shakey heads.

Shimano Stadic or Sustain (Stadic is cheaper, but still good and the Hendrix SJ 783.

i use a zebco 33 with an ugly stik lite pro rod 7 foot long.

the best set up i have used is a powertackle spn44-70 and a quantum energy spinning reel spooled with 8/10lb seaguar invisx florocarbon, with a 1/8-1/4 oz shakey head with a aarons majic robo worm this set-up seams to work well just about every were

Remember to take all the advice that you get on rods, reels, and line with a grain of salt. I like to point out to folks that the human hand including the wrist has some 27 bones in it. This means that there are an enormous number of variations in the size and shape of hands. For example some folks have small palms and long thin fingers, and others have huge palms, and chunky fingers, and yet others will have just medium hands in general.

Personally (YMMV), I prefer St. Croix rods, and either Daiwa, or Shimano reels. I am confident that if you went with either a Team Daiwa SOL 2500, or Shimano Stradic 2500FI you'd have a great shaky head reel. I'm of the opinion that the St. Croix Avid AVS66MLF spinning rod is a heck of a good choice for shaky heading. Pair this rod with a Stradic 2500FI and and you'll be looking at a rig that will run about $350 with tax. If you prefer the Team Dawia SOL then paired with the afore mentioned rod will have a rig that with tax will be knocking on the door of $400.

For line, I go with P-Line Evolution in 10 pound test. Don't let the 10 pound test rating fool you. Evolution is VERY strong. Did I mention that P-Line Evolution is VERY strong?

FWIW,
TFP

I use a Falcon Lowrider 6'7" Weightless Worm rod w/ a Shimano Curado 100 or Chronarch MG50 for mine. Spool up with Seaguar 12lb Invisx when you can afford to go a little heavier (10lb if not). This rod is perfect for a shakey head, very soft tip with plenty of backbone for hooksets on those long casts. Personally I have no use for a spinning rod, (I know some people swear by them), but living here in Texas I have never seen the need for one (yet). I like the Spot-Remover in 3/16 for most applications , coupled w/ a Robo-worm 6" or the trusty Zoom finesse worm.

+1, I use the same rod, reel and line. I dont throw spot removers anymore though. Picasso for me.