Hi guys,
I've been pond fishing and creek fishing a lot lately for bait fish. I picked up a Daiwa rod reel combo at bass pro for 20$, the f602ml-da-6c with 10# braid line I mainly fish spinners, top waters, chatter, and live. I'm happy with the reel but really have no comparison as its the only small spinner I've ever used. I notice on bigger fish ~5# the rod cant pick them up though.
http://daiwafishing.com.au/products/pre-mounted-combos/d-shock-pmcs/
First, I was wondering what the popular rod and reel is on here for pond and creek fishing. Second, what rod would offer the same action as this but won't feel like it'll snap on a slightly bigger fish? I'd like to keep around the same size length wise, I was at wal-mart and saw the ugly sticks for 10$ but didn't know if they would have a better back bone.

It is the only rod from walmart I will buy! It is the shakespeare micro graphite rod 7' light action. It is also 17 bucks! This rod is a multi species kinda rod! It can handle those three and four pound bass with minor effort depending on what size reel you have on it! gotta be careful though it is fun makes you actually play the fish and it also handles crappie extremely well!!! My buddy has one and has landed hybrids on it that was a fun night!! That is my preference! I have two of them one with a ultra light action reel an abu garcia cardinal reel on one and a plueger president 30 size reel on the other. The other will haul in anything i want it too!! the reel will depend on how the rod will handle it is amazing!!

I would get a net for fish that size. I'm sure there are plenty of rods that can pick up a 5# fish but I wouldn't do it with mine. I have just straightened out the and carefully drug the fish up on the bank using the line if I couldn't reach them. I guess if your careful and point the rod down and let the line take a lot of the weight it could work otherwise I think it would snap the tip on most rods.

Thanks jason & fisherman13 I'm going to check out that shakespeare and ugly stick and also look at bass pro, as far as a net I'm going to weigh the options of a net or upgrading to a lake rod with a heavier action. I have a blue runner reel sitting at the house that i could use, maybe 20-30# braid on it.

For the bait creek I use its almost too perfect landing perch and catfish you can tell the difference between the two fish. The perch is almost a poke or jab at the bait the channel cats I pull from there are under 12" but they slam the hook violently in one hit.
I went today caught five perch one thing i noticed is I can feel everything every bite, even from the giant minnows, I could drag the bottom of the limestone creek and feel every bump/rock.

A thought mine is a two piece. Maybe I could use the top end of mine as it has the fast taper I like, but with a beefier heavier bottom end maybe a medium or medium heavy?