You can catch fish on a cheap ugly stick but gunna have a hard time casting if your reel sux

Thanks everyone for the response and insight. I greatly appreciate it!!!

+1 on Loomis IMX rods. I have a couple that are 20+ years old. I have a couple that are 10 years old. I bought a couple new ones last year. Lightweight & unbreakable.

I also really like the Steez reels. It's more to me than just light weight & smoothness at the reel counter. I have been very impressed with how well they have held up. To be as light as they are they are incredibly rigid after years of hard use with heavy braided line.

There are a lot of good reels on the market today for $150-$200 that will most likely serve your purpose. The OP asked specifically about the Steez reels and I have a half dozen of them that have really impressed me.

Thanks Ken

If I could afford it, Steez reels would be all I owned.

to me its about balance - literally about weight and balance . . . and less weight typically means more $$ -- if you are going to pay for a crazy-light $500 rod like an NRX or similar, you might as well match it with a light reel or the whole rig will feel out of balance. I was fortunate enough to receive an NRX and i tried first using it with a revo stx, which is a fine reel, but the balance felt way off. when i paired it up with an MGXtreme it felt 'right'. The caras i have paired with STX reels feel well balanced also.

This is true, and it's a good thing because that's all I can afford.

Please tell me how KVD, Skeet Reese and Iconelli, feel a bite with. Walmart rods?

I would spend more on the rod if you are using it for feel because it will have better sensitivity. You don't have to spend a ton of money on a rod to get one that will be sensitive enough for your needs. $150-$250. If you are using the rod for "reaction" type baits the sensitivity is not as important.

Reels--you can also get good quality reels in the $130-$230 range that will be smooth and hold up for years.. Diawa, Lews, and Shimano all good brands.

I have several Steez reels and they are very smooth but I bought all of mine used so I did not pay the full retail price for them. They are awesome. I have never had a Metanium but all I hear is good reports about them also.

You can find a huge assortment of rods and reels slightly used for sale on fishing forums and get good equipment without spending a fortune.

What rod recommendations would you have in the 250-350 range would y'all suggest?

I have been using the G-Rods International (not loomis ) for the last couple years and have been more than happy with them. They are super light and very sensitive and they just released a new series called Game Changer they are in the 200 dollar range.

My top choices in that price range would be the Loomis IMX and the Dobyns DX XP Rods, there are alot of great rods in that range Falcon,Kistler,Power Tackle and more. And don't rule out the custom builders can build you a killer rod for that price.

Thanks everyone, enjoy all the insight

Loomis
Daiwa
Dobyns
Kistler
Power Tackle
G rods (made from graphine)