Looking to get a good crappie set up let me know what you thing.. Looking to stay around $50

Ask Piscatur he knows how to get a good buggy whip for about that price range....Normally, a good crappie rod is $50...Pro-angler, Ugly Stick Lite (cork handle, Crappie Maxx (Bass Pro purchase the Lifetime Warranty). A good Shimano reel 1500 or 2500 series starts around $90 up to a bunch. But you can catch deals at the Academy "rod riot" on Ugly Sticks twice a year (25% off) and can usually pick up a Pflueger reel at Cabelas for $40 bucks or a Shimano "on clearance" for about that price occasionally. Troll the Bargain Cave counter at Cabelas..sometimes you can get a top end Shimano cheaper than a mid-line Shimano. I know this info shoots your budget...but these selections will hold up to severe duty for a long time....Hope the info helps.

Buggy whip is $20 for the rod and $20 for the reel at Academy. But I know that I am one of the few nuts out there who use a short rod.

A good compromise might be a 7' Ugly Stick $30 and an Okuma Nemesis $25. Ugly Sticks are durable, ask anyone. I have an Okuma (not a Nemesis) reel that is outstanding and even though it was designed for fresh water has held up beautifully for many trips both fresh and saltwater. So for $55 and then uncle sam's portion on top of that you can go try out and pick up a decent rod/reel today.

I haven't seen a pre-matched combo that suited me. Either the reel is a fall apart version or the rod isn't very good. Can't seem to find a combo where both are good.

Good luck! And there's nothing wrong with a 10 or 12 rod if you want to use one.

a good liteweight rod that has backbone and sensitivity, which for me is Pro Angler, with something to store the line, spinning or baitcast but if I had my druthers it would be a baitcast.

It will depend on the style of fishing you will be doing. If you can only buy one rig, buy for the technique you will mostly use!!! IMO

Pro Angler 8ft most of the time. Spring time shallow water maybe go with 10 fetter. as far as a reel goes, get a small light spinning reel with some braid for casting or dock shooting. If you are vertical jigging I would go with a cheap bait caster. Spool it with some braid if you are fishing deeper than 15 feet. If you are fishing 2- 15 feet most of the time, spool up some good High Vis line and an invisible leader. I like the Suffix Siege Orange for the His Vis line, and Suffix Siege Smoke Green for leader material. The 8 or 10 lb. works well for me.

I guess I'm cheap. I use the microspin combos from Walmart. 20 bucks and change. It's a small setup at 4'6". But I love that thing! I have several. It's from Shakespeare. The longest one I use is the vigilante from Abu Garcia. It's 5'6" and runs about 40 bucks. Got the Abu cardinal reel too for about the same price.

I use Wally Marshall 7',8', and even 9' rods matched with his premium crappie reel. I get the rods with the finger cutout to really feel that nibble.
Bass Pro Shop has them. I also use the WM yellow slider 9' rod, it lets you locate the reel where you like for perfect balance and feel. Nice

I hink you can still get Berkley Cherrywood rods for $20 at Walmart and pick up a $19 reel there too. I like my ProAngler and St. Croix rods, Pfleuger and Shimano reels.

I have a light action cork handle 7'-8 I think it is Shakespeare from WM $17. I have a light action spinning reel w/6lb hi viz Mr.Crappie.
I plan to get a 8' PA ,but for right now this rod has been awesome at a great price too. I have caught hundreds of fish with it this year and its still going! I know it's not what the pros will recommend but it works great for me!

For the money "Proangler" dig up a little money for a reel,you'll love their rod.

I think he's lust waiting on someone to give him one, seems to be his trend.

I may call on you for a buggy whip users support group I'm forming...Buggy Whips United! Not a thing wrong with any rod/reel combo that suits you except when they're not being used. I'm still planning on borrowing my son's Zebco combo again to catch some more two plus pound crappie this summer!!!

Won the silent auction at Relay for Life last night, a buggy whip, shake-my-spear in bright pink. HAd one in blue but I aint got a grand son, so pink it was.
Oh yeah, cost me a whole $10 for rod and reel, LOL.