I have been poking around looking for a new rod and reel combo, but I need help finding a spinning reel and a good two piece rod that I can fit in my car.

I am mainly going to be fishing for channel cats and small blues using stink bait and some cut bait every now and again, so I am wanting to find about a 7 foot two piece ugly stick spinning rod. I am lost as to what reel I should buy though. I don't want something super expensive, but something that will get the job done for the price.

I dont want to spend more than 30-35 dollars on the reel.

Get you a quantum optix 40 or 60 size it runs around $25 best bang for your buck

Or go to cabelas and get you the salt striker bait feeder reel. I have 5 of them and I have no complaints....depends on how much you are wanting to spend on a reel.

As far as rods its kinda the same situation....depends on what you are wanting to spend....look into some meathunter rods...I have 3 of them and again I have no complaints

I wish I had the luxury of going to a cabelas, but I live in lubbock and all we have is an academy, gander mountain, and a couple of wal marts.

I think I am going to roll with a 7' two piece medium action ugly stik and the quantum optix 60. Thanks for the help guys!

Go with the optix 40. 60 will be a little too big for channel carting, and the 40 can still get it done just fine for bigger fish.

x2 on the Quantum Optix.

I still have 3 Optic I'm thinking 50's but maybe 40's.Put 50lb power pro in them and been using them for 5-8yrs.Work fine.I have one that the rubber handle grip is gone but still work fine.Use for channels and no complaints. Only that they work too good to get rid of and not worth anything to sell.I have a lot of poles and my wife says I have almost as many poles as she does shoes.And she has a lot of shoes.But my young boys can cast and reel them and they will need some cat poles of their own when they get older.Just thought about it,I have a Penn Fierce 5000 combo that my wife bought me last year from bass pro.Its smooth.Great reel.Check on eBay and find a reel.I seen some for $35+ and get a tournament choice from Academy. That would be a good combo and a low price.I love mine.20lb mono and you can just feel the quality in it.Wally world setup will catch fish too.

You said spinning reel but a nice low cost reel is a Penn #9 with 50lb braid or 20lb big game mono and a $15 academy yellow tournament choice rod.I buy my older USA made Penn's off ebay for around $30 with shipping.I can cast that #9 pretty good and has a lot more strength than a spinning reel and have a good bait clicker when needed.Really neat setup and I'm no pro with an open face.The new Penn's aren't American.I started with one Penn now have 4 and always looking for more all the time.Thus getting grief from wife.I just point to her shoe collection and she gives me a dirty look. But that's ok.

Berkley cherrywood rod with a optic 30 or 40 and 12# Cajun red line with slip float. great channel rig.

Go to academy amd get the ugly stick combo rod a reel. They are $20 a piece

Thanks for the help on the reel guys! Are the tournament choice rods two pieces or just one? I want a two piece rod that I can keep in my car so I can fish before or after work in a couple of these ponds in Lubbock.

I think the tournament choice rods are mostly one piece, but the yellow rods that a lot of use for catfish are for bait casting reels. I would find you a 7' rod with a medium action. Should be perfect for channels. Not sure which brands they have that come in a 2 piece, but they will have a few to look at.

I like a one piece so haven't paid much attention but I believe that you have to get to 7 1/2' length before they are 2 piece.Great rods though.Check for damage before buying.They fall,get crushed in the stores. Look at the eyes good and give a good flex to hear for cracks.A little is normal but shouldn't keep cracking.

I had a brand new cherrywood used it one time. First five pound blue cat snapped the end off. Wont buy anymore of those. Go with the Uglystick if I were you.