Spinning Reel/Rod Combo Search Completed

Well if you read my previous post I was asking about spinning reels and after carefull consideration I have finally built my combo, it took me 2-1/2 weeks to decide and I shook more rods and spun more reels than I care to remember. But I finally did it.

After many recomendations (that was greatly appreciated) I finally decided to go with the Shimano Symetre 2500FJ - man is this reel smooth, and i paired it with a 7'2 Carrot Stix drop shot rod MH, I have about $250. in the set up but this is my go to set up for the upcomming year.

the reason I am posting this is because I found out some very interesting things along the way, along with a few disappointments. At first I was searching for a Shimano crucial or cumara but was keeping my eye on the stix, loomis, croix etc. and after research I switched to buying a lifetime warranteed rod "over the counter" wich led me to the shimano and/or carrot stix all the dealer locations listed thru shimano in my area was contacted and out of the 7 or so locations only one carried shimano rods!! But the one who did - Tradewater Bait company (Ken's TBC) in grandrivers KY actually had what was listed, while I was there I noticed the carrot stix, which I only knew of 1 location carrying them within 50 miles so I was shying away from them due to the lack of "counters" for the over the counter warranty but they now have them and come to find out Gander mountain is aquiring the line also shortly.

Things I didn't know, pinnacle makes most of the Gander mountain reels, Plueger makes most of the bass pro reels. So I have been enlightened and glad to hear the Carrot stix line is growing because it is a sensational Rod. JMO FYI