Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Ok I have been fishing few times a week so I think I should upgrade to a better rod and reel.
What do you think is the next step from a $30 Shakespeare spinning  combo?

you can get spinning combos from your $30 on up as far as you want to spend.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/spinning-combos/_/N-1102843/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_105791580

i would not go all out and blow a ton of money on your second rod/reel combo, but a nice 6'6" - 7'0" one piece rod with a med action would a good upgrade and as you can see from the link i posted there are plenty to choose from.

At one point in my life the only rod I owned was a 40 buck Shimano
It caught fish.

So, what's the budget?
Rods go up to 400
and reels are 50-200

Nothing like a good spinning reel with a good drag.  A good rod makes a huge difference in feel.  I have gone the cheap route before and notice a difference. 

If you can do it,  spend the extra money.  If you take care of the equipment it will last a long time and improve your fishing.

I love the shimano Stradic reels I have and picked up a shimano compare rod for under $100 last year.  That combo is night and day better than my other setups. Spool it with braid and you can feel everything that bait is doing especially the lightest bites.  I have a Stradic with the wooden handle that is 20+ years old that works as well as the day I got it and have used the hell out of it.  Keep it oiled and clean it well at the end of each season.

Read reviews or ask the staff at the tackle shops or Bass pro and they should let you know what is the best for the budget. 

I have never paid $400-$500 for a rod reel but I know you can get a pretty high end setup for $200 or under.  Every once in a while you can find a sale on a great combo on sale for under $100.  Think of it as a Christmas gift or put the bug in the ear of family that is looking for something to buy for you.  You won't regret it on the water.