>>2773513My TFO Professional is my only expensive rod and it doesn't really feel any nicer than my cheap rods. Looks cool, though. I think in the $100 budget for an "upgrade" you can't go wrong with any of them.
If you're looking at reels I really like my Shimano MGL SLX but I haven't compared it to a Tatula. The guy I bought my SLX from said he liked his Daiwas more. The thing I like about the MGL is it's really small and handles small baits as well as big ones. Some people say it's like a pseudo-BFS reel. I don't fully agree but it does throw those smaller presentations which I guess is a problem with most baitcasting reels.
As for spinning reels I fought a 10 foot gator on my Pflueger Trion. Beefy and bullet proof little reel that didn't break the bank. Kind of heavy but I haven't been gentle with it and it's still holding up.
I only have advice for reels and not really rods. I'm under the impression that rods kind of plateau in quality after you spend enough money. They just get "nicer", not more "capable".
Thats just my opinion though, other people feel a different way and say their Loomis rod outfishes anything else.
