The rod is more critical than the reel for casting heavier sinkers or jigs. The rod can't be an ultra light and any medium weight rod like a Shakespeare Ugly Stick will work. Like I said on an earlier post the Pflueger presidential reel series is very good but will run you 60 bucks. They are smooth have like 9 ball bearings, strong bail spring and last. I used to use Shimano reels but found the lower end units didn't have the longevity that the Pfluegers did. In my pan fishing I use a 1/8 oz jig for perch and 1/32 oz for sunnies, gills and crappie so my rods are all lite weight or ultra lite other than a few stiffer rods I keep in the boat rod locker for special use. I need to add I don't have any Shakespeare ugly sticks in my locker but have used them. My rods are normally a step or two above them but to someone who doesn't fish every day they are a real good rod.