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I see this posted all the time, "I have brand X rod what would be a good reel match?" "I have brand X reel what rod should I put it on." Feel free to add to this thread with your rod/reel marriages made in heaven. When I am mentioning balanced, holding the rod/reel combo with pointer finger where it will be when fishing the rod is balanced in a vertical plane. Why this matters to me: With the rod tip up for example working a jig from inshore beach you are not fighting gravity with the rod tip. In fact with rod tip up the combo is not hand heavy, and actually feels lighter then the total weight as you bring the tip up and the reel helps balance the combo back. This is just me, if you are fishing rod tip down you may want a lighter reel. If you are chunking or working a heavier rod in current this may not apply. This is my two light set ups, one for out back and one for out front, and I tried many combo's. I am in South Jersey so your location may have other variables and you may choose different. For out back: Lamiglas Black B7320S 7' 3" 5.2 oz. Shimano Spheros SW 4000 9.9 oz. This combo weighs in at approx. 16 oz. For out front: ODM DNA NXD-82 8' 8.1oz. Penn Spinfisher VI 4500 12.5oz. Approx 21 oz. for the combo Spheros/Saragos too heavy Daiwa BG MQ too light Van Staal VR50/VR/75 too light The above works for me, I am sure many have the VR50 on a rod like this, this may help someone. Please add if you want! Thanks for the read, Pat