We only fish Central from June to September. Rod/Reel are Shimano TDR with Daiwa 47LC. Rods are about $35 and reels off ebay for $50.
We run Med lite on downriggers and Med on Dipsy. Dipsy rods are loaded with PowerPro braid 30# and riggers are12# mono. Seems to work for us, many limits last season.