I personally like the angle bar levelwind on the US reels. US Reel offers an Invader reel that will fit in your price range when added to an Ugly Stick rod. In my opinion, the Ugly Stick will give you the most rod for the dollar. My second choice for currently manufactured baitcast reels is the new Lew's series by Lynn Reeves. I have tested most of the reels in the new Lew's line along with a few of the higher priced rods and they were very high quality and easy to use. As to the Abu reels, they have always been quality reels which usually set the standards for the industry. I have owned or still own almost one example of every Abu reel model since the early sixties, but they still come in well below the new Lew's reels on my personal list.