My all-purpose set-up.

[Prude]

6' rod, medium power, 8-lb black flouro line, 2500 reel.

I've caught giant cats and buffalos to tiny bluegills and crappies.

https://www.tiktok.com/@toneric52661/photo/7526616347313179935

[VillainousHero]

I don't know what my all purpose set up is anymore. 

If I don't count my old Ugly Sticks.  I would put my most used rod set up as.

6' St. Croix Premiere Light power spinning rod with Shimano Stradic 1000FH reel.  It was one of the first better rods away from Ugly Sticks, if not the actual first rod.  I think the rod is about 30 yrs now.

[Prude]

I don't know what my all purpose set up is anymore. 

If I don't count my old Ugly Sticks.  I would put my most used rod set up as.

6' St. Croix Premiere Light power spinning rod with Shimano Stradic 1000FH reel.  It was one of the first better rods away from Ugly Sticks, if not the actual first rod.  I think the rod is about 30 yrs now.

Real cool. Mine is very much like yours except for the reel. I've
chosen black reel instead of red. And it's not of equal quality. But
it works just as well.

My set is only three months old. But it will be a great friend
for years to come.

I choose flouro over braid because braid has given me
tinglings and flouro has been mushily smooth--even
though the piercing isn't quite as good.

I don't mind losing a few fish for not penetrating. So
long as there's been a bite, I already get the thrill.

[VillainousHero]

Oh that reel is like over 20 yrs old maybe 25 yrs old.    and still works very well.

My other two most used set ups are bait casting set ups.

St. Croix Legend 6' Medium power F with Shimano Metanium MG7
St. Croix Lengend 6'8" Medium power XF with Shimano Metanium MG7

Both are over 15 yrs old combo's maybe close to 20 yrs old as well.  Secretly I still haven't change the braid lines on them.

These two combo's were sort of my learning baitcasting period.  Almost trouble free.  I had tried cheaper set ups afterwards and learn to appreciate the more expensive stuff for it's performance and precision.  Yes I have and Ugly Stick bait casting combo too.  The disasters with that would swear people to quit fishing.  By mastering that, everything else is easier.  By today's standards of better manufacturing, even mid tier equipment are very good from what I've heard. 

If you use sharp hooks like Owner brands, almost never even need a hook set.  Even when hook set has become akin to fishing.  Just want to pull the fish in and show them who's boss.  Plus it's better to get the hook out of the bait and into the fish's jaw.

[Prude]

I'm thinking of doing a set-up for just crappies with a shorter
pole, still medium light power, and a 2000 baitcasting reel or
perhaps a spinning Shimano Nasci reel on a 7-lb or 5-lb Bionic Walleye
flouro line. Or it could be a 5-lb flouro of another brand.

I kind of like the reel color to match the pole.

My poles aren't fancy looking, like green or bright yellow or
red in some sort. I like it just like a normal dried up bamboo
stick.

I'll have to find Owner hooks for easy penetration then. I know
that sometimes a fish will bite so hard--which fish wouldn't when
it's catching a prey? It bites so hard that its lips will have pushed the
hook through one of them. But it's still nice to get a hook that will do the job
on just reeling back or if it catches the base of a fin.  Yeah, to show who's
the boss!

I had an Ozark retractable pole about 25 years ago. It worked
well for its time because I didn't know of anything better. It's whether
there's fish or not. The poles don't matter that much. But it's just
a "gooder" feeling having something one can have confidence in. Those
St. Croix rods are very good. I've caught carps and cats and I've
just raised the poles high onto shores and there has been no breakage.