for carolina i would go with the St. Croix Avid Casting Rod 7' Medium Heavy, and match it with a Team Daiwa Advantage Casting Reel 153HST. if this setup is a little more expensive than you were looking for then go witht he regular Team Daiwa Advantage.

for drop shot the Avid Spinning 6'9" Md Lt Xfast Dropshot is pretty hard to beat, i would match it up with either the Shimano Symetre or wait a little bit and get the new Daiwa Exceler, you can see a preview at http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfredhallsf06pg5.html , for $60 i don't think you can beat it.

and for flippin the St. Croix Avid Casting Rod 7'10" Heavy is a great heavy flippin rod but it's $179 and i really don't know a reel you can get that would set you at $250 for the combo.

hope this helps a little.

andrew