I personally dont throw tubes on anything less than 7' I even have two 7'6 rods to throw them on. I use 15lbs power pro with a fluoro leader usually.
As for reels, you cant go wrong with a CI4, even a regular stradic.
Rods, there are a ton of options. St. Croix Avid, Shimano Crucial, the G Loomis Bronzeback in a 7'4M is a wicked tube rod. Even BPS new CarbonLite series has some decent rods for a round 119.99, and BPS Johnny Morris series for around 200 are amazing rods.