Topic: Berkley Amp (Read 1173 times)

24/7bassin · « **on:** March 05, 2010, 02:15:49 PM »

I just bought a Berkley Amp 7' medium rod cheap at Dicks. Was wondering if anyone has used one and let me know what you think. I was going to use it as a worm rod and put a high speed reel on it. Any info guys?

Joshawa · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2010, 03:13:59 PM »

Prob. the best rod you are going to get for 30 bucks. I used one for a worm rod last season for a couple outtings and it works decent. They are lacking a little backbone but at that price point who's complaining. Now I use it for throwing wiggle warts, small cranks, and rat-l-traps and the soft tip does a great job of keeping the trebles in the fishes mouth.

Team_Reeder20 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2010, 03:51:22 PM »

Had two 7 footers, liked em for about 2 weeks. I was fishing with a baby 1- and set the hook on a fish, the rod snapped about a foot down from the tip. The 2nd one broke when i picked the rod up about 2.5 feet down from the tip. Berkley wouldn't replace either one. I'd use the Shock rods before i bought another one of these.

24/7bassin · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2010, 04:28:58 PM »

I would have much rather have had a Shock, but I got the Amp on sale and figured that it would work for something. I did get the 1 year warranty for it, so if I break it (and I have a way to break very good rods, so this one most likely last a day fishing if it isn't any good) I can just take it back and get my money back.

fishyrascal · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2010, 05:38:53 PM »

the rod feels good i had 1 picked it up about 2 feet back it broke had the 1 year plan got a new 1 knock on wood it is still in 1 piece love the feel of them rods for 30.bucks just odd that two rods broke like that but word of caution pick it up by the handle at all times

Team_Reeder20 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2010, 09:04:44 PM »

yeah i usually pick em up by the handle, but i fish a small boats club, and i use a jon boat. So i try not to move around more than i have to. I had just reeled in a fish and for some reason laid the reel towards the back of the boat

Joshawa · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2010, 08:16:25 AM »

Well thanks for the warning guys. I was unaware of how prone to breakage the amp is, I will pass this along to everyone I know that bought these rods.

24/7bassin · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2010, 10:05:35 AM »

Same thing here...I think I am going to just take it back and pick up a Shock at BPS this Friday...

Thanks for all the feedback, I should have asked before I bought, but I can still fix it.

fishyrascal · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2010, 10:56:11 AM »

bassin if you got the 1 year warranty at dicks i would go ahead and fish it if you like the feel when i broke mine i called in the warranty and they sent me a gift card for the amount of purchase without even wanting the rod back so if i were you i would just go ahead and call in the warrenty get the money and go with it

24/7bassin · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2010, 01:23:28 PM »

That sounds like a great idea...but the wife would hang me up by my toe nails and beat me with the same fishing rod...

I am just afraid that it will break on me in the middle of a tournament while the fish are biting worms really good, then there I will be with no worm rod.

bassindude · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2010, 09:41:12 AM »

It seems odd that a graphite rod would break without having any damage, so Im thinking that it must have had at least some small nick in the blank. Any rod that has been nicked down past the finnish will eventually break if used. Id say that a lot of rods get nicked in the stores when they are stocked, or a customer smacks them on a shelf. Any rod you purchase should be closely checked for any imperfections first but also for tiny marks that indicate damage. Todays graphite blanks are pretty good in my opinion, even the cheeper ones. You can nick a $400 rod and it will break just as quickly.

24/7bassin · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2010, 10:02:23 AM »

I got mine out last night and picked it up, bent it on the floor, pretty much tried to get it to break and nothing happened. I guess the real test will be some big Kentucky River hybrid bass, so as soon as the water gets in better shape, I am going to go give it a try and see what happens. If it can handle a 8-15# striper in current, it can handle a 6-8# largemouth (in my opinion). Only time will tell...

24/7bassin · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2010, 09:25:58 PM »

I went out today and used the new rod...I didn't throw any worms with it, but I did throw some 1/2 oz. lipless cranks and I think that it would be a great rod for a backup crank bait rod. I didn't catch any fish, but the rod had great backbone and a very sensitive tip. I could feel when weeds and small twigs hit it in the water. I am really thinking about going and getting another one of these. Maybe have one for a worm rod and another for a worm rod? I don't know, but for a $30 rod, it was nothing short of awesome. I did not expect for it to be such a quality rod. It might be different when I have a bass on the other end (I didn't catch anything, you can read the whole debacle in Kentucky's fishing report on this forum), but I did fish it in very strong current and it performed wonderfully. I think that it is time to hit some ponds up and try to catch some fish with it.

As good as it was, I don't think that it would be wise to use this rod for any kind of really deep cranking, or for anything heavier than a 1/2 oz. This is just my thoughts on the rod, and they are not complete yet because I have yet to catch a fish with it, but it felt really good!

nmanley · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:46:16 PM »

I got two of these 6'6" Med Amp rods free at the Dick's store at the Bassmasters expo for buying two reels and went ahead and put the two new Shimano Curado 200E7's on them that I bought there too. Yeah, I know ... Most expensive reels with cheapest rods.

I took them and 5 other new rods and reels to a small local lake to see how they stack up and feel.
I was very surprised at how well they felt and cast my lightest baits. The little Spro 20 crank bait and the small zell pop-r cast as far as my 1/4 oz T-rig worm. The rods are very light in hand and have a good feedback on what the lure is doing. They load up well on casting the light lures. Don't know how they would be on a heavier baits or worming as I have other rods for that.

As for the reels, I can feel the difference the Curado's, the two Citica's and the three BPS Rick Clunn signature reels I have. They are all new and I have not gone thru and serviced any of them yet. I'm very rusty coming off a 15 year hiatus from fishing and all the weights are set to 3 out and the magnetic drag on the BPS reels are between 4 and 5. I only had a few backlashes when trying to throw a weightless worm. I have spinning tackle for that. Just wanted to try it.

Even if I paid $30 for these rods and they last at least a year I will be satisfied.

John C · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2010, 11:11:48 AM »

I bought two to keep in my truck on the chance I drive bye a lake and want to fish.

I found that there not enough guides on the rod the line rubs on the blank. I do like the action on them and for a $30.00 thy are ok

But it is a throw away rod in my case.

I Have not broken one yet. we will see what happens

stratos bandit · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2010, 04:07:40 PM »

My fishing buddy has an Amp and HATES it. It has broken twice, Berkley will not replace it. He's passed it on to his kids to abuse. Him and I both have a Berkley shock. They are decent rods, especially for $50-$60. I use a 7' MH rod for my spinnerbait rod. I like the split handle and non-cork grip.

Camden · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2010, 05:36:09 PM »

i just got a 6-6 medium and a 6 MH caster. i wish they would make a 6-6 MH but oh well.
so far both have performed well. havent hooked any monsters with it yet but have pulled a couple 1-2 pounders in.
rod loads great on the cast and very sensitive tip.

not worried about the warranty as the place i bought mine from deals with the company. all i have to do is if i break it in that 1st year, is walk in and pick out a new one.

fisherdad · « **Reply #17 on:** April 20, 2010, 11:15:31 PM »

I just picked up an AMP as well yesterday. I was also looking at the shimano voltaeus and even the abu vendetta, but they were much heavier than the AMP. I wanted a nice light rod, and figured I'd save some money for the bait monkey. Fished it a little tonight. I like the feel of it, and the huge exposed blank. I'll probably get to fish it more tomorrow and hopefully will catch something on it

I got the 6'6" Med casting.

Joshawa · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2010, 02:54:08 PM »

Quote from: fisherdad on April 20, 2010, 11:15:31 PM

I just picked up an AMP as well yesterday. I was also looking at the shimano voltaeus and even the abu vendetta, but they were much heavier than the AMP. I wanted a nice light rod, and figured I'd save some money for the bait monkey. Fished it a little tonight. I like the feel of it, and the huge exposed blank. I'll probably get to fish it more tomorrow and hopefully will catch something on it I got the 6'6" Med casting.

I have both a Amp and and Volt and the two rods are very different. I use(d) the amp for worm fishing before I bought my plastics Mojo and was happy with the hooks-sets I was getting with the 7' Medium. My one huge gripe about the Amp is that the reel seat is junk. It loosens up very easily and and cracks if over tightened, but for $30 bucks some corner cutting is to be expected. I like my volt for throwing cranks because it has a nice soft tip on it but doesn't bend in half under the load of a large crankbait. Also for 40 bucks a lifetime warranty is awesome.

I have used my wifes Vendetta (6'6") and I wouldn't put it in the same class as the Amp and Volt. The Vendetta is a very nice rod for the price and if you want to spend the extra money I would recommend it over either of other two rods.

nmanley · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2010, 03:46:46 PM »

As posted above, I have two AMP's 7' med and now 4 Vendetta rods, two 7' M and two 7'3" MH. Those are a MUCH better rods than the AMP but they should be since they retail $90.
I really like the AMP for throwing lite weight lures.

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Author Topic: Berkley Amp (Read 1173 times)