looking for good price savy rods, and advice on whats hot? CHECK OUT MY THREAD

[GermanKnight]

Just bought a Shimano Crucial 7' fast and i gotta say best rod i have used for my needs.

I mostly use soft plastics, occasional Rat l Traps, and jigs. I use spinners here and there, but prefer them for spring and fall fishing, not summer.

I wanted to get a well rounded rod, i tried so many rods until i finally came up with the conclusion that in the 1-200$ range, the Crucial's are the best choice. I tried the Compre, and if you are only wanting to spend 100, thats the rod for you. Great rod, and almost as good as the crucial.

I tried the Mojo Bass, Avid, bionic blade(EWW), All Star (more expensive spinning one cant remember) and several other rods in a similar price range.

I have to say the avid and the crucial where the only rods i would consider. I dont have alot of money like alot of members, but i would rather save for months and get a more premium rod, than buy a bunch of cheap rods that are pretty much all the same.

The only cheap rod i own is a BPS Graphite Series, and honestly if your gonna go lower than 100 on a rod, you simply cannot beat the GS from BPS.. I dont care what anyone says, the sensitivity is LOCKED ON, its durable IM6, and the blanks i believe are made by Cast Away, which is my favorite brand of rod, other than Shimano and St. Croix.

The avid is pretty nice, but a little less durable IMO than the Crucial.

The Mojo, was ungodly top heavy, it looked very cool, but was not sensitive at all. It is poorly made and i recommend a Compre any day over a Mojo.

And, with the alconite guides, i believe the guides are PERFECT for Floro.

The Kistler Magnesium and Micro Mag are absolutely amazing, but the guide material is sub par to rods in this range from what i hear. i did not have many problems with the rod its self, but again, personal preference went with the Cruc.

If you like BPS, check out the Carbonlites... Pretty gosh darn freakin good IMO. I will be purchasing a Carbonlite combo with the carbonlite baitcaster for my Floro BC setup. I dont have a good baitcaster and am not using one currently. I need one for tournaments very badly for flipping and pitching.

So, If you plan on buying a rod, and want to know whats good for the money take a look at my thread.

I have noticed alot of threads about new rods, that members need for a good price. in the last few weeks i have tried out nearly all the name brands rods in the 34.99-200 range, and these are the rods i came up with.

I ONLY use FloroCarbon, and i will only recommend Seagaurs Red Label as its only one of about 4 different kinds i have tried. and it is very user friendly. I dont spend much on line unless im going to be tournament fishing. I think this line is perfect for someone who just fishes for fun and excitement AND someone who fishes very seriously. User-friendly, is VERY hard to see in the water, if you can see it at all.

Hope this thread helps, i will update frequently when i get new rods. Shimano Warranty RULES!

[willthebad]

You should check out the Bucoo from Falcon.  You should also check out the Wright and McGill Skeet Reese rods, as well as the Abu Garcia Vendetta Series.  Lamiglass also makes a value-price rod...Gary Loomis is teaming up with Temple Fork Outfitters and making a signature series rod for 99$.  Damiki, Dobyns, and Powell also make value priced rods that are exceptional in quality and performance. 

[GermanKnight]

ill be grabbing a G.loomis glx3 i think its called very soon. I dont usually cheap out on rods, but the falcon looks very nice. i forgot to mention i did actually get to try one and would honestly rather a cast away of the same price..

i guess falcon is just not my brand. good rods, just not my taste.

Now kistler.... mmm "woops"y micro magnesium rod will be MINE! if anyone wants to get rid of one let me know

[BIG PAPA]

I recently bought a custom built Kistler helium rod with micro guides
The most sensitive rod I have ever felt and I own loomis glx and several other top rods including a cumara and several crucials, falcon expert.

[Mike Cork]

Gotta give a thumbs up for Dobyns Rods their top of the line champion extreme line is absolutely amazing, balance, sensitivity, strength, and the lightest rods I've held. Their champion series and savvy series are great rods as well.

Tons of rods out there and it looks like you have tried many. Thanks for your thread and sharing your info

[GermanKnight]

Thanks Mike, it means alot!

And, thank you for all your work you do around here. The posts i read of yours are always quality.

I will try a Dobyn's when i can afford too for sure! they seem excellent.

I made up my mind and the next rod i order is the Helium. Great price value for a rod, and Kistler rods kick butt.

Im trying to get into a few tournaments, but that road is super slow going. There is one around where i live soon, that im already entered. Its just a for fun, winner gets a BPS gift card. amateur style. gotta start somewhere.

Next reel i start saving every penny up for would be the BPS Carbonlite. love the reel, and its affordable. I HATE not having a job anymore, i have NO funds for fishing gear, and its starting to really make me angry lol.

[Mike Cork]

Heliums are very nice but the balance was never there for me. I use Shimano reels exclusively (could only wish to be sponsored by them LOL) as I like the way the fit my hands. That said they just didn't balance any of the kistler rods well for me. So a different reel may be a different story there.

I have used quantum low profile and ABU Garcia round reels on the Dobyns and they all feel great.

Hopefully you find work soon. It's funny in the fact that when your working there is little time to fish and when your not there's no money to fish? It's an expensive sport. Good luck on work and good luck in the tournament! Be sure to let us know how it goes!!!

[GermanKnight]

Heliums are very nice but the balance was never there for me. I use Shimano reels exclusively (could only wish to be sponsored by them LOL) as I like the way the fit my hands. That said they just didn't balance any of the kistler rods well for me. So a different reel may be a different story there.

I have used quantum low profile and ABU Garcia round reels on the Dobyns and they all feel great.

Hopefully you find work soon. It's funny in the fact that when your working there is little time to fish and when your not there's no money to fish? It's an expensive sport. Good luck on work and good luck in the tournament! Be sure to let us know how it goes!!!

This forum gets most of my down time here at home as i believe this is the most HONEST, GENUINE group of people around, and i really like it here. when i first came, Laurie helped me out with creating a username. i was having trouble with that for some reason. Nice person she is.

Not only that, the vast amount of knowledgeable people here is wonderful. I am the researcher type and constantly write faqs, tutorials, and reviews. Even if i dont publish them i keep hold to everything in a binder.

Ill be creating pictorials for your website as well

Thanks for the kind words Mike, you seem to be a wonderful person. These days its hard around where i live to find genuine people. Most people around here have there head where the sun dont shine, and an attitude to match it.

im going to be PMing you about something i need help with.

[Lipripper]

GermanKnight you are right on the money about Mike and Laurie and also about how helpfull the members are around here  Good report on them Rods. i don't know alot about t6his kind of stuff but I know I like my BPS Boinic Blade rod that my Johnny Morris Elite BC sets on. It's the only BC I own and don't know much about them others 

[GermanKnight]

GermanKnight you are right on the money about Mike and Laurie and also about how helpfull the members are around here  Good report on them Rods. i don't know alot about t6his kind of stuff but I know I like my BPS Boinic Blade rod that my Johnny Morris Elite BC sets on. It's the only BC I own and don't know much about them others 

I found the Bionic Blade did not have the sensativity i desired. I also found that the Graphite Series at $34.99 was a better rod in general. but when it comes down to it, its ALL about personal preference and i would never ever say my preference is better. its just what I like.

Lip, you also need mention. your a great member around here too. me and you talk a fair bit through PM's and i know you from the first fishing board i was ever on. Quality members is what makes UB.

Mike and Laurie are wonderful to me. Thank you to ALL UB staff.

[jcraig]

I have used many of the all stars myself, but i recently started using some custom technique specific rods produced by Elite Series Pro Rick Morris. I perosonally cant say enough good things about them, IMO they are awesome.

[GermanKnight]

Those rods are pretty expensive for using Aluminum Oxide guides. I think for 150 id rather a cruc, or a avid..

Its all personal preference tho.