Bps Carbonlite Rods, Would Like Some Feedback

[LunkerLust]

I am thinking about a ML Carbonlite rod for some finesse, drop shot fishing. If you have ever owned one or used one, let me know if they are as light, and strong, and sensitive, as is claimed.

If you're not impressed, then please give me a reccommend for under $100. Maybe the BPS Extreme?

[*Hootie]

I have a 6.6 carbonlite with the cabonlite reel. Yes, they are super sensitive, and light. Well worth the money. I also work at BPS, so I see what we sell. They are both great rods, but I would take the carbonlite, hands down. Thats my 2 cents.

Hootie

[Stasher1]

I sold my Avids and replaced them with Carbonlites. They're as sensitive, if not more sensitive than the Avids, but a good bit lighter and far less expensive.

[Diggy]

Great rods. The only thing that can be annoying is the hook keeper on my baitcast rod, the line can get caught on it some times

[BrianSnat]

I had a Carbonlite and wasn't too thrilled with the cheap guides. Other than that it was a good rod. It broke on me when I dropped a fish on it. I blame me for that, not the rod.

For under $100 I heartily recommend the Shimano Clarus or Fenwick HMX.

[LunkerLust]

Thanks for the feedback so far, all of it positive. I was mainly interested if it has a breakage problem.

[BrianSnat]

Thanks for the feedback so far, all of it positive. I was mainly interested if it has a breakage problem.

I think the chintzy guides are a negative. You can pay a bit more and get just as good a rod, but with better quality guides. I don't know why they went to them. I heard older models had better guides. I probably would not consider another Carbonlite because of the guides. In fact when I replaced the broken Carbonlite I did so with a Clarus.

[Stasher1]

BPS has been using the same guides on the Carbonlite since they came out, with the exception of the micro-guides which weren't an option when the rods were first released.

I'm not a huge fan of the guides either, but they're a big part of the weight difference between the Carbonlites and the competition. I've owned five of them so far (along with the Browning HiPower that uses very similar guides), use braid almost exclusively, and haven't noticed any abnormal wear in the guides over the past year and a half. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen any signs of wear at all. They may not survive being stepped on, but neither will Fuji Alconites, and with the Carbonlite's guides there's no insert to crack and fall out. They may not look very nice, but performance-wise I don't see any issues.

[MrSwimJig]

The Carbonlite rods are very nice looking and very light, I have never fished one of them. But I do have the JM Signature Series rod and it has been a very nice surprise to me. Very sensitive and powerful, so I can't see the Carbonlite being to far behind the JM Signatures series.

[OnthePotomac]

My custom rod builder friend classifies Carbonlite regular guide rods as pretty darn good rods. He is not impressed with the guide feet of the micro guides, although admits that the material in both rod guides is not "cheap" as described above. The Carbonlite regular guides are stainless with Pac Bay titanium carbide inserts. Information on titanium carbide is pretty interesting. Titanium carbide films have found wide application in various tribological engineering devices owing to its excellent hardness and, therefore, wear resistance. To apply titanium carbide coating on various substrates, physical vapour phase deposition (PVD) and chemical vapour phase deposition (CVD) methods are commonly employed. The key word here is "coating" because titanium carbide in its bulk state is not used. It has a hardness of around 3000 (30GPa), which is harder than silicon carbide (SiC) with a hardness of 2200 to 2400. Notice that the BPS Carbonlite rods use the term PVD coating and it is over a ceramic of some sort. The Carbonlite micro guides also use Pac Bay stainless frames with Hialoy inserts. Hialoy is really a high content aluminum oxide (used on many rods), that is diamond polished. Bottom line - they ain't "cheap".

[Bass_Fanatic]

Ive had a Carbonlite 7' M/M for about 4 years and it has hauled in a ton of fish with no problems. Great rod for the money!

[Diggy]

The 7ft6 Heavy action rod is so light weight in feel, its crazy. I plan to get one of these eventually, I wish I got one instead of the 7 mh carbonlite since I have so many of that type of rod.

[iabass8]

nice year + bump diggy

[Boogey Man]

If you are talking about the casting model, I have the 6'6"ML. I use it for small cranks, jerkbaits, and poppers. The lightest baits I have tried are 3/16oz. It's a fun little rod to fish.

[MCS]

I have a 6'-6" MH spinning and love it, best $100 I have spent. That thing is every bit as good or better than the reviews. I feel people hate on it becuase they feel it can't possibly be better than a name brand or a rod they spent 2 or 3 times the cash on.

[trupp30]

I have 2  MF carbonlite spinning rods. They are very light and sensitive. I use them for T-rigging worms and wacky rigs. They are well worth the $100 price tag. You will not be disappointed.

[craww]

PROS-sensitive and lightweight, just a "comfortable" rod to fish. Plenty of options in different powers\lengths, easy to get a replacement if a bps is close by.

Cons- only one, as already stated is those terrible pac bay guides. Ive owned 3 rods (2 carbonlites) with pac bays and all have lost inserts, one lost two.....Id heard that fuji has gotten more expensive; going to other manufacturers must keep costs down. Never had this happen with any of the other 25 rods ive owned... If it werent for the fact its no issue for me to return them and exchange; the guides would be a dealbreaker for me.

[cbass12]

I've got the 6'9" ML spinning rod that I use for lightweight finesse fishing. I've only had it for a couple weeks but I love it so far. I also have 4 casting rods and have absolutely no complaints about them. Lightweight, sensitive, and strong.

[loudcherokee]

Im curious to know how the carbonlites stack up against the *** black rod. both are around the same price.

LC

[Diggy]

Im curious to know how the carbonlites stack up against the *** black rod. both are around the same price.

LC

I have both, the carbonlite grip is more comfortable to me.

 

The *** has a longer warranty and looks stunning 

 

Both great rods tho cant go wrong either way and having both would be even better

[MCS]

Im curious to know how the carbonlites stack up against the *** black rod. both are around the same price.

LC

 

I have only held the omens in store, but they feel just as light I am sure they are just as good or better sensitivity. Only thing I didn't like is the handles on both spinning and casting, like others say the carbonlites are very "comfortable" to fish and is one of my main reasons for liking it.