How Valuable Is A 'nice' Rod?

[BaconStealer303]

I know that i've posted a couple topics lately but i promise this is the last, so how important is a nice rod? Basically i have 160$ to spend, and it going on polarized oakleys or a new rod. The rod i have now is a bass pro bionic blade 6'6" MH, with a lews tp 7:1. Would a new rod really help out? Or is the jump from a bps rod to a 150$ rod not enough significant improvement? Just let me know what you guys think! Looking at the crucial, rage, etc. anything 160 or less

[Darren.]

I know that i've posted a couple topics lately but i promise this is the last, so how important is a nice rod? Basically i have 160$ to spend, and it going on polarized oakleys or a new rod. The rod i have now is a bass pro bionic blade 6'6" MH, with a lews tp 7:1. Would a new rod really help out? Or is the jump from a bps rod to a 150$ rod not enough significant improvement? Just let me know what you guys think! Looking at the crucial, rage, etc. anything 160 or less

 

I would think the jump to a Crucial, Rage would be pretty significant.

 

But I wouldn't let your eyes go without a good pair of sunglasses. My Costas were the best $ I spent, more expensive than any individual rod I have at this time. Eyes are worth the protection, IMHO.

[BaconStealer303]

I have spiderwire polarized glasses, the 15$ ones at walmart. So thats why ive been considering the new glasses. It seems like they would both be pretty valuable

[katmandew]

I've dropped so many pairs of sunglasses in the lake, I say get the rod.  There's a reason I buy $25 BPS sunglasses.  They dont last very long for me.  I think the rod would last a lot longer.

[mnbassman23]

^^ same here. Not saying good glasses aren't worth it, but for me I go through a fair amount of glasses as well due to my own stupidity lol. 

 

I'd put the money towards a rod. Use the BPS one for moving baits and dedicate your new one for bottom contact techniques. 

[lmbfisherman]

I'm not sure, sensitivity is different for everyone.  You might get disappointed if you buy a better rod and there would be no difference.  Buying a good pair of polarized glasses would be more useful.  Maybe if you have a buddy or someone who has a rod you're looking at that you can borrow and test it out?

[BaconStealer303]

Thanks guys, headed to BPS to hold some rods

Tomorrow. Not sure if i'll pick one up, but it is a good point that it will last a lot longer, considering i dropped my new aviators out of the kayak last year. Thanks!

[Jay Ell Gee]

Try to hunt down some Calcutta sunglasses ($25) and then get yourself a nice rod, perhaps?

As a student of the medical field, protecting your eyes is important. Nice sunglasses are a luxury and after having a nice pair of Ray Ban's stolen, I started using cheaper polarized sunglasses and haven't been terribly disappointed.

A new, shiny St. Croix is always nice!

[bmlum415]

Look into a dobyns savvy or do what I do and save money and have two polarized oakleys and a few dobyns champions with lews reels on them

[Chanceb]

Buy the new strike king s11 sunglasses and get a new Rod like a veritas with the left overs

[Capt.Bob]

I have about 5 different Bionic Blades, excellent rods that are MUCH BETTER than there price would dictate!! I saythis as I own half a dozen St. Croix Legend Elites, Extremes, and Tournaments and one, over twice your $150.00 dollar limit, unbelievably better than the B.B. and well worth the investment, an IMX G. Loomis and 1 1/2x your limit and still more than your 150 limit, with no less than ten Avids from UL to H, and an improvement over the B.B mainly in weight and not what I would call twice the performer but better, and almost 1 1/2x your 150 dollar limit. If you are not expecting a huge difference in rods, do it, but remember, the BB will perform as good as most rods in the 120 to 150 dollar range, so be carefull with what you expect. I personally  would buy the glasses, as Coasta's or even Solar Bats will be a big improvement in protection over cheap polarized sun glasses,  and I have never had to worry about falling off, they fit like eye protection not sunglasses! Save up till you can spend a couple hundred or don't expect much difference from what your BB gives you know.

[SirSnookalot]

At the very least wear a band strap for your glasses, if you don't have one just tie some heavy mono on the temples. I wear prescription progessives, too much of an investment not to have band strap, plus I'd hate to be on the water with no glasses at all.

[skeletor6]

I know that i've posted a couple topics lately but i promise this is the last, so how important is a nice rod? Basically i have 160$ to spend, and it going on polarized oakleys or a new rod. The rod i have now is a bass pro bionic blade 6'6" MH, with a lews tp 7:1. Would a new rod really help out? Or is the jump from a bps rod to a 150$ rod not enough significant improvement? Just let me know what you guys think! Looking at the crucial, rage, etc. anything 160 or less

 

IMHO, there is an extremely large jump in quality from <$100 rods to <$200 rods. These rods will use better blanks, components, guides etc.

 

For $160 you can get yourself some very nice rods. There is a long list of possibilities, but with your Lew's TP, I would make a split decision between a Shimano Cumara (discontinued version) and a Phenix Recon 714/715. If you go the recon route, you will easily have a sub 10oz combo. I would imagine you would quit using your Bionic after experiencing what the nicer rods have to offer.

In my opinion, the best value for rods lies in the $200 range. The baitmonkey tends to think differently though...

[Felix77]

Buy the new strike king s11 sunglasses and get a new Rod like a veritas with the left overs

X2.

[flyfisher]

Since you already have sunglasses then go with a rod but i wll say that getting a good pair of glass lens sunglasses like costas will show you a lot of what you have been missing.  I used to wear oakleys then smiths (which i think ar ehte best plastic lens sunglasses out there) and bought a pair of costas last year and the clarity isn't even a comparison.

[Darren.]

At the very least wear a band strap for your glasses, if you don't have one just tie some heavy mono on the temples. I wear prescription progessives, too much of an investment not to have band strap, plus I'd hate to be on the water with no glasses at all.

 

Agreed. I bought the Cablz Zips for my Costas and losing them is never a thought any more. I can zip the cable tight against my head and there's nothing for it to grab on and accidentally pull off.

 

Since you already have sunglasses then go with a rod but i wll say that getting a good pair of glass lens sunglasses like costas will show you a lot of what you have been missing.  I used to wear oakleys then smiths (which i think ar ehte best plastic lens sunglasses out there) and bought a pair of costas last year and the clarity isn't even a comparison.

 

x2  I went from plastic to glass (580p) Costas and it isn't even a close comparison.

 

BaconStealer303

 

When you hit BPS, be sure to check out the Costas at the sunglasses counter. Look at the 580p glass lenses, while you won't see a huge diff in the store, when you hit the water, you will.

 

Other thing I'd suggest. If you DO choose to go with Costa sunnies, consider purchasing them on eBay from a seller with a 99.7% or higher rating (and a lot of ratings).

 

I picked up my 580p off eBay for considerably less than BPS sells the same one for.

[BaconStealer303]

I'll look into those! Maybe i'll pick the rod up tonight and get costas in the start of May

[BrettD]

Maybe because I live in Florida but my Costa are the most important thing to me I can hardly go outdoors without them. The rod your only going to use while fishing the sunglasses you will wear everyday.

[thehooligan]

You cant go wrong with either purchase, they both go hand in hand. I have high end rods, and regular prescription sunglasses with polarized lenses.

 

Id probally go with the rod though, you can get decent polarized glasses at walmart.

[BassinLou]

Do not underestimate the value of a great pair of sunglasses. If you have rods already that you like and you do not have a good pair of sunglasses, I would recommend the glasses if you are going to be out on the water for a long period of time. Trust me, your eyes will thank you. Costa's have my vote. I have my freshwater pair and my saltwater pair. Costly?? maybe, maybe not. Eye protection and vision enhancement is a must for me.

[Teal]

I love my Costas and I strongly advocate good polarized lenses. But if you already have some decent ploarized glasses and a baseball cap then you have made the big step in protecting your eyes.

While premium polarized glasses are awesome, and will make huge difference in clarity, a low end pair will protect your eyes from UV also. Maybe not to the extent of premium glasses, but the protection and increase vision throught the glare is there! I mentioned a ballcap also, i feel that a hat also helps to keep the sun out your eyes and paripheal vision.

My suggestion is to buy a premium rod and dont look back. Get on the water and fish it.

And SirSnookAlot made a great suggestion, buy a strap for you sunglasses so yyou wont lose them. Every pair of sunglasses i own has a strap on it. And if you do go with the highend glasses, make sure you get a strap that floats.