1St Post And Your Advice On Which Rod

[Fireguyfrank58]

  So for starter I wanted to say hello! Excellent website and forum.  I have found a ton of useful information so far.  As you can probably guess from my username I am a full time firefighter in my local town.  A little fishing background, I have been fishing since I was about 5.  My Father was a very good bass fisherman and taught me ho to use the Texas rig.  He told me when I was little if I ever learned how to use it I would catch more and bigger fish then anything else.  I didn't use it very much when I was younger but I began to use it in my 20's and really started to like it.  My father died of cancer when I was 21, and with it for some reason the joy of fishing and the want to go.  After many years (10-11) of layoff my wife talked me into taking her and my 6 and 7 year old children this past weekend.  We did some bank fishing the first afternoon at a local lake honey hole I remembered.  My wife caught one and I caught 3, one of which was a 3.5 lb. Largemouth.  Fishing was slow but I really enjoyed myself so we went the next morning to the same spot. Produced 3 more fish and another 3 pounder.  So now I started getting the bug, went again that night and just before dark landed a 4 lb. Largemouth just at dark.  So needless to say my family and I are now enjoying fishing again and I am looking to upgrade some of my very old tackle

 

  So I use a Texas rig 98% of the time.  I am using 2 Berkley Lighting rods that are very old.  My go 2 is a 5'6 lightning rod, Medium action with 30 lb. Spider stealth braid with a baby brush hawg and a 3/0 Owner offset hook.  Paired with a Shimano Bantam bait caster.  I went to Bass Pro and was trying out some new rods after seeing this site recommend a 7'0 rod with fast of extra fast action.  I found 2 I really liked one was an Abu Garcia Veritas, Medium Heavy 7'. I really liked the feel and found it on clearance for 69.99.  The other was a Shimano Sellus 6'8 Medium heavy fast tip.  Both of these rods felt amazing and ultra sensitive.  I think it was 49.99 and the Extra fast was 59.99.  I would really appreciate any advice on which rod to go with.  I have a feeling that both with be perfect but am looking for advice from you guys with more experience. Thank ahead of time, Frank.

[TNBassin']

The Veritas is a nice rod, BUT you have to watch and make sure that the guides are lined up properly before you buy one. Especially if you opt for one with the micro guides. I always refer to the Veritas as "the most awesome piece of junk ever", because it's so hard to find one that has good guides, or to keep the clear coat from peeling off the blank. I've jumped through hoops to get a good one, and I really enjoy fishing with it. Just make sure you visually inspect it before you lay down the cash. Definitely go with a Veritas over a Sellus IMO.

[lmbfisherman]

I would go with the Veritas, I own one and they are a solid rod...especially at that price (69.99) you can't go wrong.  However, I would really make sure before you buy one..make sure you inspect the rod for any visible defects and any nicks in the blank or damage.  I bought a 7'3" MH/F when it was on clearance for 49.99, best 50 bucks on a rod I ever paid.  Honestly don't have much experience with the Shimano Sellus, but I did own a Convergence, they are a good entry level stick.  I'd go the step up though as you will get a limited lifetime warranty from Shimano.

[Fireguyfrank58]

Thanks for the info so far, so as far as fast or extra fast would I notice much difference?

[lmbfisherman]

Thanks for the info so far, so as far as fast or extra fast would I notice much difference?

For starters I would just stick F if you're only getting one rod.  Not sure where you are located, but I might add that a Veritas usually is underrated.  Meaning the MH is not a true MH, it's between Medium Heavy - Heavy.  It might be better to get the Medium/Fast version.  Shimano are pretty true to the ratings imo. 

[TNBassin']

A 7"MH rod with a fast action is the perfect all around rod. It's the swiss army knife of fishing if you will.

[Trailer]

All this stuff is true IMO. I have a Veritas but don't own a Shimano so I have no comparison. However, I can vouch for the rating on the rod action. I also don't have any problems with the guides or clear coat. The Veritas gets my thumbs up, don't know about the Sellus.

[Dyerbassman]

I have a Sellus and love it. But I don't have a Veritas to compare it to.

[SwampLife]

I have a sellus technique specific spinnerbait rod..I really like it for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits but for a worm rod I would go with the veritas... The white on the sellus faded real quick it's now a pale yellow color and I keep my rods inside when not fishing..I'm thinking about bringing it back or calling shimano. I baby all my stuff and it disappoints me every time i choose to throw a spinnerbait.

Any way as far as the veritas I would go with a medium action.. To me the medium feels like a medium heavy.. They are stiff rods!

Btw, sorry about your loss.. I'm 25 and my dad is a cancer survivor and the texas rig is what he taught me on..i think your dad was right texas rigs have to be the most productive weapon in the arsenal!

[SwampLife]

And for that price go with the veritas! The sellus is always that price.. The veritas is a 100 dollar rod that performs above that price!

[rockchalk06]

Don't forget to check out the Shimano Clarus. It's at the 80 dollar mark, light, sensitive and lifetime warranty. I've have yet find one with a buggered guide or any other issues.

[camman]

Ditto on the Veritas...for that price its definitely the most bang for your buck

[Arv]

Welcome to the forum! Glad to hear you're getting the fishing bug. As far as rods go, of the two you mentioned, I would definitely consider the Veritas over the Sellus. Two other rods I will recommend looking at though are the Shimano Compre and the ***. I have a Compre and like it a lot. I would personally choose the Compre over all the other $100 rods I've used. With that said, I have not handled one of the new Omens but I have nothing but great reviews about it. They might be worth checking out.

[TNBassin']

The *** is NICE. I like it better than my Veritas hands down.

[MichiganFishing1997]

I use a 6'6 ML F St. Croix Triumph for the same application and I love it. Although Its spinning not casting.

[Fireguyfrank58]

Just an update, I actually found a Veritas at Academy sports for 69 bucks on clearance. It was 7'3 MH, a little longer then I wanted but I figured for that price I couldn't beat it. I was gonna buy a *** but money was a bit tight. I think my second rod ill get an ***, I can't find a wiggle bad review on them. I slapped my Old Shimano Citia Bantam 200 I had on my Abu and headed to the lake. I really didn't like the the feel at first, which to me was crazy since I was coming from a old 5'6 Berkely lighting stick that is about 15 years old. I think what really through me was the reel, I have 2 old Bantams that I really like the feel of. Maybe it's just the old worm bearings. It took a while but I got used to it and like the rod pretty well. It casts a mile and hook sets are huge! It's a big change from those short pistol grip rods. I am gonna pick up a Abu S or STX to slap on it to see if that will make it better for me. Don't get me wrong when I get a bite it feels really sensative and nice solid taps but I guess it's just new to me. I did drop the hammer on one and landed a nice 3lb largemouth so all in all I was pleased. If money permits I may drop a little more and snag a Lews pro, or I may just put the Revo on this one and a Lews pro on a ***.