Help Narrowing Down Rod Choice!

[FloridaBassDude]

Here are my options:

 

*** *** Black,  7'3" MH/F

 

Dobyns Savvy, 7'3" MH/F

 

St. Croix Avid, 7' MH/XF

 

Will be used for flipping/pitching, and paired will a quantum smoke most likely. 

 

If you have any other good suggestions feel free to let me know! Budget is around $200, would rather not spend that much though.\

 

 

Thanks!

 

[BassinLou]

I fish with an Avid and I have a lews mg on that one. Great rod.  I cannot speak about the ***, or the Savvy. What qualities are you looking for? That will help us narrow it down for you.

[kschultz76]

Avids are great rods. But be sure you want an XF in a Croix because it really is XF.

[chase102798]

I personally would take a Kistler KLX over those three. Since Gary Loomis and NFC is building the blanks, I haven't found a sub $200 rod that compares to the KLXs I have. I was using a mix of Kistlers high end z bones and a grab bag of other brands. When the KLX came out and I ordered two, I quickly sold the following rods: Gloomis GL2, Quantum smokes, and a Dobyns Champion I had. I have converted three friends to these rods.

 

FloridaBassDude, check for a PM from me.

[mu_bass]

I would go with the St. Croix Avid. However, for flipping/pitching I would stick with the AVC70MHF, you lose power when you go from a Fast action to an Extra Fast action. St. Croix rods really are extra fast, they typically flex in the top 18 inches or so of the blank. I have a Rage 7'1" MHF and it has plenty of power for pulling big bass out of heavy cover. 

[Dramer77]

i have that exact dobyns rod.. the savvy micro 733c, great rod... im actually thinking of selling mine to step up to the champion series..  to bad you werent closer you could just buy mine lol.. 

[Cgrinder]

*** is the most bang for your buck.

[Arv]

Cant compare the ***, but between the Savvy and the Avid, I would go with the Avid.

[Basseditor]

I second Kistler. I'm getting ready to get another.

[rockchalk06]

Here are my options:

 

*** *** Black,  7'3" MH/F

 

Dobyns Savvy, 7'3" MH/F

 

St. Croix Avid, 7' MH/XF

 

Will be used for flipping/pitching, and paired will a quantum smoke most likely. 

 

If you have any other good suggestions feel free to let me know! Budget is around $200, would rather not spend that much though.\

 

 

Thanks!

The Avid will set you right at your price point. Of the 3 you have listed, I'd go with the Avid. I love mine.

 

I've never held a Savvy, so I can't comment, but LargemouthGambler here has two and has tried on numerous occasions to get me to commit. He loves them.

 

The *** is another proven winner. Its the lowest priced of the bunch.

 

Do you want Full grip or split, cork or EVA?

[FloridaBassDude]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Seems like the Avid is pretty popular amongst you all. @rockchalk, I really don't seem to have a preference, although my cork rods seem to get a little slippery after awhile. But it's not a huge deal for me.

[smalljaw67]

I have my own suggestions but out of your 3 I'd go with the Avid, the reason being is the Saavy is a good rod but over priced for the rod, lots of rods that are just as good and even better at lower price point than the Saavy. The *** Blak has been getting a lot of great reviews and I would say this is the way to go but it is a new reel seat that a fair amount of anglers have complained about so you are taking a chance. To me, the Avid has the best warranty and the performance matches the price but I would go with a MH-F, the St. Croix rods are a little under rated as their MH is a 1/2 power beefier than most other manufacturers MH.  The Kistler KLX is receiving a lot of attention, the downside is you have to order factory direct and the kistler warranty is pretty tough, but they use a good blank and good guides but if you happen to get a lemon, well lets just say Kistler lost a ton of customers by not standing behind the rods and the one year warranty is really all you need but it is pro rated meaning if you take it out and a defect in the blank causes it to break it will cost you more than half the original cost to get it replaced, too many horror stories for those guys but it is also the reason for the low price point of the KLX, they needed a stepping stone to get old customers back or acquire new ones. Sorry for the rant but a good friend of mine had nothing but nightmares and basically had over $600 thrown into the garbage with bad Kistler rods that he failed to warranty well within the stated time frame, good rod as I said but you need to understand you may get burned if you get a bad one.

[eagon06]

When in doubt, go St. Croix

[DirtyDeuceGoose]

I just picked up an *** and absolutely love it. However my custom built rod (avid blank) is probably my favorite stick. If you're trying to stay under 200 go ***, the avids are right around the 200 mark