High Priced Rods & Sensitivity. Would You Call It Necessary?

[Dylan L]

I recently purchased a Mitchell 300XE medium action combo for $69.99 at Academy Sports and it seems like a $500 upgrade from my Bass Pro glass microlite (this is a great rod but didn't suit my style of fishing). Anyway, this rod has a very sensitive tip and I feel every rock and stump. You will be able to feel the bite from the smallest bluegill to the biggest largemouth. The reel on the combo is also nice.

[einscodek]

Sometimes those "micro-bites" are a big bass on the other end.  I get a lot of slack line bites on falling jigs also, usually it's pretty subtle, don't want to miss those either.  I like a little luxury.

 

If yer talkin about the microsecond bite where a bass inhales and spits out almost immediately.. good luck.. often times you can feel it but like I said if you have any slack on a rod dip on any part of yer retrieve.. good luck.. supersensitive rod aint helpin on that.  If you know how to keep slack out.. you dont need a "super-sensitive rod"..most will feel the small bites just fine.

Also I've seen guys hooksetting every few seconds feelin those "micro bites" and makin a fool outa themselves..

Now that said I've got a pair of $200+ supersensitive rods I wouldn't part with because of that and other things like weight etc but I still say I also have enuf sensitivity I need to on my glass rods as well.. that's just me.. and I catch plenty of big fish on all my rods.. even pulled a few big ones outa the water on the cheap ultralights my kids use as well.. we're talkin modern rods here not comparing todays rods to those from 20 years ago..

You want supersensitive.. go ahead and fork over the $$$ for it (thats what the fishin industry wants you to do) maybe in your mind it will make a difference and give you confidence in yer fishin which imo is the most important.

[Khong]

A $50 rod will give you plenty sensitivity. A $100 rod gives you yet more sensitivity, and more precise actions.  A $200 rod pretty much gives you everything you'd NEED sensitivity wise, and precise action.  Add in some serious build quality weight reduction at that point as well.  Anything more, is simply nice.  The difference between my Legend Tournament rods and my Dobyns Champ Extreme are very negligible.  The fit and finish on the Dobyns is a bit nicer, but I'd expect that.  The dozen plus Avids I own generally get the job done just as well, too.

 

I don not feel sensitivity is overrated, but the requirement of a $400 rod to get "proper" sensitivity is.  There's plenty of options in the $100-200 range that are awesome.  Factor in the used market, and anyone can get a nice stick without breaking the bank.

 

Absolutely correct!  I was trying to say this earlier which probably didn't make a lot of sense to people and I got nailed for.  My apologies, but J Francho took the words out of my heart and stated it above.  I stand by what he say's.

[SirSnookalot]

It may be difficult to re program one's thinking on this issue, going with what one thinks is going to work best for them in a given price range is probably the way to.  What I think is only relevant to the places I fish and the techniques I use, I'm comfortable with my choices.  If I were a gung ho competitive angler price would be no object, I'd be looking for those magic bullets.  As it stands I'm not, being strictly a recreational fisherman if I happen to miss a 4 or 5# fish (I do doubt I miss many), it's something I don't get overly upset over.  The best fishermen fishing in the best places catch the best fish most of the time.  Given the fact there are scores of different brands and models of rods, reels, lines and lures, many used with a high degree of success.

[Quillback]

 

 

 

 

If yer talkin about the microsecond bite where a bass inhales and spits out almost immediately.. good luck.. often times you can feel it but like I said if you have any slack on a rod dip on any part of yer retrieve.. good luck.. supersensitive rod aint helpin on that.  If you know how to keep slack out.. you dont need a "super-sensitive rod"..most will feel the small bites just fine.

Also I've seen guys hooksetting every few seconds feelin those "micro bites" and makin a fool outa themselves..

Now that said I've got a pair of $200+ supersensitive rods I wouldn't part with because of that and other things like weight etc but I still say I also have enuf sensitivity I need to on my glass rods as well.. that's just me.. and I catch plenty of big fish on all my rods.. even pulled a few big ones outa the water on the cheap ultralights my kids use as well.. we're talkin modern rods here not comparing todays rods to those from 20 years ago..

You want supersensitive.. go ahead and fork over the $$$ for it (thats what the fishin industry wants you to do) maybe in your mind it will make a difference and give you confidence in yer fishin which imo is the most important.

 

I guess I'm lucky, I catch those microsecond, slack line bites all the time, has more to do with reflexes and paying attention, sorry to hear you have trouble with it.  Most of the guys I fish with can hook those fish also, but they're not the type to make fools out of themselves, I fish with good fishermen, it must be tough fishing around guys making fools out of themselves every few seconds, I feel for you.

[Quillback]

 

 

 

 

If yer talkin about the microsecond bite where a bass inhales and spits out almost immediately.. good luck.. often times you can feel it but like I said if you have any slack on a rod dip on any part of yer retrieve.. good luck.. supersensitive rod aint helpin on that.  If you know how to keep slack out.. you dont need a "super-sensitive rod"..most will feel the small bites just fine.

Also I've seen guys hooksetting every few seconds feelin those "micro bites" and makin a fool outa themselves..

Now that said I've got a pair of $200+ supersensitive rods I wouldn't part with because of that and other things like weight etc but I still say I also have enuf sensitivity I need to on my glass rods as well.. that's just me.. and I catch plenty of big fish on all my rods.. even pulled a few big ones outa the water on the cheap ultralights my kids use as well.. we're talkin modern rods here not comparing todays rods to those from 20 years ago..

You want supersensitive.. go ahead and fork over the $$$ for it (thats what the fishin industry wants you to do) maybe in your mind it will make a difference and give you confidence in yer fishin which imo is the most important.

 

I guess I'm lucky, I do pretty well catching those micobite fish.  I guess it doesn't work for everyone.  Reflexes and paying attention are also factors in catching those light biters.  Must be tough fishing around people who make fools of themselves every few seconds, I haven't experienced that myself, but kudos for you to be able to still be able to catch fish while fishing in those conditions.

[Fish Murderer 71]

I got 2 pennies... 1, buy what you can afford.  2. revo stx and Wright and Mcgill, (about 300 bucks a set up)...  The rest is pure skill mixed with a little luck!

[Glenn]

Many pages of great opinions later, and you can easily see it's all personal preference.  There's no wrong or right answer here. It's all about what gives you confidence.

[dodgeguy]

OR WHAT YOUR WALLET ALLOWS

[ChiCityBasser]

Sensitivity is another item on the list of subjective terms that describe a rod's performance. The increased stiffness/weight ratio of more expensive blanks allows them to transmit vibration better. Whether or not  stepping up in price is worthwhile is totally a personal preference and opinion. The point of diminishing returns on factory rods is around $275. If shopping for truly top-end rods above (or below) this price point I highly recommend contacting a reputable custom rod builder.

I agree on this statement and the fact of diminishing return being around $275 as I've had a custom rod built at around $245 to my specs and how I fish and its worked great.

[LMB ANGLER]

adne mono = has more world records than any other lines combine

 

ugly stik = world known for unbreakable most sensitive rods

 

penn, fin-nor, abu garcia, shimano and daiwa = reliable reels and are cheap

 

these are all proven legend all over the world

so to my knowledge a high price tag does no mean its better  

[K_Mac]

adne mono = has more world records than any other lines combine

 

ugly stik = world known for unbreakable most sensitive rods

 

penn, fin-nor, abu garcia, shimano and daiwa = reliable reels and are cheap

 

these are all proven legend all over the world

so to my knowledge a high price tag does no mean its better  

 

A higher price tag does not mean better in all cases. We can all agree on that. 

 

Sensitivity, quality, and value still comes down to opinion and budget though. Whether the reels you list are cheap or legendary depends the budget of the buyer, and of the model chosen. That mono was for years the gold standard of fishing line, and that as a result still holds many records is not a compelling argument for its superiority today. While you can make a case for Ugly Stiks being "unbreakable", to argue that they are world class sensitive is silliness in my opinion.  What I'm saying is that these are subjective judgments that are fun to talk about and give us plenty to argue about on the interwebz, and there is value in that.

[LMB ANGLER]

A higher price tag does not mean better in all cases. We can all agree on that. 

 

Sensitivity, quality, and value still comes down to opinion and budget though. Whether the reels you list are cheap or legendary depends the budget of the buyer, and of the model chosen. That mono was for years the gold standard of fishing line, and that as a result still holds many records is not a compelling argument for its superiority today. While you can make a case for Ugly Stiks being "unbreakable", to argue that they are world class sensitive is silliness in my opinion.  What I'm saying is that these are subjective judgments that are fun to talk about and give us plenty to argue about on the interwebz, and there is value in that.

its been proven till this day but hey it comes down to personal preference i guess 

[skeletor6]

Leaving out how much a rod may cost. If it is more sensitive, there is a definite advantage, especially on bottom contact techniques. Being able to feel more leads to a better understanding of what your bait is doing and what it is encountering. This knowledge is helpful, whether or not someone can completely understand the rods feedback. The degree to which one can comprehend what their setup is telling them and the skill of the fisherman are two of many subjective factors that help determine the degree to which sensitivity matters to an individual.

 

Bringing cost into the equation makes the whole thing a mess. Everyone's financial resources are different, how one wants to delegate these funds varies, to which component one decides to delegate these funds even varies. Some may be a reel guy, or a plastics guy, perhaps a swimbait guy. These will affect how much one is willing to spend on a rod and, thus, will not lead to a common consensus that leads to the answer the OP is looking for.

 

My own experience, the higher dollar rods I own, cast better, balance better, are significantly more sensitive and are much more enjoyable to fish. So, within reason, they are worth it to me. I can say that when fishing deep dropshots on FC line w/ Tungsten weight 3/16oz, on a Cumara vs. a NRX, I can feel a fish inspect the bait, swim around the bait and many more bottom contact properties. When it comes to a fish biting the bait, both are transmitted perfectly fine, the NRX is just amplified. Take that FWIW.

[LMB ANGLER]

Leaving out how much a rod may cost. If it is more sensitive, there is a definite advantage, especially on bottom contact techniques. Being able to feel more leads to a better understanding of what your bait is doing and what it is encountering. This knowledge is helpful, whether or not someone can completely understand the rods feedback. The degree to which one can comprehend what their setup is telling them and the skill of the fisherman are two of many subjective factors that help determine the degree to which sensitivity matters to an individual.

 

Bringing cost into the equation makes the whole thing a mess. Everyone's financial resources are different, how one wants to delegate these funds varies, to which component one decides to delegate these funds even varies. Some may be a reel guy, or a plastics guy, perhaps a swimbait guy. These will affect how much one is willing to spend on a rod and, thus, will not lead to a common consensus that leads to the answer the OP is looking for.

 

My own experience, the higher dollar rods I own, cast better, balance better, are significantly more sensitive and are much more enjoyable to fish. So, within reason, they are worth it to me. I can say that when fishing deep dropshots on FC line w/ Tungsten weight 3/16oz, on a Cumara vs. a NRX, I can feel a fish inspect the bait, swim around the bait and many more bottom contact properties. When it comes to a fish biting the bait, both are transmitted perfectly fine, the NRX is just amplified. Take that FWIW.

I understand, that being said, I had $500 rods (steez) and lower dollar rods. I believe its all an opinion and preference because i feel that there is not much difference, the same goes with reels and line. its a mind thing, everybody thinks that a higher price tag item is better than a lower price tag item. its getting to that point that these companies and manufacturers are abusing and taking advantage of people. for example shimano used to be cheap a good quality now with this new ci4+, i mean its still good and couple of ounces liter but come on!!! almost 300 dollars and more, give me a brake. you have cheaper stuff now that will outlast these expensive equipment.  

[SirSnookalot]

@ DaiwaKing, just noticed you are from South Florida so I understand your sentiments and agree.  I think there are some differences, Ande mono (tournament) the benchmark for IGFA records as it breaks at the label not higher as many lines do today.  Ugly stick and Penn reels, about the most common saltwater set up around for the average fisherman, sensitivity is not the issue here, strikes are substantial.  Bass fishing is a little different as we are fishing in cover much of the time, strikes can be less noticeable and we set the hook.  In saltwater setting the hook is not nearly as critical as many of the fish hit with enough speed and power to hook themselves, just gotta raise the rod.

I do understand the sensitivity issue but do not buy into it 100%.

[mod479]

I understand, that being said, I had $500 rods (steez) and lower dollar rods. I believe its all an opinion and preference because i feel that there is not much difference, the same goes with reels and line. its a mind thing, everybody thinks that a higher price tag item is better than a lower price tag item. its getting to that point that these companies and manufacturers are abusing and taking advantage of people. for example shimano used to be cheap a good quality now with this new ci4+, i mean its still good and couple of ounces liter but come on!!! almost 300 dollars and more, give me a brake. you have cheaper stuff now that will outlast these expensive equipment.

 

 

Having 5 of these reels and the new Ci4+ I have to disagree. They have outlasted any reel I have ever owned, they get more use and abuse than any cheapo reel has ever endured. Have you ever used one?

[mod479]

And as far as sensitivity is concerned, I think if the gear gives the guy confidence, then that's all that really matters. Never used an NRX, but I can only imagine they are as awesome as people say.

[Ratherbfishing]

I bought a whole rack of expensive rods.  So many that I couldn't pay my other bills and the creditors are now constantly on my back!  I'm so jumpy and nervous that the slightest twitch or bump sets me off.  Don't know if the rods are that much more sensitive but I sure am!

 

My point, I guess, is that you want to buy expensive rods, by all means do so.  Just have the money to pay for them.   I catch plenty of fish with my mid-range rods (some would even say they are "cheapies") without breaking the bank.  But if you have the money, more power to you.

[einscodek]

I know some guys back in Pa whom I used to fish with who are near psychics when it comes to fish bite sensitivity on Ugly Stiks.. you get good with what you got..

[EvanT123]

you get good with what you got..

Great point!!!!

[skeletor6]

I will say, however, how do you know you missed a fish if you've never felt it at all? On some jig bites, the bass will lightly pick it up from the bottom and spit it back out. Don't think I could feel that with an ugly stick, its tough to detect even with a high end rods and line. You could say you hooked and detected every bite, but is that really true?

[Diggy]

 

  I can feel a fish inspect the bait, swim around the bait  

Please explain this, as I am intrigued.

[PABASS]

In my younger years an ugly stick is all I had and it worked, however its a tool and as we all know some tools are better for certain jobs.  Before websites like these and youtube learning as a young man I could not for the life of me catch a fish on a jig.  I was using an lite ugly stick and stren 8# mono, recently I went out and caught some bass on jigs using this same rod with my son, whats the difference?  Age, experience, nope it was line, I was using braid.  I do feel there is a point of no return meaning a rod can only transmit so much, does a 800$ rod do it better then a 150$ rod, don't know as I don't own any 800$ rods.  I can say that my 80$ Veritas is every bit as sensitive as my st croix premier and sometimes more depending on the lure.  I have always been a line watcher, not just a liner feeler, many, many times I will see my line going off and not feel a thing, sometimes I will feel a dink and see my line go off.  Personally feel that choosing the right rod for the job is the way to go, by that I mean power and action not by much how much it costs.

[mjseverson24]

I think sensitivity in rods is relative. My philosophy is don't let your equipment hinder your ability to catch fish. what i mean by this is get a rod and real that match your fishing ability. if you are a beginner don't buy top of the line stuff, because you will not be able to use the extra information provided by top of the line gear. on top of that you will probably not know how to do proper maintenance on your equipment and you will not get maximum lifespan out of it. if you are very experienced, then get a rod and reel that will allow you to maximize your abilities as a fisherman. I personally use reaction rods from $70.00-$100.00, sensitivity is not as important, the proper length, action, power, durability are most important. in my bottom contact rods I use from $100.00-$180.00, would I like to use higher end rods? Yes i would, but I personally beat the crap out of my rods when I fish tournaments so these "mid-priced" rods do a great job for me, If i didn't fish tournaments I would invest in high end custom built rods. 

 

Mitch