New Rod Lineup For Next Year

[fishguy613]

Since I am done fishing for the year excluding ice fishing, I am going to be completely upgrading my arsenal. I would like some opinions about the rods I have chosen, I have planned to setup five rods for next year to cover the techniques that I use.

 

Casting:

 

Small / Medium Crankbaits - Either the G Loomis GL2 7'0'' MED/MOD or the St Croix LTB "Small cranker" which is 7'2'' MED/MOD

 

Spinnerbaits - Avid 7'0'' MH/XF or Dobyns SS733C

 

Pitching Jigs - G Loomis GL2 7'5'' HEAVY/FAST

 

Spinning:

 

Weightless plastics, light tubes, light texas rigs - St Croix Mojo Bass 6'8'' MED/XF

 

Plastics, tubes, grubs, texas rigs - St Croix Avid 7'0'' MED/FAST

 

The decision for a lot of these rods is also based off what is available in my local area. Any suggestions are welcome, I think I will be trying 10 or 12 pound fluoro line on the cranking rod this year and see how that goes.

[kickerfish1]

Hmmm...

I am not going to suggest brands or specific models bit a few things stand out to me...

The crank rod you noted is on the higher end of what it appears your max budget. For a rod where feel is of a lesser priority I can't see spending that much on it when compared to the needed bottom contact rods you noted. I would look for a lower priced crank rod.

Spinnerbaits - same as above

Jigs- I would use the additional money saved by not spending as much on the above rod to buy a better and more sensitive rod than a GL2. IMO they are poor buy as Loomis doesn't make good bottom contact rods until you reach the IMX line, though some will argue the GL3 is close to the IMX. GL2 rods are heavier and lack feel over rods of similar price.

I would repalce your weightless spinning set up / light jig set up with a rod of the same quality as the avid. The mojo is a heavier rod and less sensitive rod.

OK I lied. I will gibe a few alternative rod recommendations.

BPS cranking stick for $80

Lots of lesser expensive spinnerbait rods out there pick one

IMX or above Loomis, champion or above dobyns, or orochi xx rods

Elite tech medium xf, or *** medium spinning rods, or crucial

These are just a few examples. If you cut down $50 or so on the reaction bait rods and dump some more into the contact rods you will probably be happier in the long run. Just my $.02

[camovan]

They look like good options but I gotta say that mojo sticks out as a sore thumb. If you go avid, dobyns, loomis for the rest of the fleet I think you will regret that single rod.

[iabass8]

the LTB small cranker is a buggy whip noodle. you'll like it for throwing kvd 1.0s but anything other than that get a St. Croix MHM for shallow/mid divers. the loomis crank bait rod would also be a fine choice.

 

I prefer the tip on the dobyns 733 over the XF tip on St. Croixs when i used them. St. Croix tips are the fastest tips on the market and while i love them for certain things, spinner baits are not one of them.

 

Save up your money as much as you can and invest in a higher end rod than the GL2 for jigs. It fishes well below it's price point. It's a very comfortable rod to hold but its blank is its downfall..as well as the components are not up to par /w other rods in its price range. Dobyns champion extremes can be had for around 260 during blank friday sales and they are 100xs the rod the gl2 is. the 745 is my favorite jig rod.

 

if you are using the avid for one spinning application the mojo will feel dead. i like the avid choice but maybe stick /w the 68mxf Avid for multi purpose.

[tomustang]

Would help to know what your 'local area' is. Though I wouldn't base rod decisions on where I live.

[fishguy613]

thanks for all of the input

 

the issue I am having is the only stores I have local only carry one higher end manufacturer each. one carries st Croix, the other loomis and the other dobyns. I really like the st Croix avid rods and would use them for the majority of my techniques problem is the store just doesn't carry the models I want. They seem to carry generic 7'0'' Medium avids but they have the LTB series as well which all are clearly labeled as to what technique they are meant for. I may have to end up ordering some of the rods I want. The mojo is in there simply because I already own it, I really want the 6'8'' MXF Avid to replace it but I cannot find it anywhere locally... thoughts?

[iabass8]

order it from any online retailer....shipping will be free.

[fishguy613]

That is a solid idea... I will probably go avid for everything then since I know I like that blank. For spinnerbaits I may try something else like the Dobyns as I agree with the post you made about SB rods and their tips, this last year I used a fenwick I think with an XF tip and it was annoying to say the least. I will most likely give Tackle Warehouse a try for the rods I need, heck they have Lews reels too those BB-1 speed spools look awesome

 

actually it was a medium /xfast I was using this year for sb

[iabass8]

go ebay for lews reels. you will find them for a significant discount new in box from lots of retailers.

[fishguy613]

one thing I noticed, when trying to place an order for say a 6'8'' MXF avid spinning rod for TW it doesn't let give me the option to choose one or two piece rod, anyone know how I would make sure I am getting the 2 piece?

[iabass8]

The avid doesn't come in a 2 piece 68mxf, that's why. get the 1 piece.

[fishguy613]

ah i see that now, okay np thanks