Best Rods For Around $100

[SirSnookalot]

If one has not fished every rod manufacture and all the different models, no one can say what is the best rod.  All that can be said is what one's preference is.  My criteria in a rod is feel, butt and foregrip length, I have been both pleased and disappointed in a variety of price ranges.  On average most of my rods are somewhere in the $100 area and I'm more than satisfied.  2 things I never worry about, feeling the bite and landing a fish.

[Loop_Dad]

The *** Black from *** gets a lot of love, for me, well it depends on the length and action but Fish Tackle USA has the Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth for $99 shipped, I have never used a rod with that much sensitivity that was under $200 and I'm serious. The other model is the new Fenwick HMG, again this is a $100 dollar rod that looks, feels, and fishes way beyond the price point and add in the life time warranty on both and you have a win-win situation.  The Falcon BuCoo rods are very nice as well, super light and a ton of performance, a lot of really good rods at this price point anymore.

 

Just curios, why they call these smallmouth rods? What are the characteristics of being a smallmouth rod?

[MacP]

I don't know how it is elsewhere, but at my local shop Okuma and Shimano are the only over the counter warranty's around. 

 

I really like the Okuma EVX's.

[new2BC4bass]

Just curios, why they call these smallmouth rods? What are the characteristics of being a smallmouth rod?

 

I think you would have to ask Fenwick those questions.  I'd almost be willing to bet that more people are using these rods to go after largemouth than smallmouth.  I assume it is more of an advertising gimick than anything else.  We are all aware that rod manufacturers have taken to specifying techniques on their rods.  Amazing how we were able to use one rod for everything back in the good ole days, and still managed to catch fish.  In my case, a lot more fish.

[jtesch]

Marketing ploy would be my guess. In any case they are awesome rods and you can find them in the $100 range. Great sensitivity, equal to my first generation Cumaras and way better than a veritas, Mojo, Premier or Carbonlite. I like it more than my Legend tournament Bass at less than half the price.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I think you would have to ask Fenwick those questions.  I'd almost be willing to bet that more people are using these rods to go after largemouth than smallmouth.  I assume it is more of an advertising gimick than anything else.  We are all aware that rod manufacturers have taken to specifying techniques on their rods.  Amazing how we were able to use one rod for everything back in the good ole days, and still managed to catch fish.  In my case, a lot more fish.

X3

I dont think many if any would say to use an 8' Med Light Moderate 2pc rod for wacky senko fishing but its my favorite rod for that presentation.

[rippin-lips]

CarbonLite for a great warranty or a *** *** black. i have rods for sale right now. some dobyns and powell diesels i can get you 2 powell diesels used for 100$ great condition. 1 is a 6'10 m spinning rod a a 7'2 med heavy bc rod.

You can get 2 new diesels for $100 from the fish ranger.

[SirSnookalot]

I think you would have to ask Fenwick those questions.  I'd almost be willing to bet that more people are using these rods to go after largemouth than smallmouth.  I assume it is more of an advertising gimick than anything else.  We are all aware that rod manufacturers have taken to specifying techniques on their rods.  Amazing how we were able to use one rod for everything back in the good ole days, and still managed to catch fish.  In my case, a lot more fish.

 

 

 

When I did fish for smallmouth I used the same rods that I used for LMB, back then the selection was more limited.  I catch a lot more fish now than I did when I lived in Michigan, I fish more often.  I think there is more fish here (larger too) and IMO much easier to catch.  We have no smallmouth here but we do have peacocks, not a bad fish from a fighting standpoint.  As I did years ago I fish with the same gear for all my freshwater fish, an all purpose spinning rods, I do not use a different rod for different types of baits or techniques.

[smalljaw67]

Just curios, why they call these smallmouth rods? What are the characteristics of being a smallmouth rod?

 

There are 2 reasons, as some have said, marketing ploy, but the other is because of the lengths and actions are what is common place for a lot of smallmouth fish which the majority of it takes place on rivers but they also make a 7'4" spinning rod they call the great lakes rod. Go to most northern smallmouth rivers and areas other than the great lakes and you'll find a lot of the lengths and actions you see in the series, long rods over 7' are still relatively new to river smallmouth guys, in fact you still see a lot of hardcore guys with 6' to 6'4" rods with few if any over 6'10".  I believe Doug Stange and possibly Daryl Black were asked to list what lengths and action they would use to fish for just smallmouth on every body of water including the rivers and this is in part how they came upon the smallmouth series. The same thing for the Walleye series.

[bassum1]

There are allot of things you need to consider. Weight of rod is not always the key factor. A well balanced rod that

is heavier than a unbalanced rod light rod will feel lighter in a day of fishing. I have been fishing for over 50 years have used and been around just about any rod made. You must consider customer service as well.

I have friends who have had carbonlites and allot of them have broken. Also you will find the lighter the rods are the easier they break. The Abu rods my friends have had in the $100 range were junk and customer service is awful, you are dealing with a large company that is to busy to care. You can not go by what pros say because they must say the rods the use are the best or they will loose there deal and free rods.

All this said the best rods I have found for around $100 dollars is the Denali Jadewood rods . They are very well made durable and very well balanced right up to the 7'11" rods, lifetime warranty and when you call them you can speak to the owner. I have 15 of them and love ever one of them. Go to tackle warehouse and read customer reviews. Not a bad review and many people have switched from other brands they like them so much. The owner Scott Estes is a great guy

and you can talk to him anytime. If you talk to him he will give you good advice about what rods you would need. Tell him Erick told you to call.

[lmbfisherman]

There are allot of things you need to consider. Weight of rod is not always the key factor. A well balanced rod that

is heavier than a unbalanced rod light rod will feel lighter in a day of fishing. I have been fishing for over 50 years have used and been around just about any rod made. You must consider customer service as well.

I have friends who have had carbonlites and allot of them have broken. Also you will find the lighter the rods are the easier they break. The Abu rods my friends have had in the $100 range were junk and customer service is awful, you are dealing with a large company that is to busy to care. You can not go by what pros say because they must say the rods the use are the best or they will loose there deal and free rods.

All this said the best rods I have found for around $100 dollars is the Denali Jadewood rods . They are very well made durable and very well balanced right up to the 7'11" rods, lifetime warranty and when you call them you can speak to the owner. I have 15 of them and love ever one of them. Go to tackle warehouse and read customer reviews. Not a bad review and many people have switched from other brands they like them so much. The owner Scott Estes is a great guy

and you can talk to him anytime. If you talk to him he will give you good advice about what rods you would need. Tell him Erick told you to call.

bassum1 - You are making a lot points that a lot of people would disagree on, specifically the carbonlite.  There are lots of guys on this board who use and love them.  It sounds like your "friends" aren't taking care of them and "abusing" them.  Not trying to offend, but if what you say was a rampant issue..the guys on here wouldn't be raving about them. 

[bassum1]

Not knocking other rods only going by observation not from hear say or rod abuse by my friends but first hand knowledge of seeing these rods brake. Carbonlites rods are ok but for the money not for me .As far as anything else go's read tackle warehouse  customer reviews about Denali rods. .these are from people who have bough and used these rods not some pro trying to make a buck This will tell the whole story on Denali rods .I appreciate and respect your opinion.  I have over 57 years  of fishing experience at all levels and have used just about every rod and reel on the market. We all can agree to disagree this is not a place to bash each other .Also not ever rod is a match for every person. .Good luck with your fishing 

[lmbfisherman]

Not knocking other rods only going by observation not from hear say or rod abuse by my friends but first hand knowledge of seeing these rods brake. Carbonlites rods are ok but for the money not for me .As far as anything else go's read tackle warehouse  customer reviews about Denali rods. .these are from people who have bough and used these rods not some pro trying to make a buck This will tell the whole story on Denali rods .I appreciate and respect your opinion.  I have over 57 years  of fishing experience at all levels and have used just about every rod and reel on the market. We all can agree to disagree this is not a place to bash each other .Also not ever rod is a match for every person. .Good luck with your fishing 

Yes I agree, just stating that you may get further backlash.  (Especially since this is only your 3rd post)  Welcome to the forum!  It is a great place where we all can agree to disagree. 

[Smallmouth Hunter]

daiwa make good rods in that price.range

Someone on another forum found a deal on the daiwa tatula rod for around $110. I believe the website was called

colgardsports.com

 

Looks like a sweet rod, and has been getting great reviews. People have even compared it to the steez rods. I would vote to get the *** or tatula.