Buying A Rod Is Hard

[SirSnookalot]

I never thought buying a new rod was tough until the last few days.  I want only an 8 footer, mh with some versatility to lure weight.  I go up to Tuppens yesterday, only a few 8 footers and I wind buying a Shimano teramar max lure 1.5 oz.  take it over to the lagoon and made 3 casts, I then return it as the rod almost doubled in half with 1.5 oz spoon, it may be a good rod but didn't meet my requirement. Later in the day I run up to Dicks, one 8' footer being a redbone 15/30 1-2 oz, just not enough lure latitude.  Very disappointing as that is the only 8' model they make (I emailed them) and hands down redbone is the best rod I have ever used, I have 6 of them.  Star makes a few models that would work but no one stocks them, I also own a few of them, don't care to order on line sight unseen.  St Croix tidemaster is some interest but again I'm not spending $180 with out trying the rod out first, crazy I'm not.

My buddy Ray has the same Cabo reel I do, he has a custom 8 footer by Conely, that rod is perfect and I have thrown it.  I think I'm going to get the specs and have one made up for me.

[Jar11591]

When I am in the tackle store, I find it harder to NOT buy a rod.

[John G]

Snook, you do consider the Hurricane Redbone to be a better rod than the Star? How is the quality of the Stars now that they are made in China? I am talking Stellar Lites. I remember back in the day when Star had the little American Flag just above the grip. They were good rods back then. I have an American Made Stellar Lite and a Nickle Lite, both spinning. My only regret is that I did not buy any casting rods back then.

[Tywithay]

I have an Avid Inshore, 8' MH. It's perfect for what you're describing. Did you try a heavy Teremar instead of the MH? Same low end rating, but can handle higher.

[Hyrule Bass]

you may not like the suggestion, but i love my 8ft MH Catfish Ugly Stik rod. I use it for stripers and catfish, have by chance caught bass on it and panfish...

[SirSnookalot]

Snook, you do consider the Hurricane Redbone to be a better rod than the Star? How is the quality of the Stars now that they are made in China? I am talking Stellar Lites. I remember back in the day when Star had the little American Flag just above the grip. They were good rods back then. I have an American Made Stellar Lite and a Nickle Lite, both spinning. My only regret is that I did not buy any casting rods back then.

I guess one could find fault with anything.  My 2 redbones that are 7' have butts shorter than I would like, the 7'6 ones I have just feel perfect in every way.  The reels seats on both my stellar lites need to have a shim to "tighten" up the reels.  My 7' mh stellar casts really nice don't feel it handles the fish quite as well as the redbones, but a darn good rod.  My heavy 25 lb stellar is just ok, again not the backbone of redbone and has a stiff tip, not so good for casting lower end baits but fine on the higher end. Yes I feel they are much better rods than the stellar lites.  I can't tell you how many you see down here, people just love them, however since they are part of South bend now the warranty is not like it once was, which was over the counter.

I caught a 27" snook this morning from a 10' high position, normally I can spring them that size, could not do it with my Okuma and have not been able to that with stars either.  I don't recommend doing this without a little bit of experience on smaller fish.  I had to walk the fish back to where I could lift it up about 5 feet.

I have an Avid Inshore, 8' MH. It's perfect for what you're describing. Did you try a heavy Teremar instead of the MH? Same low end rating, but can handle higher.

No didn't try the heavier teremar and it may have worked fine.  I told the person waiting on me what I was looking for in a certain price range, 8' mh, either it wasn't in stock or he didn't think about it nor did I.  The Avid on paper does sound like it would fit the bill.

[John G]

Thanks Snook.

I have checked out the Teramars at Dicks and my first thought was......man this is one heavy rod!

[SirSnookalot]

Thanks Snook.

I have checked out the Teramars at Dicks and my first thought was......man this is one heavy rod!

You don't really know what you have until you catch some nice fish.  The teramer that I tried felt great except it didn't handle my desired lure weight well.  I used to fish offshore with a friend using a teramer, he mainly drifted bait with it, but he did catch many fish over 30# on it, can't recall his exact model.  I'm not concerned about overall rod weight, my reel is 14 oz and even with a 1-1.5 oz lure the rod is going to be tip heavy.  Casting for distance a tip heavy rod I don't find to be a major liability.  Shimano rods have served me well, I've mentioned this before.  A good friend uses nothing but Van Staals mostly on custom rods, he has one Van Staal on a $29 Soujourn, I own that same rod and it's great...........I could always use that one, but us little boys got have our new toys.

[Gaerith]

There has to be a bunch of rodmakers in the Fl area that could make you one to your specs, if you're willing to go that route (or ask DVT even). I hope you fine what you're looking for snooks.

[Jigfishn10]

You don't really know what you have until you catch some nice fish.  The teramer that I tried felt great except it didn't handle my desired lure weight well.  I used to fish offshore with a friend using a teramer, he mainly drifted bait with it, but he did catch many fish over 30# on it, can't recall his exact model.  I'm not concerned about overall rod weight, my reel is 14 oz and even with a 1-1.5 oz lure the rod is going to be tip heavy.  Casting for distance a tip heavy rod I don't find to be a major liability.  Shimano rods have served me well, I've mentioned this before.  A good friend uses nothing but Van Staals mostly on custom rods, he has one Van Staal on a $29 Soujourn, I own that same rod and it's great...........I could always use that one, but us little boys got have our new toys.

You have a very good discussion here SirSnook, so many rod company that label their rod for specific technique have really "dumb down" the fishing consumer, IMHO. I like your approach to selecting a rod.

 

I build rods for myself and always try to strive for a rod that not only does what it's designed for, but I try and keep versatility in mind. Before epoxy coating the guides, I try and cast different lures at different weights to get the best cast I can. A rather tedius process, but I'm not into spending free time building rods, but rather fishing with them.

 

Good luck in your search.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Just try to be a bit more...

 

 

flexible.

[SirSnookalot]

Had I wanted a rod specifically for lures 1-2 oz, my search is over I know exactly what I'd buy.  I know the rod from experience as I own 6 of them already, I would have bought and I know I could return it.  I do throw 1/2 oz lures quite often, didn't feel the rod would load up well enough, but it just might.  If I didn't want an 8', which is really pretty stupid, I'd be using a new 7'6 just like the ones I already have, but I'm obsessed............lol.

 

I'm pretty sure custom is the way I'm going, hopefully I'll see my buddy Ray in the next couple of days and check his out again.  His rod builder is about 35 miles away, been in business since 1989 with a good reputation, I'll take care of it person.