Top Of The Line Rods 10 Years Or Older.

[F14A-B]

I am curious, I have a kistler spinning rod the original helium Lta series, blue titanium depo. Coating on zirc. Guides, 7' full cork handle. It's a awesome rod@ 280$ in about 03 still is awesome in 2014. So how many of you guys are using older high end rods still and are still very happy with them. What rods do you have now that are 10 years old or older and still perform great? Only higher dollar rods as in better technology/ better graphite blends etc....

[roadwarrior]

You got lucky with the Kistler, most people didn't.

 

I fish several G.Loomis and St. Croix that are 10 years old or more.

A couple of my Shimano reels are that old, too.

[SirSnookalot]

I have 4 rods nearly 10 years old (2 med and 2 mh) that catch the majority of my snook, tarpon and jacks.  Cork still looks great, they cast wonderfully with plenty of backbone.  I prefer my bones to any rods I've ever had.

[Raul]

I haven´t purchased a rod in many years, the last rod I purchased was a  Graphiteleader Veloce 4 or 5 years ago but most of my rods are older than that. You´ll have to torture me before I let one of my IMXs go.

[F14A-B]

You got lucky with the Kistler, most people didn't.

I fish several G.Loomis and St. Croix that are 10 years old or more.

A couple of my Shimano reels are that old, too.

I know on the kistler.. I worried some about that too, at some point I didn't anymore and I have enjoyed it a lot since loosing the anxiety

[ColdSVT]

I have a pair of blue Loomis GL2s 7' MH that are still in my rotation. The one is a moderate MH that i use for crankbaits with a revo stx. The other i use for jerkbaits.

First two casting rods i ever bought lol

Been using them weekly for almost 15 years

[DTack]

I have a pair of blue Loomis GL2s 7' MH that are still in my rotation. The one is a moderate MH that i use for crankbaits with a revo stx. The other i use for jerkbaits.

First two casting rods i ever bought lol

This is why (in my opinion) buying quality gear that you personally love has true value.  Cool to read this!

 

I don't think technology on rods and materials used to build them changes THAT quickly to a point where it is extremely noticable...  I feel more companies should concentrate on actions of their rods versus "new components" as constantly advertised... I feel rods are often dressed up to the point that action becomes a secondary concern while companies would rather advertise the "new components and lightweight build"  while these aren't negatives I don't think they are as important to me as what a rod does once I hook a fish on it. 

[FishTank]

Not quite 10 years old yet but close is my G. Loomis 844C IMX and a 783C GLX.. Love these rods...

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Fenwick hooksetter and a lightning rod both about 20yrs old still rolling

[WRB]

Hate to admit this but I only have 3 newer rods and 17 bass over 10 years old. Lamiglas, Loomis, Phenix and Fenwick Techna AV. The 3 new ALX rods have new reels, Tatula R's, all the other reels are over 10 year old, Daiwa and Shimano, still work perfect. Of the older rods the Fenwick Techna AV is the lightest weight and uses state of the art guides, excellent rod and prefer it over the older rods.

Tom

[F14A-B]

I also had a Fenwick Boron rod in the 80's ( later) idk whatever happened to it, and I still have a quantum boron 2 pcs that has served me well. It's been retired for sentimental value.(spinning)

The fenwick was pretty pricey, around 80$ the quantum was 16.99

[new2BC4bass]

Got back into fishing in '09 so any NEW rod I bought won't be 10 years old.  I have purchased a number of used rods that could be older than that.  Guess the most expensive would be considered mid-range, not top tier.  I will say the last Falcon 7 MF Expert I bought looks like it could be 100 years old.  I know they listed for $290 when Falcon quit making them.  Does that count? 

[billm67]

I have done alot of fly fishing in the past and most of my fly rods are Im6 and IM7 blanks.  I have older sages which are top of the line rods.  I just bought a little jon boat and needs some spinning and casting rods.  I went over to Bass Pro and looked at alot of their rods.  I ended up buying some Berkley IM6 rods (the lightning rod series).  I am not a super experienced bass fisherman...but the blanks on those inexpensive rods...seemed great.  I also do some 3d archery and I have seen an aweful lot of guys shoot impressive scores with 10 year old bows.  I always saw...it's not the bow it's the archer.

[Hogsticker]

The original lighter than airs were built on Shikari blanks. No luck there. The components were top notch for that time. Don't let that one go.

[Flywatersmallie]

A couple of fly rods I have are 10 years or so old and still fish as well as the new ones I have. I don't think I own any bass rods that are over 2 years old though. I like to try new stuff and often sell the old ones to finance the new.

[new2BC4bass]

Forgot about my GL3 flyrod.  It is approximately 18-19 years old.  Would it have been top-of-the-line back then?

[F14A-B]

Forgot about my GL3 flyrod. It is approximately 18-19 years old. Would it have been top-of-the-line back then?

Yea I would say so... Especially in a fly rod... Fly rods , well made, always seem quite high in cost,

Still holding up?

[Raul]

My first GLoomis rod was a GL2, I still have 4 more and all are over 10 years old, they are now relegated to the "less glamorous" jobs ( relegated by the IMXs ) like spinnerbaiting and cranking but still wouldn´t leave home without them,

[Capt.Bob]

I have 8 out of the nearly 20 St Croix I own, that are well over 10 years old, all Avids, Legend Elites Ultras and Extremes, spin cast and fly, my most used river Smallmouth and Walleye rod that was over 15 years old broke last spring, getting to aggressive on a snag, something I did for over it's entire Lifetime, it cost me $70.00 for a brand new up to date 6'6" MHF including shipping of both, I got a brand new Legend Elite and about 5 upgrades the Legends had been given over those years. It is sweet to have that kind of piece of mind. That rod took more abuse than I will likely ever put any of the others thru, but the nice thing about St. Croix rods I own, if I ever do break one, even after 15 or more years, I will be backed with less than the price difference between what I payed then, and with the new rods I will get all the technical and material upgrades they have received over those years, now that is piece of mind.

 

I also have a few Extremes and Bionic blades over 10 years old from BPS, but when those break, there gone, and are not what I consider expensive rods, but quite good for the money one pays, and am harder on them than any rods I own!