Good Rod Vs "great" Rod?

[Hogsticker]

100 dollars will you buy you an adequate entry level stick (some better than others) . 160 to 280 you have to really be in tune to notice any major difference, and differences are slight at best. Going from good (150) to great is a considerable leap imo. We're talking nrx k2 nfc. If the rod isn't built up right to the point of its full potential it doesn't matter anyway. Another reason I went custom. A good builder will make the rod perform to its full potential

[new2BC4bass]

OP:  First welcome to the forum.  Second: It sounds like you have been fishing long enough to appreciate a better rod.  It appears Fenwick is closing out their Smallmouth line for a new Bass rod line.  I hope they incorporate much of what makes the Smallmouth rods great for their price.  This line is exceptional for what you pay IMO.  Try one if you get the chance.  I think you will be impressed.

 

I have a couple custom rods made from Batson blanks.  I don't know what they would cost new (I got a super deal on both purchased used), but I can tell you sensitivity is very good.  There are plenty of nice rods today should you decide to see if stepping up is worth it to you.  The problem will be choosing just one. 

[mjn9]

I would agree.  $100 rod is more than adequate for most fishermen.  If you are just looking for a rod that will be reliable and adequate you can get tons of rods for around $100 and maybe even less...don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  I have 3 different St. Croix models Mojo $100, Avid $200 and Legend Tournament $250.  The more expensive rods are without a doubt better rods.  You need to decide how important incremental improvements are to you.  

 

Do I need a $250 rod?  Definitely not but I enjoy them and can tell the difference.  For me, and most people in these forums, fishing is more than catching fish.  I enjoy researching the gear and learning about the nuances between different rods.  Its a hobby and something that I enjoy to do. 

 

If in doubt and you have the budget...get the better rod.

[Darren.]

By no means have I "arrived" at a particular place with my gear; however, I know what my bank account looks like, and I know what my income is.

 

I have to be careful not to spend what I don't have. Unfortunately, I've done just that a few times with my fishing gear. Of all the gear I have, I certainly do not *need* all of it to catch bass. The most expensive rod I have is an Avid spinning rod. To be honest, it is a great rod, but I simply was not overly impressed with it when I compared it to the less expensive rods I have - rods in the $100 range.

 

The Avid is certainly sensitive, but just how much more than my Carbonlite? I really, honestly don't know. I use braid on both, which helps considerably with sensitivity. I feel fish and bottom stuff extremely well on both. If I had $200 for another rod, I'm not sure I'd pick an Avid over a Carbonlite, to be truthful. I could put $100 in the bank and have a fantastic, very lightweight rod for my needs.

 

Like ww2farmer, I would rather have the money I would have spent on "great gear" in the bank, and fish with gear that does just fine, but doesn't break the bank.

 

Now if money is no issue, then ignore my comment and go with whatever suits your fancy. I'd do just that if money were no object for me and my family. This is just where I am now...

[Master Bait'r]

here's how it works:

as you can see, it all depends on what kind of fisherman you are. regular joes (blue) are don't know any difference and are happy as clams with a $50 combo or a $1000 combo. interestingly, professional tournament anglers (red) know the difference but most see fishing as a job and don't enjoy the equipment; also, they're so good, they catch fish regardless of what they use. the avid fisherman (green) appreciate nicer gear and have a sweet spot around right around $350 ($180 reel and a $170 rod)...after that, they have to spend much more to gain a little bit more enjoyment. now, for the tackle enthusiast, any combo under $250 barely even registers in their brain...they have to spend at least $500 just to have a so-so time fishing; for them, enjoyment goes up linearly with price.

That graph is awesome haha

[Greeneye8181]

Rods are on a much smaller scale than reels.

You can have a 100$ rod that works great. I have 2 Kistler KLX rods that I spent 150$ on a piece. My G Loomis GLX is not much, if any, better.

Reels on the other hand I am more picky.

[oufaninks]

There is also one other factory associated with a premier rod.  Warranty and Service.  I fish with G.loomis  GLX and Shamano Cumulus rods and other less expensive rods.  I broke a Cumulus, called their office they told me what to send.  This was on a Monday.  Friday I received a new rod at no charge. 

[K_Mac]

I think the graph is a good representation of the way it works for most of us. I have several Extreme rods tha I use regularly. I don't like them as well as I once did, but they get the job done.

The subject of warranty always comes up in this discussion. I would rather pay for a quality rod with no warranty than pay extra for a free replacement when I step on it on the deck of my boat.

[Batson]

Thank you for mentioning us. They are actually called RainShadow blanks As in terms of picking which rod, custom building offers something that no one else can't. Customization!! The best fishing rods, GLoomis, St. Croix, etc.. are all very amazing rods. But what happens if you want something different? Lets say you don't want cork grips, or you want to do a split grip setup etc.. You can see the unlimited possibilities that can occur when choosing. Then again, you get into unlimited possibilities when rod building too. Just can't pick 1!! 

So I agree with you, its just hard to pick one model that you want. 

OP:  First welcome to the forum.  Second: It sounds like you have been fishing long enough to appreciate a better rod.  It appears Fenwick is closing out their Smallmouth line for a new Bass rod line.  I hope they incorporate much of what makes the Smallmouth rods great for their price.  This line is exceptional for what you pay IMO.  Try one if you get the chance.  I think you will be impressed.

 

I have a couple custom rods made from Batson blanks.  I don't know what they would cost new (I got a super deal on both purchased used), but I can tell you sensitivity is very good.  There are plenty of nice rods today should you decide to see if stepping up is worth it to you.  The problem will be choosing just one. 

 

[Hogsticker]

I can tell you this. I have an Rx8+ Senko blank built up with a full grip and Fuji K guides. It fishes better than any stock stick I own, including my Klx built on.... Well you know. Being able to stradic test your guide train, make sure they are all perfectly aligned, not have to worry about sloppy epoxy work are all big advantages in my book. The rod is a system that should be perfected in order to get the full potential of the build. I'm not sure I'll ever buy a production rod again unless it really trips my trigger. The Rx8+ was rumored to be made by St. Croix. Maybe our friendly Batson rep can shed some light on that? At any rate, a custom isn't terribly expensive all things considered. Batson rx7 blanks are pretty good and on sale now for less than 50 bucks. Set of mid micro Fuji Ss sic guides will run ya about 60 bucks. Nice full handle cork 15 bucks. Reel seats are cheap, 5 bucks. Butt cap and trim rings another 10 bucks and your set. Plus it's your stick, customized for you. 20 dollar shipping fee and your looking at 170 bucks for a one of a kind rod. Most builders have pretty fair labor charges. If you don't own one you need to. Everyone needs at least one. Did I stray? my mistake

[SirSnookalot]

My last attempt at buying a custom rod was a few months ago.  My good buddy has 75 custom made up from a reputable builder in South Florida.  I had the good fortune of being able to use his latest one that he uses the exact reel I have that I wanted a new rod for, so I wasn't buying blind.  It is a very nice rod, so I call the rod builder to get a quote for the identical rod, not being a personal friend and paying $125 my price was about $250 plus 2 months to make it up.  Normally it's not quite that long but the builder had just been at a boat show and was swamped with business.  I went a different route and couldn't be happier, bought a rod just as light, casts just as far and handles fish no different than the custom.  I'm enjoying the saved money as well as the lifetime warranty.  No knock against going custom, other than cosmetics there really is no advantage for me.

[Hogsticker]

Agree to disagree I suppose. 2 months is a bit drastic, but I'd still rather wait than order a mass produced stick on line that may have a crooked guide, loose trim ring, or epoxy overrun. Some people who don't just build for fun or friends do tend to charge an awful lot for his/her work. Double the cost of the build is a bit much. Shipping is a killer though

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It takes a number of hours to do a quality build and it takes the same amount of time whether the components cost $100 or $300. I chronicled what is involved somewhat in the thread RW started about a rod I built for him.  My labor is based on time, not component costs. Retailers make almost double on some rods, imagine what the manufacturers margin is. And they don't have nearly the time and attention to detail invested. The blanket statement that customs are all about cosmetics is unfair and inaccurate. That may be the case in some comparisons but not overall. Each individual needs to find their comfort zone with the quality and cost of tackle they invest in and I sincerely believe custom builds, done right, offer value. 

[GANGGREEN]

This is my first post to the site (no need to welcome me, really) and I thought I'd toss in my two cents.  I've always been a guy that has too many hobbies and as such, I find it hard to justify the outlay of $200-300 for a rod or $150 for a reel.  I started with whatever bargain basement stuff I could get (often times Quantum stuff from a long gone Quantum outlet that I used to shop at) and caught a lot of fish.  I was a student of the sport and felt like I could work out a pattern about as well as anyone and I typically had good enough control of my equipment to land a fair percentage of the fish that bit.

 

As I became older and found that I occasionally had a few bucks to spend, I upgraded to what most of you would call very moderately priced equipment.  My best rods are the lower or middle of the road Fenwick and St. Croix rods with the odd Cabela's Tourney Trail or assorted other moderate priced rod, although I still have quite a few $40 Walmart type rods.  Likewise, my reels are mostly Okuma, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Quantum and Pflueger mid-priced stuff.   

 

I have a few friends who spend way more than I do on gear and who have what I'd call really high end rods and reels and without exception, these guys know me as "the best fisherman we know with the worst gear" and day in and day out, I can out-fish any of them (obviously on any given day, one of them might get hot and whip my butt but probably 8 or 9 times out of 10, I'll end up landing more fish than any of them on any given day). 

 

My point isn't that expensive rods and reels aren't better than cheap ones, but rather that a good fisherman will get the most of a rod and reel combo if it's at least in the "moderate" price or quality range and I think if you're using $40 Walmart combos, your fishing and catching are going to probably suffer.  The only time that I've ever been frustrated enough to say, "give me that rod" was on a day when a buddy of mine who usually catches almost nothing was catching almost as many smallmouth and walleye as I was and I was curious why.  I took his Loomis rod (I don't even recall the model but at the time, roughly 15 years ago, he told me that it was around $280 retail) and fished with it for 10 minutes.  I have to admit that it WAS more sensitive and easier and more enjoyable to fish than the garbage that I had been using. 

 

Because I'm finally getting a lot of my bills paid off and I'm in a decent financial situation after many years of sacrificing good stuff for my kids' long-range comfort, I'm in the slow process of upgrading again and I'm hopeful to start purchasing more of the moderate to higher priced Fenwick and St. Croix models (though I won't ignore other options when they arise) and trying to upgrade some of my reels as well.  Whether it will pay a huge dividend in the fish catching department remains to be seen but I feel like I've earned the right to start using decent equipment after a lot of years of using junk.

[roadwarrior]

It takes a number of hours to do a quality build and it takes the same amount of time whether the components cost $100 or $300. I chronicled what is involved somewhat in the thread RW started about a rod I built for him.  My labor is based on time, not component costs. Retailers make almost double on some rods, imagine what the manufacturers margin is. And they don't have nearly the time and attention to detail invested. The blanket statement that customs are all about cosmetics is unfair and inaccurate. That may be the case in some comparisons but not overall. Each individual needs to find their comfort zone with the quality and cost of tackle they invest in and I sincerely believe custom builds, done right, offer value. 

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/142505-custom-rod-from-d-v-t/

[aavery2]

There is also one other factory associated with a premier rod.  Warranty and Service.  I fish with G.loomis  GLX and Shamano Cumulus rods and other less expensive rods.  I broke a Cumulus, called their office they told me what to send.  This was on a Monday.  Friday I received a new rod at no charge. 

What did they send you as a replacement?

[Batson]

I can tell you this. I have an Rx8+ Senko blank built up with a full grip and Fuji K guides. It fishes better than any stock stick I own, including my Klx built on.... Well you know. Being able to stradic test your guide train, make sure they are all perfectly aligned, not have to worry about sloppy epoxy work are all big advantages in my book. The rod is a system that should be perfected in order to get the full potential of the build. I'm not sure I'll ever buy a production rod again unless it really trips my trigger. The Rx8+ was rumored to be made by St. Croix. Maybe our friendly Batson rep can shed some light on that? At any rate, a custom isn't terribly expensive all things considered. Batson rx7 blanks are pretty good and on sale now for less than 50 bucks. Set of mid micro Fuji Ss sic guides will run ya about 60 bucks. Nice full handle cork 15 bucks. Reel seats are cheap, 5 bucks. Butt cap and trim rings another 10 bucks and your set. Plus it's your stick, customized for you. 20 dollar shipping fee and your looking at 170 bucks for a one of a kind rod. Most builders have pretty fair labor charges. If you don't own one you need to. Everyone needs at least one. Did I stray? my mistake

Hogsticker, Thank you for your plug. The RainShadow RX8+ was a great blank, but older technology made it out of date. This blank was sourced from a few different places with our specific design . Think of APPLE making the iPhone. They have their design, but source it from 3-4 different people so they don't have to worry about production bottlenecks. The RX7 are great blanks, but also are discontinued as are the RX8+ blanks. That is why we came out with our new ones!

 

I agree with the people on here though, in custom making your own custom rod offers more for the money. If you went with a built rod rod and truly spec out exactly what they put on their rods, you'd be surprised at the cost. So build a rod with just the same "parts" and maybe a better blank, or maybe use the same type of blank, but use better parts. Which here is the problem. Custom rod offers more, but you open up a can of worms because you can do anything you possibly want to it. It can cost more money, but that is because we all wind up wanting the fancy parts on it!! So go figure. 

[Hogsticker]

I'm debating if I want my next build on one of the new immortal blanks, or a Phenix mbx. I've shyed away from Phenix after coming across a handful of quality control issues on the Web. Price may also be a factor if the immortal retails North of 150

[IAY]

This is my first post to the site (no need to welcome me, really) and I thought I'd toss in my two cents.  I've always been a guy that has too many hobbies and as such, I find it hard to justify the outlay of $200-300 for a rod or $150 for a reel.  I started with whatever bargain basement stuff I could get (often times Quantum stuff from a long gone Quantum outlet that I used to shop at) and caught a lot of fish.  I was a student of the sport and felt like I could work out a pattern about as well as anyone and I typically had good enough control of my equipment to land a fair percentage of the fish that bit.

 

As I became older and found that I occasionally had a few bucks to spend, I upgraded to what most of you would call very moderately priced equipment.  My best rods are the lower or middle of the road Fenwick and St. Croix rods with the odd Cabela's Tourney Trail or assorted other moderate priced rod, although I still have quite a few $40 Walmart type rods.  Likewise, my reels are mostly Okuma, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Quantum and Pflueger mid-priced stuff.   

 

I have a few friends who spend way more than I do on gear and who have what I'd call really high end rods and reels and without exception, these guys know me as "the best fisherman we know with the worst gear" and day in and day out, I can out-fish any of them (obviously on any given day, one of them might get hot and whip my butt but probably 8 or 9 times out of 10, I'll end up landing more fish than any of them on any given day). 

 

My point isn't that expensive rods and reels aren't better than cheap ones, but rather that a good fisherman will get the most of a rod and reel combo if it's at least in the "moderate" price or quality range and I think if you're using $40 Walmart combos, your fishing and catching are going to probably suffer.  The only time that I've ever been frustrated enough to say, "give me that rod" was on a day when a buddy of mine who usually catches almost nothing was catching almost as many smallmouth and walleye as I was and I was curious why.  I took his Loomis rod (I don't even recall the model but at the time, roughly 15 years ago, he told me that it was around $280 retail) and fished with it for 10 minutes.  I have to admit that it WAS more sensitive and easier and more enjoyable to fish than the garbage that I had been using. 

 

Because I'm finally getting a lot of my bills paid off and I'm in a decent financial situation after many years of sacrificing good stuff for my kids' long-range comfort, I'm in the slow process of upgrading again and I'm hopeful to start purchasing more of the moderate to higher priced Fenwick and St. Croix models (though I won't ignore other options when they arise) and trying to upgrade some of my reels as well.  Whether it will pay a huge dividend in the fish catching department remains to be seen but I feel like I've earned the right to start using decent equipment after a lot of years of using junk.

 

People don't buy more expensive gears to "win tournaments" or catch more fish; people buy them because it really changes your fishing experience. Even if it there is only 10% to 20% difference in actual performance between 100 dollar and 400 dollar gear, you will notice it after you swing it around for god knows how many times through a regular fishing trip. 

[oufaninks]

What did they send you as a replacement?

They sent me another Cumulus Tony...

[aavery2]

They sent me another Cumulus Tony...

Thanks, I was wondering if they still had the Cumulus rods.