Help Choosing A Spinning Rod

[ItsTig]

I just got my first spinning reel, a Daiwa Lexa 2500, and now I have been looking at a rod to pair it with. I fish from the bank so I would like to stay in the 6' - 6'8 range. I will mainly be using it for weightless wacky rigging & shakey heads, but I also like to toss small/shallow crank/wake baits from time to time. I am looking at medium light rods for the most part, and also trying to decide if a 2-3 piece rod would be ok for this type of fishing or I should stick to 1 piece. Here are the current options I have been chewing on:

 

Shimano Clarus 6'6 medium light (can't remember fast or extra fast)- $50

Fenwick Eagle 6' medium light moderate fast- $60

Fenwick Eagle 6'6 medium light fast- $60

St. Croix TriumphX 6'6 medium light fast- $100

Abu Garcia Veritas 6'9 medium light moderate fast- $50

 

I just fish for fun so I would like to be around $75-$80 mark, $100 is really the max I would be comfortable with. Any help is greatly appreciated. I am the worst at deciding, I am always overanalyzing. Thanks!

 

 

[fisherrw]

Get a phenix maxim from tw 100 and can't beet the quality

[wallie]

i'd get the shimano clarus at $50. It is a good rod from my experience. the warranty on all Shimano rods is changing to a Limited One Year warranty this year, but if you buy a rod has limited lifetime warranty tag on it shimano will honor it. 

[SirSnookalot]

I've got the older style clarus, 6'6 med that fishes IMO as a ml.  This is my main bass rod, I like it just fine.

[Sam]

Any rod you feel comfortable with the reel attached.

 

Take your new spinning reel to the tackle store and fit it on a few rods to note their feel and action.

 

Be sure to match the rod's line test with the reel's line test to have maximum performance.

 

if possible, keep with the one-piece rod.

 

If you do a lot of traveling and a two-piece rod is easier to bring with you then go with the two-piece rod.

[Fishes in trees]

If you are looking at the Fenwick Eagle, spend the extra $40 and go HMG.  Lifetime warranty on HMG rods.  I'd go at least medium or medium/heavy with an extra fast tip.  (If my primary focus was on soft plastics and shaky heads)

[edfitzvb]

I have one-piece and 2-piece rods. What kind of car do you drive? I can fit one-piece rods in my car, so I mostly fish those because they don't ever twist or come apart. However a two-piece rod is insurance against closing a car door on them. Each has its place. Either way you have a rod. Tight lines

[WIGuide]

I'd probably go for the Triumph X. The power I'd get depends on how small the crankbaits you plan on throwing are. If they're really light the medium-light will work for you, otherwise I'd probably go with the medium fast. Look at the weights of the baits that you'll be throwing and then match them to the rod specs. 

[lmbfisherman]

If you are looking at the Fenwick Eagle, spend the extra $40 and go HMG.  Lifetime warranty on HMG rods.  I'd go at least medium or medium/heavy with an extra fast tip.  (If my primary focus was on soft plastics and shaky heads)

This is what I was going to say.  Especially since you own Fenwick's already. 

[Darren.]

Whichever you choose, I think you'll be best served 

with a fast or extra fast tip for wacky rig, soft plastics 

fishing. Just my opinion.

 

St. Croix will tend to be a tad stiffer than the rating, at

least in my experience. I'd think the Triumph X would 

be fine for your purpose, or the Fenwick fast tip.

 

Really, if you can get your hands on all these rods prior

to purchase, the better. Even better is getting your new

Lexa 2500 on all the rods to compare how it feels in 

your hands.

[new2BC4bass]

Fenwick makes a 6' ML-F one piece rod in the HMG line.  My HMG is an older model.  My understanding is the new models are lighter.  I've been told they are very nice rods for the money.  If you are willing to spend $100, then that would be at the head of my short list.  Another at that price that fit within your requirements  would be the *** Black 6'7" ML-XF.

[ItsTig]

Thanks for all the responses so far. All the suggestions do help. Funny everyone says just take your reel in and put it on a rod. Around here tho, all the rods have secuirty tags and excess bs on them so i would need a salesperson to follow me around to take off secuirty tags on and off & watch me fooling with everything. Not in my comfortablitiy really. 

 

Sirsnookalot- Thanks, I will have to go in store again and compare the Medium & Medium light some more. I liked how the Clarus felt. You must too, if it's your main bass rod. Ever tried a sellus? I also liked those, but think the ones I saw were all medium & medium heavy.

 

Edfitzvb- I drive a Toyota Camry. A 6'6" rod will fit in my trunk with the backseat down, but much longer and the rod will be in the front seat. Most of the time I just leave the seat down and have a pole in the car. A two piece rod would be great, and I'll get one eventually, but sounds like I should go for 1 piece for now.

 

WIGuide- I really liked the TriumphX. I would probably not be trying to toss cranks more than 1/4oz on this setup.

 

I will have to look up the Fenwick HMG's, sound like a good deal. Have not seen them sold in store anywhere locally, so if I go that route it's a little scary not getting my hands on the rod first. I did like the other Fenwicks I handled tho, and if it is reccomendded from here I am sure it works well. Thanks again for any info & personal expereince guys.

[ncbassfisher1496]

If I was you I'd take a look at the Carbonlite rods. I just picked up a 6'6" M and I love it. If you have a BPS close you might can find one of the older black Carbonlites on clearance for $60. I've heard the new white ones are great as well and you can get one for around $75 after the rod trade-in they're doing right now.

[BridgerM]

From your list, I have only fished a triumph ML. that rod had been my go to for many years. It has caught me a few fish on a few techniques. I quite like it and would buy another.

[ItsTig]

I appreciate all of the responses and input. I ended up going with the Shimano Clarus 6'6 Medium Light Extra Fast 1 piece rod. The factors that pushed me towards this rod were that it was in a local store, so I was able to hold it and get some feel for it. Feels nice, and the more I handled it the more I liked that it was extra fast. The value seemed hard to beat, I got it for $49.02 and I was out the door and home. $100 was my max, so getting a nice rod for half that was a big plus. Also, there were no detractors from this rod, and a few postive reviews so that was good to see.

 

A lot of you guys mentioned getting the HMG, which I will keep in mind for the future for sure. A problem for me was that the HMG is not available in a local shop so I have never seen or handled one personally. It was also at the max of my price range, plus shipping. The rod clearly has a lot of fans and hopefully I can check one out sooner than later. This is only my first spinning rod so the HMG sounds like it would make a good second if I go looking for a medium. Thanks again everyone!