Two $10 Rods

[Josh Smith]

Hey All,

I was at Walmart with my boy helping him pick out a birthday present for a friend.  I happened past a clearance bin of rods, and I found these:

 

Not sure what HT Enterprises is, but I can always use another rod.  The KVD rod, however, is a cranking rod and I needed one.  It has micro guides and all.

They were $10 each.

Reckon I did OK?

Josh

[Florida Cracker2]

For a 10 buck graphite rod...I say yes. You did well. But then again...I'm not a tackle-snob.

[buzzed bait]

don't know on the HT enterprise, but i believe those KVD crankin rods were over $100 retail when i saw them.  i'd say great find!

[EvanT123]

Yup got me one of those kvd rods a few weeks ago. Good deal. 

[tstraub]

Looks like a great deal to me.  Were there any more on the shelf or did you get the last ones?

 

Tyler

[smalljaw67]

That is a Tour KVD, it is a 7'4" E-Glass composite and it is an older discontinued version. They were $159.99 when they came out, some people hate that rod, a lot of others swear buy it. I think it is a good cranking rod, a lot don't like it because it is tip heavy but I actually like a cranking rod to be tip heavy because I'm not keeping the rod up like fishing a jig, my rod is pointed down. The other thing is the cranking rods from Quantum are E-Glass composites, they are a bit heavier than S-Glass composites but what makes E-Glass better for my liking is it is noticeably softer than S-Glass. I would say you made out big time, if I saw that for 10 bucks I would have got one too even though I don't need another cranking rod.

[Josh Smith]

6 hours ago, tstraub said:

Looks like a great deal to me.  Were there any more on the shelf or did you get the last ones?

 

Tyler

There are a lot more of different types. Two or three TKVD rods similar to mine but made of graphite for $30. Several of those Jimmy Houston rods, and a ton of both Ugly Stik Pro Lite and Cherrywood MH rods.

I'd say it would be worth the quick drive to Wabash!

Josh

[tstraub]

Thanks I might make a trip tonight or early tomorrow morning

[BassassinX]

Sweet deal,  maybe my Wal-Mart has some lol

[ranger7717]

the houston rod......probably gonna snap like a twig......the kvd - excellent deal

[tstraub]

I just picked up a 6' Cherrywood for $5 and a 7' Ugly Stick Pro Light for $10.  I thought real hard about one of those $40 KVD rods but put it back in the bin.I probably would have got it but I just bought an abu rod on clearance for $30 a few weeks ago. It really looked like a deal but I don't have an extra reel worthy of that rod and could not justify the price of that rod plus a reel to complete a combo.  

I did talk to one of the guys that works there (I used to work there so I know him well).  He saw me with the rods and said you know where those rods came from right?  They are those rods that have been in a barrel back in the corner of the back room for over 2 years.  They finally decided they wanted them gone before inventory.  So I suggest that you keep checking that bin whenever you happen to go into that store.  If they don't sell They well most likely keep cutting the price until they are gone. Thanks for the heads up on this sale.

 

Tyler     

[Josh Smith]

Tyler,

I grabbed a $140 camping stove for $40 last night. There was an Abu Garcia rod in that bin that I almost bought, but I read something on here about them breaking? Might just buy it, though, if it's still there.

Glenna (night manager) is my Aunt-in-law and her husband is in to fishing, so I mentioned it to her for him when I bought the stove.

Josh

Ranger,

Been playing with the Houston rod and can't get it to break. That was one of my concerns, too. Do you have experience with these?

Josh

[tstraub]

That Abu Garcia in the bin is the same type as I picked up a few weeks ago.  They were on the shelf marked clearance then.  I'm not to worried about it breaking.  I've never broke a rod unless it was stepped on.  I always use a landing net or lip a fish of any size.  The rod is pretty light and has my favorite style hook keeper you can hook up a T-rig plastic without taking the hook our of the bait.

I did a search on Cherrywood HD and your name came up a bunch LOL.  So far I'm really liking that $5 rod.  I mounted up my old BPS Megacast reel and casted all the way threw the braided main line and into the mono backing.  I guess it's time to reline that reel.  That rod can really chuck a 3/8 oz piece of lead.  

[ranger7717]

7 hours ago, Josh Smith said:

Tyler,

I grabbed a $140 camping stove for $40 last night. There was an Abu Garcia rod in that bin that I almost bought, but I read something on here about them breaking? Might just buy it, though, if it's still there.

Glenna (night manager) is my Aunt-in-law and her husband is in to fishing, so I mentioned it to her for him when I bought the stove.

Josh

Ranger,

Been playing with the Houston rod and can't get it to break. That was one of my concerns, too. Do you have experience with these?

Josh

no.... i just held one and got that impression , but i could be totally wrong - the graphite rods that i have feel very light, but at the same time , more beefy .....the very high modulus number on a graphite rod that is not made by a high end rod brand can be a lot more brittle because of the lack of more expensive technology in the structure of the rod....i've seen comments where these cheaper rods can be nicked or stressed easily , which leaves a vulnerable breaking point ...on the other hand , sometimes you may run into something that is built very well , but winds up on the bargain rack because it just never gets the credit it deserves....but for 10 bucks, you can put it to the test !!!

[Josh Smith]

Ranger,

I plan to! It's probably going to see lots of hard use. There are more there and they're all at $10.

What does 80 million modulus mean? I don't recall ratings on rods 20 or 30 years ago; we just picked what felt good in the weight and rating desired. I therefore have no frame of reference for modulus count, IM6, 7, 8, etc; or ton.

Thanks!

Josh

[new2BC4bass]

On 03/11/2016 at 5:06 PM, BassassinX said:

Sweet deal,  maybe my Wal-Mart has some lol

 

Good luck with that.  Rod selection at my 2 local Walmarts sucks.  I normally buy all my lures at Dick's Sporting Goods, because a sale at Walmart is unheard of in my area.  Only deals I have gotten from Walmart is there Online prices.

 

[standman]

No $10 rods at couple Walmart stores I visited, but I did pick up a Diawa Jupiter 7'6" MH with the telescoping handle for $25.   

 

[Josh Smith]

Been spending some time trying to break the Houston, and it won't break.  Seems pretty sensitive, too. 

Bought a used Daiwa Triforce reel that looked new, got inside and tuned it, and mounted on another Houston rod.  It's not one I'll use but will make a decent beginner rod/reel combo for an adult.  Line is 12lb Trilene XL.

I'm debating one more rod to mount a beginner's Shimano I picked up, when I get around to fixing it.  Should be another good beginner's combo.

Josh

[ranger7717]

good deal with the Houston rod then....I stand corrected ! like i said , sometimes you find a hidden gem - just hope you didn't do any damage trying to break it because of my comment !! haha ...tight lines !

[tstraub]

Well it sounds like you have already had $10 worth of fun out of that rod, and you haven't even broke it yet.  The real question is does it catch fish?  

Tyler

[snake95]

 

On 3/12/2016 at 7:18 AM, tstraub said:

They are those rods that have been in a barrel back in the corner of the back room for over 2 years.  They finally decided they wanted them gone before inventory.  So I suggest that you keep checking that bin whenever you happen to go into that store.  If they don't sell They well most likely keep cutting the price until they are gone. Thanks for the heads up on this sale.

Thanks to you guys and this thread, I now have way more rods than I need. 

I took a break one day about a week ago and checked out one of the local stores and found the "mother lode" of discontinued or otherwise unwanted rods knitted together in a metal bin.  They included the KVD series you mentioned, plus a ton of other brands and types.  Once you overlooked the rod abuse, prices were mostly good: about 50% off the standard price -- but nothing for $10.  

I went back again 8 days later, and what do you know?  The stock is whittled down to two trash cans with about 12 rods each.  What was different?  Some of them now had $15 each stickers on them!  What a change - but by that point the KVD Crankin Rod I had my eye on was long gone.  Thanks to the thread, asked a manager and she said I could expect 50% off at the register, so I grabbed a Falcon Jason Christie MH Spinnerbait/squarebill rod instead and after several calls back and forth, managed to checkout with a pretty good deal - $36.  Still not $10 cheap, but a good lesson learned.  I guess the point is check back frequently if you can.  Thanks for the tips.

 

Wanted to add - the sale prices are by no means uniform throughout the area - this one store is the only one of three that I checked with the clearance pricing.  Some still had the KVD rods for $100, others had nowhere near the stock.  

Edited March 21, 2016 by snake95
Just added a comment about availability.

[Josh Smith]

2 hours ago, tstraub said:

Well it sounds like you have already had $10 worth of fun out of that rod, and you haven't even broke it yet.  The real question is does it catch fish?  

Tyler

I'm sure it does... I just haven't this spring, yet.  Was determined to today, but man, my Frogg Toggs weren't up to the whipping wind.  I left.  Wasn't enjoying myself, and that's rare.

Josh

3 minutes ago, snake95 said:

 

Thanks to you guys and this thread, I now have way more rods than I need. 

I took a break one day about a week ago and checked out one of the local stores and found the "mother lode" of discontinued or otherwise unwanted rods knitted together in a metal bin.  They included the KVD series you mentioned, plus a ton of other brands and types.  Once you overlooked the rod abuse, prices were mostly good: about 50% off the standard price -- but nothing for $10.  

I went back again 8 days later, and what do you know?  The stock is whittled down to two trash cans with about 12 rods each.  What was different?  Some of them now had $15 each stickers on them!  What a change - but by that point the KVD Crankin Rod I had my eye on was long gone.  Thanks to the thread, asked a manager and she said I could expect 50% off at the register, so I grabbed a Falcon Jason Christie MH Spinnerbait/squarebill rod instead and after several calls back and forth, managed to checkout with a pretty good deal - $36.  Still not $10 cheap, but a good lesson learned.  I guess the point is check back frequently if you can.  Thanks for the tips.

 

Wanted to add - the sale prices are by no means uniform throughout the area - this one store is the only one of three that I checked with the clearance pricing.  Some still had the KVD rods for $100, others had nowhere near the stock.  

I saw some Falcon and other rods in there last time I was there.  They weren't marked down so I figured they were just deposited there by folks finding better deals.  I might just have to go back and ask now!

Thanks!

Josh

[snake95]

12 hours ago, Josh Smith said:

I saw some Falcon and other rods in there last time I was there.  They weren't marked down so I figured they were just deposited there by folks finding better deals.  I might just have to go back and ask now!

At the place I went they were not marked down as much, and it took a bit of time talking to the right floor manager to get them knocked down.  You never know why that might be.  I assume they didn't go as fast as the others because they are not flashy looking rods.  Reviews seem to indicate they are decent quality for the base price.  Good luck with it!

[ranger7717]

i've picked up those bucca rods so many times and thought , man , these are nice , but they just seem a lot lighter than they are rated....i've really never seen too much mention of them on forums 

[snake95]

22 hours ago, Josh Smith said:

 

I saw some Falcon and other rods in there last time I was there.  They weren't marked down so I figured they were just deposited there by folks finding better deals.  I might just have to go back and ask now!

Thanks!

Josh

Went back yet again  This time the manager confirmed they were selling them all for $15.  I grabbed another two for my buddies and they even refunded the extra I paid yesterday.  Hard to complain about that!  So my point is - take the time to ask the actual department manager.  Went by one that is local to me, and they were piled in a garbage can and hardly discounted at all.  Go figure.