Big bass hunter Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 Im getting a real detacaded swimbait rod i was going to get a okuma guide select rod but i made the mistake of spending less and get what you paid for for my reel luckily upgrades and some tinkerling will help me get that max drag up. But my question is should i get the new guide select rods for the price point. Or should i go with the more expensive tried and true like a I rod. Or a dyobins or something. Okuma has a lifetime warranty but how good is it if i break my rod Quote
frogflogger Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 I have 2 okuma guide selects I have good reels on them and feel confident they will handle anything. If you break on of these on a fish you are doing something wrong. 1 Quote
CarolinaBoy4Life Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 My first swimbait set up was an Okuma guide select with a cardiff round reel. Have 3 of that same set up now and no issues what so ever. Have a higher end LDC swimbait rod Ben built and also scooped one up off the underground that was a custom. Are the Okuma GS as good as these rods? Obviously not but to be honest just starting out you can't do any better for price and durability Quote
Robert Riley Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 Putting me in a rough spot! I've heard very good things about the Okuma GS's. Very good starting rod. However, I'm a Dobyns fan boy, so there is also that... However I think we can reach a middle ground! Buy the Okuma, and if you don't like it, sell it on here and buy a Dobyns later! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 3, 2016 Super User Posted May 3, 2016 You aren't breaking the Okuma. What you get with a custom, is a reduced weight, and a better fit to your style. My custom has an 11-3/4" rear grip, which happens to tuck into my bicep when palming the reel. Plus, it's sub 4 oz., has a full rear grip, and spiral wrapped micros. You can't really figure this out until you've used a swimbait for a while. Then you start noticing things you want or would prefer. 2 Quote
Super User WRB Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 What weight swimbaits are you planning to use? Okuma guide select A series uses a lighter weight upgraded blank and doesn't have the pistol butt cap, hate that butt design! This a good entry level swimbait rod. Irod uses a light weight blank, good rods. The only issue I have with Irod is a minimal foregrip...swimbait rods should have a foregrip. Daiwa DX series swimbait rods are heavy compared to Okuma and Irod. The next level are 2X the price of the Irod and Okuma. Huddleston swimbait rod uses Irod blank with custom features; cork handle and foregrip, spiral wrapped guide set, excellent rod. Loomis swimbait rods, heavier blanks and bullet proof with cork grips, good rods. Lamiglas and Loomis bounce back swimbait rods, longer than 8' with power rating for 10+oz swimmers...special technique rods. St Croix swimbait rods, under powered in most models for swimbaits over 6 oz. Dobyn's swimbaits moderate weight blanks in between Irod and Loomis, good rods. It comes down to budget $250 to $300 Huddleston and Dobyns. under $150, Okuma and Irod. If Lamiglas and Loomis come out with a new light weight swimbait rod in the $250-$300 range would worth looking at, their current offering are 10 years old now. Tom Quote
Big bass hunter Posted May 4, 2016 Author Posted May 4, 2016 Thanks for all the imput i plan throwing anything and everything from 2 to 10 oz and upgrading to a stouter rod for those 8 to 14 baits latter on. I got sturgoen poles that can handel that but defintly wont be thinking fishing after 60 to a 100 cast with that type of settup Quote
stkbassn Posted May 4, 2016 Posted May 4, 2016 10 hours ago, WRB said: What weight swimbaits are you planning to use? Okuma guide select A series uses a lighter weight upgraded blank and doesn't have the pistol butt cap, hate that butt design! This a good entry level swimbait rod. Irod uses a light weight blank, good rods. The only issue I have with Irod is a minimal foregrip...swimbait rods should have a foregrip. Daiwa DX series swimbait rods are heavy compared to Okuma and Irod. Tom Tom, good info on the DX rods as one of those had been a consideration of mine. Funny though about the old Guide Selects when you mention weight because the first impression for me with the A series was how heavy it felt even without a reel on it. I felt the old GS sticks were lighter but I haven't had them in hand side by side. I love the look of the new A series but I felt it was heavy. Again, haven't had both series in hand to compare. I am working on getting a LDC from a guy but need some more cash to make it happen. Not sure about the spiral guides though... The Lamiglas Bounce back rod, is that the $90 model that TW has? I bought it at one time and felt it was a nice rod but never used it...is it good for say 5-6 oz baits with trebles? I think it's rated to 10...heard some horror stories about that rod...looked nice enough and felt nice to me. To the OP, I wouldn't hesistate to pick up an Okuma for the money, very good swimbait rods and popular with a lot of guys that throw high end gear as well. Solid rods. Quote
Super User WRB Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 You always pay more for less rod weight and that is questionable with 7'10" to 8' rods using reels that weigh 9 oz to 12 oz. My general rule has always been the rod should be about 1/2 the weight of the reel to balance good; lighter reel = lighter rod. With swimbaits that weight 4 oz to 8 oz added to the rod tip it's no longer about balance, it's about leverage. Very difficult to access a swimbait rod without trying it! Tom Quote
mojojojo Posted May 6, 2016 Posted May 6, 2016 The Okuma GS IS a tried and true swimbait rod. I honestly don't see anyone finding a better rod for $110. They are stout, look great, comfortable/durable split grip handles and come with Fuji reel seats and Fuji Alconite K series guides.. This is seriously a great swimbait rod. People call it a "beginner swimbait rod", but that just makes it seem weak or not very well built. I consider it a "pro" swimbait rod. You absolutely can not go wrong with one. Quote
Airman4754 Posted May 6, 2016 Posted May 6, 2016 I had a Dobyn's swim bait rod and it was good. I replaced it with a Phenix UMBX Swimbait H/F that handles up to 8oz and I like it so much better. The price is fairly close but overall I felt they were miles apart. Quote
clh121787 Posted May 6, 2016 Posted May 6, 2016 I've got guide select, megabass loomis and customs built of a proprietary lamiglass blanks. They fall second to my low down custom built on phenix blanks. Btw I don't like fore grips on any rods. I don't pal the reel that far back. Plus I think big fore grips look funny Quote
VolFan Posted May 7, 2016 Posted May 7, 2016 I have LDCs and Okuma GS, and a Citrix travel SB rod. The LDCs are definitely more refined, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the GSs. 1 Quote
mojojojo Posted May 7, 2016 Posted May 7, 2016 If you want to spend a little more money than the guide select then look at the Phenix M1 swimbait Rod. Phenix makes some awesome rods. Quote
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