Bang For Buck Spinning Rod

[Fadetoblack188]

Whats up guys looking to set up a decent cost effective rod set up.  Looking to pick up a 6'6.  To pair with my Pflueger Presdent 30.  What do you guys recommend

Some i have heard.

Ugly Stix Elite

Berkey Lightning rod?

St croix triumph

 

Also what should the spec be.. Fishing from kayak. Senkos, some spinner baits maybe some cranks.  ML Fast action?

 

Thanks 

[Turkey sandwich]

The specs are determined by what lures you plan on fishing with it. In general, a 6'6-7' Medium power Fast action rod covers a lot of ground.  Right now, Fenwick is selling last season's Aetos (an excellent $180 rod) for $94.  It's the best sub $100 stick I know of right now and it's a rod you'll enjoy using for a long time.  

[jhc1]

1 hour ago, Turkey sandwich said:

The specs are determined by what lures you plan on fishing with it. In general, a 6'6-7' Medium power Fast action rod covers a lot of ground.  Right now, Fenwick is selling last season's Aetos (an excellent $180 rod) for $94.  It's the best sub $100 stick I know of right now and it's a rod you'll enjoy using for a long time.  

I think they increased the price on the Aetos. I'm sure they were selling tons of them at that $94 price. 

[NYWayfarer]

For spinning set ups I always recommend Fenwick Eagle rods. Perfect balance of good price and great quality.

Pflueger President on a Fenwick Eagle rod goes like peanut butter and jelly, just a great combo. I have a 6'6" med/fast. Its one of the rods I always take with me when on the water.  

[adrenalizd]

I think you would be better served with a Daiwa Tatula rod,  they are Aaron's the $100 mark but they feel like and fish lIke rods costing twice as much.  I love my St. Croix, but I actually prefer my tatulas to it. 

[Turkey sandwich]

Yep. Just checked - Aetos are now $125.  Still a great value. I ordered one last week and I guess snuck in right at the end of the $94 deal.  Still, especially with a fast action Rod that you'll want to use for things like bottom contact baits years from now, I'd suggest spending a little more than just an Ugly Stick.  The Fenwick HMX and HMG lines are both good values right now.  I have an Abu Garcia Veritas that I use regularly ($100 range).  In the $100ish range is where you'll start to really see a a lot of quality rods enter the market.  It really just becomes a matter of preferences at that point. 

[Fun4Me]

If you have an Academy sports around, you could do a lot worse that an H2O ethos IMO. I think they go for around $50 or $60, and sometimes cheaper. 

[Onvacation]

My wife's MLXF Mojo Bass is my favorite spinning rod.  I have rods that are more than double the price but I still prefer hers. 

[Nomad357]

I was in academy yesterday. They have Falcon rods reg  $119 forget the actual name for $79. Also they have the mojo rods for $79, and a ethos 6'10 on clearance for $35 reg $59. I like the academy ethos rods. 

[Nomad357]

Forgot They also have the abu Garcia veritas 2 for $79. Looking hard at this one myself. Hoping on another $25 reward card soon to make it even better deal.

[Fadetoblack188]

I have a real old shake sphere intrepid rod laying around.  I could probably use that for now. Though I am not sure how the quality of it is . Not sure it keeps up with today Rods

SP 3066-2M    6' 6"    Medium    6 - 12 lbs.    1/8 - 1/2 oz.    

[fishnkamp]

There are a ton of great choices at the $100 dollar range and up and many have been mentioned so I will not go over them again. Here are some good rods that sell below the $100 range that would make a nice rig for you. First forget the Berkley Lightning rod and instead look at the Berkley Lightning Rod Shock rod. These are available from Walmart on sale for $39 as well as many other places like Academy and Tackle Warehouse, DIcks has a Quantum Escalade series, it is a IM8 rod and it retails for $99. It is on sale for $50. Gander Mountain has a really nice series called Gander Mountain Tournament Spinning Rod which sells for $80. They also have the Lew's Mach Speed Stick Series Spinning Rod or $79. Except for the lews, I fish several of each of the others, as well as a bunch of much more expensive rods.   Each of these moderately priced rods are still a part of my regular arsenal so I can easily recommend them.

[Bluebasser86]

Ethos from Academy. If you have one close by, they're on clearance for $27 here right now. 

[Nomad357]

Just found out on another forum if the prices on clearance at academy end in a 8 like $79.98 you can take another 25% off no coupon needed thru the 25th he said.  I ll let you know how it goes tomorrow. 

[Spankey]

Just my opinion and I'm partial to my St. Croix rods. If you are setting up something for soft plastics the Mojo in ML or M in XF action is a great rod. 6'8"-6'9" in length. The Avids are nice but the Mojos are easy on your wallet. They stand behind their stuff that why I like S/C.. 

[Kyle46N]

I'll echo the Ethos from Academy.  Per your definition of bang for buck, nothing compares to these.   I jumped in on that Aetos deal for 94, but now that they are 100 plus, go with the ethos.   

[Nomad357]

I picked up a ethos today for $21 dont know how I got it at that thought it would be $27 but the little hottie checking me out said it was $21. I didnt argue.  I missed getting the Bucoo rods had three in my hand but they wouldnt give me the deal like others was getting $44.98 and I had to drive to a second academy to get the ethos they didnt have any bucoo's but in the end it was worth the extra 25 minutes driving.The ethos is worth it I have a couple you may have to visit more than one academy to get the best discount.   

["hamma"]

You have a med action rod now? Id go for a med heavy for single hooked applications. Of the 3 you originally listed Id suggest the berkley. There is no rod ever made that had more money spent on its development, testing, and engineering than the lightning rod. I bought a couple for my daughters to use, and for the money they perform great. The new lightning rod shock,.. I think is for braided line if your going to use braid, consider it.  

The rods mentioned above are all good rods and for the prices are good deals. The  st croix mojo bass for 80 bucks you cant go wrong there. But I digress,..you mentioned 3 so I answered your question, if you dont mind spending more? go for the mojo.

[Fadetoblack188]

Was at a local store and they had a ugly stik elite for 50 bucks. In 6'6 medium so i picked that up for now.  We will see, if it's horrible or breaks I'll just end up spending the money. 

So far feels nice with the reel.