Anyone use Ike Signature rods?

[MichaelJ7]

Anyone using the Ike signature series rods from Abu Garcia? If so which ones, for what? And what do you think? I love the 6’4 jerkbait rod but thats the only one I have. 

[Poolshark]

I think that the 73 mmf is a good all around treble hook rod. It handles small to large top waters, jerkbaits, squarebills, lipless baits and even deep divers pretty well. 

The 7'4 mhf for anything with a single hook, from t rigs, jigs, smaller swimbaits, all the way to frogs and light flipping. It's rated 1/4 to 1 1/4 ounce. 

The 7 mf is a good all around finesse rod.

[DogBone_384]

I don't have any Ike's but own Veritas (6), Villain, Veracity, and a Fantasista.  They're great rods and tend to fish a little heavier than other manufacturers' rods I own.  I own more medium than medium-heavy and never feel like I'm fishing 'underpowered'.

 

If you have a Bass Pro near you, go handle them.  My local BP has a pretty decent selection of Ikes.

 

Good luck.  

[fishballer06]

I have two (one casting, one spinning). 

 

My casting rod is the 7'2" MH Jig rod. It's a decent rod for the money and I'd put it on the heavier side of the MH spectrum. 

 

My spinning rod is the 7' M all around rod. It's exactly that, an all around spinning rod. I mainly use it for blade baits (silver buddy). 

[MichaelJ7]

Like I said I have the 6’4 casting jerkbait rod. It is hands down the best jerkbait rod I’ve ever used. Just ordered the 7’4mh frog rod today. Excited to try it.

[fishnkamp]

I own and love my Ike 6'4 jerkbait rod also . Mine has a Daiwa Tatula CT with Halo on it.  It balances well and fishes very well too. I do not think this series gets enough respect honestly.

[Dangerfield]

Just picked up the 7' MM delay rod from the Spring fishing show, perfct  amount of whip and backbone. Parobolic bend half down the blank, should cast DTs a mile and keep em pinned after setting the hook. Debating on pairing it with a shimano curado I 5.5:1 or daiwa tatula p 5.5:1. 

Edited February 19, 2018 by Dangerfield
Typos

[Spankey]

I own a 6'10" ML Fast Spinning. I like it. Use it for Drop Shot, Split Shot, Small T-Rigs, grubs and tubes. I would recommend it. I'm pretty much a St. Croix fan. But feel it was a good purchase. They are never on sale try to buy it with some type of promotion or $$$$ over $100. That what I done at BPS. I have a Nasci on it. 

[Sam]

One of the situations in the fishing industry is when a pro has his or her own line of rods, reels, baits, boats, clothes, shoes, etc.

 

I know for a fact that Ike will promote his rod line, probably at the Classic, while using other rods during the tournament. All he has to do is fish with it for a few minutes and then speak about catching fish and how good his rod is. But pay attention. He will not say he actually caught a fish using the rod.

 

Others do the same thing.

 

It is to promote their sponsors' products.

 

That is why this Forum is a breath of fresh air. We give each other our individual and unbiased input (other than for us Senko and Shimano guys) that can help others make an informed decision on various products.

 

Good post and you should receive many replies.

 

 

 

 

[MichaelJ7]

Well I handled several today and decided to add to my Ike collection. I now have 4 of them. 

1. 6’4 M/moderate jerkbait

2. 6’4 M/Moderate deep jerkbait.

3. 7’4 MH/F frog rod

4. 7’ M/Moderate cranking rod. 

all will be paired with new Revo STX except the crank rod will have a Revo Winch. I like fishing two jerkbait rods. One with a standard diver and one with a deeper diver. Just personal preference. 

[StaR_QS]

I own a 7' M/F spinning rod and a 7'2'' MH/F casting rod. My personal feeling is that the medium spinning rod is like a medium heavy one, and the medium heavy casting rod is like a heavy one. Nothing else to complain. 

[MichaelJ7]

8 hours ago, StaR_QS said:

I own a 7' M/F spinning rod and a 7'2'' MH/F casting rod. My personal feeling is that the medium spinning rod is like a medium heavy one, and the medium heavy casting rod is like a heavy one. Nothing else to complain. 

That is what I love about Abu rods. I have a total of 20 Abu rods. I prefer a rod a little stiffer yet they’re still sensitive. 

[DomQ]

7'4 mh f. I love it, great casting rod.

[MichaelJ7]

6 hours ago, DomQ said:

7'4 mh f. I love it, great casting rod.

Do you use it for frogging?

[DomQ]

44 minutes ago, MichaelJ7 said:

Do you use it for frogging?

I use it for buzzbaits, frogs and spinnerbaits. Its for great feeling EVA foam handles, great reel seat as well. It is a very well made rod for the money, looks dope as well 

[Turkey sandwich]

I don't own them, but I do have two Veritas that are great crank bait rods for the money.  I have handled the Ike series rods and for the price point, they feel like really, really nice rods.  My only criticism is the same as every Abu rod I've ever owned - I generally don't love foam, but I didn't dislike the grips on the Ike series, and the reel seat seems like it would be really comfortable for my style of palming the rod/reel.   The $150 market is starting to get very crowded like the $100 market became a few years ago.  

[MichaelJ7]

7 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

I don't own them, but I do have two Veritas that are great crank bait rods for the money.  I have handled the Ike series rods and for the price point, they feel like really, really nice rods.  My only criticism is the same as every Abu rod I've ever owned - I generally don't love foam, but I didn't dislike the grips on the Ike series, and the reel seat seems like it would be really comfortable for my style of palming the rod/reel.   The $150 market is starting to get very crowded like the $100 market became a few years ago.  

That is something we differ on. I do not like the cork handles. Personal preference I know. I have nearly 20 Veritas but think as I buy new/upgrade it’s going to be the Ike series going forward. 

[Turkey sandwich]

6 hours ago, MichaelJ7 said:

That is something we differ on. I do not like the cork handles. Personal preference I know. I have nearly 20 Veritas but think as I buy new/upgrade it’s going to be the Ike series going forward. 

 

they feel like good sticks.

[MichaelJ7]

On 2/21/2018 at 10:43 PM, DomQ said:

I use it for buzzbaits, frogs and spinnerbaits. Its for great feeling EVA foam handles, great reel seat as well. It is a very well made rod for the money, looks dope as well 

How does it handle pulling fish out of really thick mats?

[fishnkamp]

On 2/19/2018 at 12:26 PM, Sam said:

One of the situations in the fishing industry is when a pro has his or her own line of rods, reels, baits, boats, clothes, shoes, etc.

 

I know for a fact that Ike will promote his rod line, probably at the Classic, while using other rods during the tournament. All he has to do is fish with it for a few minutes and then speak about catching fish and how good his rod is. But pay attention. He will not say he actually caught a fish using the rod.

 

Others do the same thing.

 

It is to promote their sponsors' products.

 

That is why this Forum is a breath of fresh air. We give each other our individual and unbiased input (other than for us Senko and Shimano guys) that can help others make an informed decision on various products.

 

Good post and you should receive many replies.

 

 

 

 

Hey Sam the funny thing about Ike is he does actually fish these rods. The purple hue is noticeable and I have seen him use them in tournaments before. In fact if you watch him close enough he is one of the few pros who actually do use their sponsors gear most of the time. Here is one of his Tackle Warehouse VLogs. He often fishes Veracity rods, his Ike rods and some Veritas rods.

 

[DomQ]

7 hours ago, MichaelJ7 said:

How does it handle pulling fish out of really thick mats?

The first fish I actually caught with the rod was a 10lb carp, the rod handled it amazingly, had it paired up with a tatula HD. Man did that fishy ever put up a fight, it was awesome! 

[Sam]

10 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Hey Sam the funny thing about Ike is he does actually fish these rods. The purple hue is noticeable and I have seen him use them in tournaments before. In fact if you watch him close enough he is one of the few pros who actually do use their sponsors gear most of the time. Here is one of his Tackle Warehouse VLogs. He often fishes Veracity rods, his Ike rods and some Veritas rods.

 

Super. Glad he is using the equipment and baits he sponsors.

 

Just keep a close eye on him!!!!!!!  

[fishnkamp]

He seems to like a Veritas med or med hvy mod for deeper cranks.  You will see the purple Ike rods for several uses including a spinning rod he throws drop shots and you will also see him with at least two different red colored Veracity rods during tournaments. 

[Pitch'nCypress]

After reading this thread I just now watched last years classic footage from espn2(dvr) and there's no doubt Ike was fishing his line of rods in that tournament. He was using them while fishing finesse, carolina rigging, and pitching plastics shallow with them.

[Firetiger17]

Hey I really like the Action and design of the 6'4'' Medium, maybe I will order me one for my Bass fishing in Spain.

I heard these Rods tend to be a little bit underrated? Is the 5/8oz more like a 3/4oz max?

I could not find the weight of the 6'4'', is it below 4oz?