Recommendations for spinning rod

[CaptPete]

Hey Guys,

      I'm not much of a spinning guy, and most of my knowledge/experience is in the $200-300 range rods. My girlfriend broke her Medium spinning rod this weekend, and has some rather odd requests in the "new" one.

 

I'm hoping to stay under $150, preferably around $100.

 

Heres what she wants:

1)Full Cork handle

2) Medium power, fast action (senko's, grubs, small keitechs, etc, most small jig heads and weightless senkos) (she's likely to throw some jerk baits on it too)

3) 6'10" -7' ideally

4) She wants the hook keeper on top of the rod (like my Helium 3's, Not like a fenwick where the keeper is right at the real seat)

 

the hook keeper isn't a complete show stopper... but thats what she wants...

 

She is not brand loyal AT ALL!! and I'm all for trying a new brand.

 

it will have a 2500 sized reel (Diawa Exceller), and 10-15 lb braid to leader on it. 

 

Options I've found: 

Shimano Compre

Shimano Convergence

St Croix Premier

Fenwick HMG (she has one in Heavy/Fast and hated the hook keeper, which has since been removed and replaced by an aftermarket option, loves the rod otherwise)

 

Any others I'm missing? Full handles seem fairly hard to come by in the more budget rods... she doesn't need or want a Dobyns Extreme..

[BankBasser]

I've had the 7' med/fast Premier, Compre and HMG (no experience with the Convergence). The Compre had a "just right" feel to it and would be my suggestion. The HMG was pretty stout. I never warmed up to the Premier. It was built nicely, but didn't have the feel the Compre did, to me. I think the Compre would work well with the techniques you've listed.

[CaptPete]

21 minutes ago, BankBasser said:

I've had the 7' med/fast Premier, Compre and HMG (no experience with the Convergence). The Compre had a "just right" feel to it and would be my suggestion. The HMG was pretty stout. I never warmed up to the Premier. It was built nicely, but didn't have the feel the Compre did, to me. I think the Compre would work well with the techniques you've listed.

Thanks! I have absolutely zero experience with Shimano other than holding a few in store, the Compre seems to be pretty high on the list right now. 

[Tywithay]

My favorite rod in the price range is from the company we're not allowed to talk about. It has a full-ish handle, because the reel seat is kind of split from the rear grip, but it's well executed. Starts with an "O" and ends with "men." It's one of the best $100 range rods I've used. Just a bonus that is has the full rear grip.

[CaptPete]

6 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

My favorite rod in the price range is from the company we're not allowed to talk about. It has a full-ish handle, because the reel seat is kind of split from the rear grip, but it's well executed. Starts with an "O" and ends with "men." It's one of the best $100 range rods I've used. Just a bonus that is has the full rear grip.

I looked into them, and nearly every review I've read involved a broken rod...

 

doesn't seem like a good *** to me ... pun intended

[Tywithay]

1 hour ago, CaptPete said:

I looked into them, and nearly every review I've read involved a broken rod...

 

doesn't seem like a good *** to me ... pun intended

I have 5 and haven't broken one yet. Guess I need to try harder.

[kbeeb374]

Cabela's XML.  I just got the 6'3'' MXF and I love it. 

Lots of length and action options too.  Just the guides and handle are worth the money to me, but the blank performs above its price significantly too.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-XML-SPINNING-ROD/2601275.uts?slotId=0

 

[Boomstick]

7 hours ago, CaptPete said:

I looked into them, and nearly every review I've read involved a broken rod...

 

doesn't seem like a good *** to me ... pun intended

I've heard of plenty of success stories with these rods, actually considered one for myself but ended up going with an Avid X.

 

That said back to the original topic at hand. If money is an issue, one of these forbidden rods will do nicely as will the Fenwick HMG, and if you have a little extra to spend go with the St. Croix Premier.

[WRB]

Dobyns FR 702 or 703 SF is $119 and has a cork handle at the real seat, the lure hanger is dehind the reel seat. Fuji makes a lure hanger you can put wherever you want it.

My choice is Don Iovino 6'9" Major Craft finesse spinning rod however no cork handle, a comfortable handle, balanced and well made Rod the $119.

Tom

[bowhunter63]

I got the new Carbon light carbon coil from Bass Pro.It the 7 ft 6 medium with a fast tip. No complaints at all ,use it for Wacky Worm and Flukes .It's my new go to rod plus I like the Winn grips.

[Armtx77]

I would reccomend the HMG, but sounds like the lure keeper is a no-go.

 

Is there a reason behind that? I have never seen or maybe wasn't paying attention to rod keepers, being anywhere but by the handle.

[CaptPete]

1 minute ago, Armtx77 said:

I would reccomend the HMG, but sounds like the lure keeper is a no-go.

 

Is there a reason behind that? I have never seen or maybe wasn't paying attention to rod keepers, being anywhere but by the handle.

She has tiny hands... when she grabs the line to make a cast the line snags on the hook keeper maybe 80% of the time. She tried to adjust technique, but in the end that just wore her hand out... way easier to remove the hook keeper.

 

and with aftermarket options, it's not a huge deal, just a "want".

 

 

[Brad in Texas]

Just to add an interesting option, I have a G-Rods Intl. stick made with graphite and graphene layers. Graphene is the relatively new single carbon atom wide fabric that is supposedly the world's strongest material. It will soon be featured in things such as bullet-proof vests and more where the weight/strength ratio is important.

 

So, I bought a G-Rod rod from a friend, lightly used and expertly cared for, mine actually a trout rod but one I use for panfish primarily. It'll pull in a nice sized bass but . . . to get back on topic, they have a spinning rod, 7' Game Changer just above $200 I think. 

 

What I wanted to mention is that my graphene rod has a very unusual feel to it. It casts like a dream with sort of a soft feeling tip but it loads up nicely. It feels great, both to the touch and operationally.

 

Brad

[Armtx77]

7 hours ago, CaptPete said:

She has tiny hands... when she grabs the line to make a cast the line snags on the hook keeper maybe 80% of the time. She tried to adjust technique, but in the end that just wore her hand out... way easier to remove the hook keeper.

 

and with aftermarket options, it's not a huge deal, just a "want".

 

 

My question was genuine curiousity and I appreciate the response.