Another Rod Recommendation Thread

[MisterDeadeye]

I've read the stickied rod thread, essentially every rod thread that's come through here in the past month, and done some searching of my own, but I'm still not well versed on what specifically to look for, and some of the rods I'm looking at are rarely talked about.

 

So, with that said, I'm a bank fisherman in Kansas going to ponds with sparse dead trees, light lily cover and cattails in some cases. Other than that, I go to smaller(50-60 acre) lakes with an average depth of ~8-10 ft. Right now I'm fishing weightless senkos Texas rigged and weighted wacky style, Zoom flukes, and occasionally weighted Texas rigged creature baits like the Pit Boss. I've always been a fan of jigs, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits, but to make a long story short, I have to rebuild all of my tackle from the bottom up including a new rod, so I don't have anything even remotely heavy right now.

 

I want a casting rod, anywhere from $70-$130ish that can throw ~3/8-1/2oz jigs with a trailer, weighted wacky senkos, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, maybe even some horny toads and the occasional frog(again, there's not a ton of cover -- no thick slop or massive grass walls). Anywhere from 7'-7'4", but if there's something sweet at 7'6", it's not a huge deal.

 

Now, I know that this is a pretty wide range of applications for one rod. I simply don't have the money to be spending on specialized rods right now, and I'm currently using a 6' M/F $20 Wal-Mart(it's a Quantum, IM7 graphite rod, not sure on the model number but the only reference to it that I found was Wal-Mart's website and it was really $20) special, found at my parents' house, that is actively hindering my ability to throw anything heavier than a lightweight wacky jigged senko. My plan is that I'm going to get one decent rod now for the majority of what I want to throw, and use a 6' M/F spinning setup for anything that doesn't load up well with the casting setup. After a while, I'll get another reel and something for cranks etc, a more specialized frogging rod if I venture out more onto bodies of water with a lot of cover, and so on.

 

I already know what you're going to suggest. The Dobyns Fury 734 is out of the question because it's got green everywhere. I'm using a Fuego CT, so even though it's likely an incredible rod and would fit my needs perfectly, I don't particularly want to pull the trigger because of the clashing aesthetics. The only reason I don't know the model number of the Quantum rod I'm using now is because I painted it black. The color bothered me.

 

I'm looking for thoughts on the following rods(and other suggestions if you've got something in mind). Generally though, all black, black and white(assuming the handle is black and the rod is white), black and red, are what I'm looking for:

 

• Lamiglas XP 7'3" "Heavy"
• Powell Inferno 7'3" "Heavy"
• TFO TFG 7' "Medium Heavy"
• Fenwick HMG 7' "Medium Heavy"
• Falcon BuCoo SR 7'3" "Medium Heavy"
• Duckett Terex 7'3" "Medium Heavy"
• Duckett Triad 7'3" "Medium Heavy"

 

These rods have varying tapers, and I don't have enough experience to know what I will like and dislike in that regard, so I'll most likely just disregard the taper until I get one of these rods and can figure out what I like and dislike about whatever I decide on. Does anyone have experience with these rods? Am I just really stupid for not getting a Fury 734 and calling it a day? What are your thoughts?

[fishnkamp]

I really like my Powell rods, Irods and my Dobyns rods, but I fish with 12 baitcasters and they only fill out some needs for me.  Some of my other rods include 1 Falcon Bucoo (trapcaster), 1 Abu Garcia Ike rod ( jerkbaits) and a Abu Veritas rod I use for punching.

Out of your list I would consider a Powell Inferno first. Let me add some other rods to your list.

Look at an Irod Genesis II rod. Take a good look at an IRG 704C, an IRG 744C and an IRG754C  That Fred's Magic stick is amazing for lots of stuff.  Now these rods are light in your hand and balance well. They also cost $149. I realize that is just above your stated budget, but in my opinion they are worth $20 more.  Now if that is out of your budget they make a series called the Fiber series. They use the same blanks as the Genesis II rods, but they are outfitted with a slightly less expensive set of components.  The Fred's Magic Stick (the 754C ) and the 704C are available in the Fiber series and these run around $110.

 

One rod I fish that you definitely would not think of is sold by Dicks Sporting Goods only. It is a Quantum Escalade. They sell a couple, but the 7 foot MH is the one I am referring to.  It is as sensitive as many of my other rods including the Falcon Bucoo and my Powell.  The rod uses an IM8 rod blank and good components. It specs for baits weighing 1/4 to 1 1/2. It is a bit on the stiffer side in the middle and transitions into a nice tip.  It would fish a frog or horny toad as well as a spinnerbait, buzzbaits or chatterbaits.  I use mine for larger deeper running cranks as well as bigger texas rigs and carolina rigs. It would handle your jigs as well. This is not a fancy named rod, it is basically a house brand for Dicks.  They advertise it as $99 but it is always on sale for $49.  Might make a good combo with your CT reel for now and let you save up for a cranking setup sooner.  I see some reviews complaining about tip breakage, but when you read their comments they try to use this rod for big salt water species.  Ridiculous. I have caught bass up to 5 pounds on mine as well as some decent sized stripers too. 

 

Lastly I would look at a Daiwa Tatula XT which runs around $100. I would consider either the 7'3' MH which rates for 1/4 to 1 ounce or the 7'3 Heavy which rates for 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces.

 

The most important thing is I would stay away from any rod that had the Duckett name on it. Just my opinion, I had a friend that sold them and he would never touch one for himself. He ran all Dobyns Furys (7 of them actually) LOL

 

[MisterDeadeye]

35 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

I really like my Powell rods, Irods and my Dobyns rods, but I fish with 12 baitcasters and they only fill out some needs for me.  Some of my other rods include 1 Falcon Bucoo (trapcaster), 1 Abu Garcia Ike rod ( jerkbaits) and a Abu Veritas rod I use for punching.

Out of your list I would consider a Powell Inferno first. Let me add some other rods to your list.

Look at an Irod Genesis II rod. Take a good look at an IRG 704C, an IRG 744C and an IRG754C  That Fred's Magic stick is amazing for lots of stuff.  Now these rods are light in your hand and balance well. They also cost $149. I realize that is just above your stated budget, but in my opinion they are worth $20 more.  Now if that is out of your budget they make a series called the Fiber series. They use the same blanks as the Genesis II rods, but they are outfitted with a slightly less expensive set of components.  The Fred's Magic Stick (the 754C ) and the 704C are available in the Fiber series and these run around $110.

 

One rod I fish that you definitely would not think of is sold by Dicks Sporting Goods only. It is a Quantum Escalade. They sell a couple, but the 7 foot MH is the one I am referring to.  It is as sensitive as many of my other rods including the Falcon Bucoo and my Powell.  The rod uses an IM8 rod blank and good components. It specs for baits weighing 1/4 to 1 1/2. It is a bit on the stiffer side in the middle and transitions into a nice tip.  It would fish a frog or horny toad as well as a spinnerbait, buzzbaits or chatterbaits.  I use mine for larger deeper running cranks as well as bigger texas rigs and carolina rigs. It would handle your jigs as well. This is not a fancy named rod, it is basically a house brand for Dicks.  They advertise it as $99 but it is always on sale for $49.  Might make a good combo with your CT reel for now and let you save up for a cranking setup sooner.  I see some reviews complaining about tip breakage, but when you read their comments they try to use this rod for big salt water species.  Ridiculous. I have caught bass up to 5 pounds on mine as well as some decent sized stripers too. 

  

Lastly I would look at a Daiwa Tatula XT which runs around $100. I would consider either the 7'3' MH which rates for 1/4 to 1 ounce or the 7'3 Heavy which rates for 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces. 

 

The most important thing is I would stay away from any rod that had the Duckett name on it. Just my opinion, I had a friend that sold them and he would never touch one for himself. He ran all Dobyns Furys (7 of them actually) LOL 

 

Awesome, thank you for the recommendation. When I pointed out that I would be willing to go up to 7'6", I was actually referring to the Fred's Magic Stick rods, I just couldn't remember who made them or what the name actually was. Good shout on the DSG exclusive rod as well, I know places like Academy, DSG, Bass Pro, Cabela's etc, have their own exclusive rods, it's just so much to look through and figure out what's good and what's not. I had a similar idea about going with a cheaper rod for now so I can grab some tackle with the savings, and start going for more setups when the time comes.

 

In that regard, I was considering the Daiwa Aird X in 7'3" MH with the same 1/4-1oz rating. I also looked at the Tatula XT, I just haven't done much research into it yet. I was already favoring the Powell but I know I've seen a lot of good things about the Irod 754C. Because it has similar aesthetics to the Dobyns Fury, how would you compare the two? Specifically the Dobyns 734C and the Irod 754C.

[burrows]

Powell or duckett....keep in mind if you’re fishing from the bank a long rod might become burdensome under trees and tight spaces.

[Dirtyeggroll]

7’ Medium Heavy Fast action Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier rod. Catch them on sale and you can get a whole combo in your price range.

 

IMO they are extremely versatile rods. I used one from the bank for about a year and threw everything with it. This rod is not a great rod for any specific technique, but it can cover all of the techniques you mentioned very well.

[waymont]

Call it a day and get the Dobyns. Excellent rods. 

Not just for the low cost, but because of their actions and balance.

[fishnkamp]

The Irod IRG754 is just a special rod. That Genesis II series fishes much more like a Dobyns Champion XP than a Fury series rod.  As for the Daiwa rod I would stay with the Tatula XT series rather than the Arid X.

The Fury series (including the FR 734C) use a very good blank and decent components and since it is a Dobyns it is well balanced with a typical reel on it. The 734C is available in almost every Dobyns series and each one is a tad bit different because of the blanks used. The Fury series blanks act a bit more like the Champion XP series . They have the traditional Dobyns power and taper so a 734C in those series are medium heavy fast action. That is better for what you asked to do. The Champion XPs are a good bit more sensitive though. The Sierra series were designed for anglers that prefer a rod blank that is a little slower, the taper is different. They rate the same but their action is a bit different. The blank bends a bit further down the blank.  The Powell will fish more like a Champion as well.  If you wish we can talk on the phone and I can explain things a little easier maybe.  If so send me an e mail to fishnkamp@comcast.net.  Also I know you had mentioned you have a reel already. If you decide to setup more than one rod I have a link to some Daiwa reels at very good prices right now.  I can share that info there as well. 

[LionHeart]

11 hours ago, MisterDeadeye said:

I've read the stickied rod thread, essentially every rod thread that's come through here in the past month, and done some searching of my own, but I'm still not well versed on what specifically to look for, and some of the rods I'm looking at are rarely talked about.

 

So, with that said, I'm a bank fisherman in Kansas going to ponds with sparse dead trees, light lily cover and cattails in some cases. Other than that, I go to smaller(50-60 acre) lakes with an average depth of ~8-10 ft. Right now I'm fishing weightless senkos Texas rigged and weighted wacky style, Zoom flukes, and occasionally weighted Texas rigged creature baits like the Pit Boss. I've always been a fan of jigs, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits, but to make a long story short, I have to rebuild all of my tackle from the bottom up including a new rod, so I don't have anything even remotely heavy right now.

 

I want a casting rod, anywhere from $70-$130ish that can throw ~3/8-1/2oz jigs with a trailer, weighted wacky senkos, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, maybe even some horny toads and the occasional frog(again, there's not a ton of cover -- no thick slop or massive grass walls). Anywhere from 7'-7'4", but if there's something sweet at 7'6", it's not a huge deal.

 

Now, I know that this is a pretty wide range of applications for one rod. I simply don't have the money to be spending on specialized rods right now, and I'm currently using a 6' M/F $20 Wal-Mart(it's a Quantum, IM7 graphite rod, not sure on the model number but the only reference to it that I found was Wal-Mart's website and it was really $20) special, found at my parents' house, that is actively hindering my ability to throw anything heavier than a lightweight wacky jigged senko. My plan is that I'm going to get one decent rod now for the majority of what I want to throw, and use a 6' M/F spinning setup for anything that doesn't load up well with the casting setup. After a while, I'll get another reel and something for cranks etc, a more specialized frogging rod if I venture out more onto bodies of water with a lot of cover, and so on.

 

I already know what you're going to suggest. The Dobyns Fury 734 is out of the question because it's got green everywhere. I'm using a Fuego CT, so even though it's likely an incredible rod and would fit my needs perfectly, I don't particularly want to pull the trigger because of the clashing aesthetics. The only reason I don't know the model number of the Quantum rod I'm using now is because I painted it black. The color bothered me.

 

I'm looking for thoughts on the following rods(and other suggestions if you've got something in mind). Generally though, all black, black and white(assuming the handle is black and the rod is white), black and red, are what I'm looking for:

 

• Lamiglas XP 7'3" "Heavy"
• Powell Inferno 7'3" "Heavy"
• TFO TFG 7' "Medium Heavy"
• Fenwick HMG 7' "Medium Heavy"
• Falcon BuCoo SR 7'3" "Medium Heavy"
• Duckett Terex 7'3" "Medium Heavy"
• Duckett Triad 7'3" "Medium Heavy"

 

These rods have varying tapers, and I don't have enough experience to know what I will like and dislike in that regard, so I'll most likely just disregard the taper until I get one of these rods and can figure out what I like and dislike about whatever I decide on. Does anyone have experience with these rods? Am I just really stupid for not getting a Fury 734 and calling it a day? What are your thoughts?

Since you asked, no you aren't being stupid.  This is America and you are free to want a rod to be any color you wish.  

 

However, I would recommend that you find a way to care less about how well your rod matches your reel, and focus more on the important properties of a fishing rod.

[TylerT123]

The fish don’t care what color your rod is, but if you do, that’s fine. If I were you, I’d worry about the taper too, you don’t want a Moderate action with Jigs and Frogs. You could look at Dobyns Colt also.

[MisterDeadeye]

5 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

What about an Abu Vendetta 7'3" MH?  It fits your criteria and others have this rod paired to the Fuego CT and like it.  

Definitely a rod I was considering as well, I'm just unsure if I want to go with something cheaper that will work, or if I get something a little more expensive that will perform better and have a better place in my arsenal down the road.

[LonnieP]

I’d recommend the Daiwa Tatula. The original, not the XT. They can be found online for a little over a hundred bucks. I like my Dobyns Fury, but I like my Tatula Rods a lot better.

[haggard]

18 hours ago, MisterDeadeye said:

I want a casting rod, anywhere from $70-$130ish that can throw ~3/8-1/2oz jigs with a trailer, weighted wacky senkos, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, maybe even some horny toads and the occasional frog(again, there's not a ton of cover -- no thick slop or massive grass walls). Anywhere from 7'-7'4"[/quote]

Assuming you mean rod alone (without reel) for $70-$130, I'll suggest the StC MJC71MHF (Mojo Bass series) at $130 MSRP. I have the 6'8 version (MJC68MHF), but seeing as you're a bank fisherman you might benefit from a little more length. The blank (SC3) is nicely sensitive, one step up from their "premiere" (SC2) series blanks, but it's not getting into "exotic" territory. My 6'8 is marketed as jig & worm rod but I think a MH/F like this could cover a wider range of applications. I admit I haven't used it a lot, as I prefer a M/F, but the MH/F is the go-to rod for slightly heavier duty freshwater fishing (larger/longer lures, fishing deep, fishing into structure or cover). The MJC71MHF is rated 12-20 # line, 3/8 to 1 oz lure.

[new2BC4bass]

I like my original Tatula rods a lot.  The 6'10" MHF might fit the bill for you.  I got mine for less than $95 with free shipping.  Couldn't find any at that price at the moment.  When you decide on the rod you want, you need to check prices daily.  Sometimes great deals can be had, but you have to be there at the right time.

 

I have several models of Fenwick, but not an Elite Tech Bass model.  The 7' MHF is $123.95 with free shipping at Glenn's Army Navy...a $150 rod.  There is also a 6'9" MHF model if you want shorter.

[LCG]

8 minutes ago, haggard said:

Assuming you mean rod alone (without reel) for $70-$130, I'll suggest the StC MJC71MHF (Mojo Bass series) at $130 MSRP. I have the 6'8 version (MJC68MHF), but seeing as you're a bank fisherman that might be too short. The blank is nicely sensitive, a step up from their already decent "premiere" series blanks, but it's not getting into "exotic" territory. My 6'8 is marketed as jig & worm rod but I think a MH/F like this could cover a wider range of applications.

I second this advice. I have the mojo bass spinning rod and an avid x casting rod. Very well built and sensitive. I prefer shorter rods from the bank for accuracy and dealing with the terrain and trees. 

 

The fenwick hmg is also a solid choice, I have the previous generation spinning rod and it is a great rod. 

[new2BC4bass]

Fishnkamp, I am glad to see that I am not the only one that likes the Escalade.  I always liked how they felt in store.  They were never on sale whenever I stopped at DSG.  I was told they didn't need to put them on sale because they had no problem selling them at full price.  I wanted a Medium, but when I finally got around to buy one Online, they were all out of Mediums.  So I got a MH at the store to give to my sister-in-law as her first baitcast rod.  Naturally I had to put a reel on it and try it out.  Went back to Dick's and bought one for myself.    Pretty tough to beat this rod at $50.

[fishnkamp]

Yea and right now I have a place to get a Tatula CT for $80 or a Fuego CT for $60 including shipping. That 7' MH with a Tat CT for a total cost of $130 would be great. So would the combo of that rod and a Fuego CT for $110.

[MisterDeadeye]

3 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Yea and right now I have a place to get a Tatula CT for $80 or a Fuego CT for $60 including shipping. That 7' MH with a Tat CT for a total cost of $130 would be great. So would the combo of that rod and a Fuego CT for $110.

 

If you don't mind waiting, you can get the Fuego CT for at least a few dollars less than $60. I got mine for $53 around the 4th of July, and I've seen people talking about getting them in the 40s during similar sales.

[fishnkamp]

Well I am not sure too many want to wait till next 4th of July. LOL  The prices I quoted are about as good as I have seen and will be available for a little while from my source.  Any glad you found a great deal for a great reel.  As for people "talking about getting them in the $40s" I doubt it was real.  This is a reel everyone regularly sells for $99.

[MisterDeadeye]

2 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Well I am not sure too many want to wait till next 4th of July. LOL  The prices I quoted are about as good as I have seen and will be available for a little while from my source.  Any glad you found a great deal for a great reel.  As for people "talking about getting them in the $40s" I doubt it was real.  This is a reel everyone regularly sells for $99.

Yeah, getting one for less than $50 seemed a little crazy to me too. The person who said that was talking about a sale that happened last month some time after the 4th of July sale. Either way though, the 4th of July deal that I got was an eBay 20% off sale. They happen pretty often, there was one in June, there was one in March, and so on. There might even be one coming up for Labor Day.

[GReb]

Several weeks ago you could get a Fuego from american legacy eBay for around $49. 

[GateToWire]

I would try to increase your budget slightly and go for a Dobyns Sierra 734.

It's not green and it's a big jump up from the Fury.

IMO the Sierra is the best rod in the $150-$200 price point. 

If you are only going to have 1 rod....that's the one I would get

[Mikeltee]

whoops

[PaFrogThrower9]

You could try out One Three Fishing's  F.ate C.hrome line. They have a 7'1"mh, 7'3"mh, and a 7'6"mh. Great rods for a great price. I have quite a few and find myself using them more than my Fury's.