Old Bass Pro line of rods, underrated?

[learnin]

I don't think they carry many of these anymore but does anyone else think for the average fisherman they were pretty decent rods?

 

When I got into doing more bass fishing about 20 years ago I didn't know what was supposed to be considered good or bad equipment.  I originally ended up with several of Bass Pro's "Extreme" line of baitcasters and spinning rods as well as "Crankin sticks" and a couple of their "Tourney Special" med/lt baitcasting rods and a lt spinning rod.  I've used all of them a lot for all kinds of fishing (mostly bass) and still use them.  They cast where I want them too and handle line, baits and fish in the range described on the rod. Never had a problem with any of them. 
 

[Deleted account]

Yup. The problem is that there is often no consistency. The name stays the same, while some or all of the specs and components change. Some of the old extremes are really good blanks. I know quite a few guys that have abused them for years in the salt, and not only do they fish well, they hold up better than most. The same applies to Cabela's, DSG and Academy house brand sticks. 

[the reel ess]

Well, I still use a couple Berkley Lightning Rods ($35 normally, but I got them on sale for $25 each) that I bought more than a decade ago. I have a 6-6 MH for spinner/buzzbaits and a M for topwaters and cranks. At the time I bought them I always thought I'd replace them with higher quality when they failed. But they never did. They're reasonable light and the actions are spot-on for the techniques. I have some higher quality rods for sensitive or specialized techniques. And I've eventually changed out all my reels to better quality units.

 

If they do what you want there's no reason to change. 

[OnthePotomac]

I also started with BPS  Extremes when I got into bass fishing upon retiring 20 years ago.  I switched to their Carbonlites when they came out simply because they are so incredibly light.  The old Extremes served me well and never failed.  My Extreme spinning rods were Woo Daves rods, who is still fishing opens.

[r83srock]

I had some of the old extremes, and xps rods, as well as the rick clunn signature series rods and reels. I basically started out on these and some 80s vintage hand me down Berkley rods. The extreme series was ok, but I liked the clunn stuff better. The power hump wasn’t my favorite and some of the rods were heavy in my hands, but I did catch plenty of fish on em! The extreme reels were very similar to the pflueger Trion reels of that time. They performed well, however  after 5 honest years they were flat worn out. I don’t think that BPS gear is all bad for the average fisherman, but I think now I’d rather strap a black max to a lightning rod shock and call it a day, or pursue some of the cast king stuff. 

[GReb]

The Extreme was very good for the price if you caught them on sale. I still use one 6’6” MH quite often for spinnerbaits. It’s my “truck rod”. You know like the clunker smith and Wesson your not afraid to toss around in the glove box

[Jason Penn]

Back in the day, i had a couple of 7'mh extremes and green curado 100 combos that i used for plastics & jigs. I caught a lot of fish with those. I had a 7'mh clunn rod that i really liked for spinnerbaits. They seemed to be a slower action than the extremes.

[Squarebill79]

I have a 6'0/M Extreme spinning rod that Ive used for 4 years now. I absolutely love it for throwing Texas Rigged worms and it also doubles as my river fishing rod for walleye. 

[bowhunter63]

I have used Bass pro rods for a long time now,Never had a problem with any of them.Really like there carbon light line.

[FishTank]

A buddy of mine use to use the Tourney Special Rods and he loved them.  I was not a big fan but for the money they got the job done.

[greentrout]

6 minutes ago, FishTank said:

A buddy of mine use to use the Tourney Special Rods and he loved them.  I was not a big fan but for the money they got the job done.

Love mine, too...

[puddlepuncher]

12 hours ago, the reel ess said:

At the time I bought them I always thought I'd replace them with higher quality when they failed. But they never did. They're reasonable light and the actions are spot-on for the techniques. I have some higher quality rods for sensitive or specialized techniques.

 

I'm of the exact same opinion with a line of rods from Cabelas.  Used them years ago in the exact same manner.  Bought big name rods literally for 4-5x the price and realized the Cabelas rod was felt superior in every way in my hands.

 

15 hours ago, reason said:

Yup. The problem is that there is often no consistency. The name stays the same, while some or all of the specs and components change.

 

100% true.  Since the big guys license out the manufacturing whenever a contract expires and another company wins the bid the blanks/overall quality changes.

[clh121787]

I use to love their first gen. carbon lite rod . I ended up breaking 3. Got them replaced. And broke those too albeit i dont exactly baby my equipment. ..But I loved them while they lasted. 

[Spankey]

19 hours ago, learnin said:

I don't think they carry many of these anymore but does anyone else think for the average fisherman they were pretty decent rods?

 

When I got into doing more bass fishing about 20 years ago I didn't know what was supposed to be considered good or bad equipment.  I originally ended up with several of Bass Pro's "Extreme" line of baitcasters and spinning rods as well as "Crankin sticks" and a couple of their "Tourney Special" med/lt baitcasting rods and a lt spinning rod.  I've used all of them a lot for all kinds of fishing (mostly bass) and still use them.  They cast where I want them too and handle line, baits and fish in the range described on the rod. Never had a problem with any of them. 
 

I'll agree 100%. Way back I bought and used the same rods. Extremes and Bionic rods etc.  Still have them. Others use them if someone wants to come along. I've been a St. Croix guy for a long while now. Are they far superior, I don't know. Just a turn I took. 

 

BPS to me way back when was a big deal. I thought they were a great place to do business with. For years now in my opinion they have a lot to be desired. Oh well. 

 

Don't know if you guys remember this Bass Pro Rod but I have 3 BPS Billy Westmoreland Rods still in the plastic never used. One I still use. Occasionally I throw the Grub version. Always in the boat. Great all around light soft plastic rig. 

[Log Catcher]

I am still using BPS crankin sticks and bionic blades that are between 15 and 20 years old. I also have a couple of pro qualifiers before they discontinued them. They all still get the job done for me.

[Raul]

I tried Bionic Blade, Extreme and Bassmasters series, good rods but I hate the friggin PowerHumpGrip reason why I only kept the BMs and I fished with them real good, they ended up being my kid and my nephew's starter rods.

[CrankFate]

Almost all rods are overrated. I plan on picking up another ML crankin stick 7’ on my next visit to BPS.  Realistically once you get to $200, there is no benefit to a more expensive rod, except that it makes you feel better. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes I feel better buying more expensive things than are necessary (most of the time). But all of my favorite rods cost less than $175.

[Preytorien]

My first casting rod was a Carbonlite (gen. 1) and that thing is awesome. Bought the heavy action for frogging and that thing is still going strong. I love it. 

[J Francho]

I had a few Bionic Blades back in the mid 90s, and they were a whole lot fancie than the rods I used before that.  Supplemented that collection with some Fenwicks, later Team All Stars.  They were all on even footing.

[Mobasser]

On 8/16/2018 at 6:06 AM, Spankey said:

I'll agree 100%. Way back I bought and used the same rods. Extremes and Bionic rods etc.  Still have them. Others use them if someone wants to come along. I've been a St. Croix guy for a long while now. Are they far superior, I don't know. Just a turn I took. 

 

BPS to me way back when was a big deal. I thought they were a great place to do business with. For years now in my opinion they have a lot to be desired. Oh well. 

 

Don't know if you guys remember this Bass Pro Rod but I have 3 BPS Billy Westmoreland Rods still in the plastic never used. One I still use. Occasionally I throw the Grub version. Always in the boat. Great all around light soft plastic rig. 

The Billy Westmoreland rods were my favorite. I still have, and use a 6'6 model.