Economy Rods

[kjfishman]

In the under $60 price range what are your picks for rods. I am thinking either Berkley Lightning Rod 7' MH or Ugly Ugly Stick ELITE 7' MH for cranking.

 

[Scarborough817]

only one i have under $60 is a no 8 hellbent (now the 13 defy. budget rods are not worth it you will easily end up spending more in the long run, save up some more money and get a dobyns fury 

[lo n slo]

do the lightning rod

[NYWayfarer]

$59.99 Kastking Perigee II 7'1" MH

 

 

I have the 2 piece version. It comes with the handle and 2 tips, 1 medium and 1 medium heavy. It's like getting 2 rods for the price of one.

[the reel ess]

I have a 6-6 M I use for cranks and topwaters, a 6-6 MH I use for spinner/buzzbaits and single hook lures and a 7' spinning M that I use for finesse baits. They're decent rods for $35 and have been very durable. I caught these on closeout for $25. The BC ones are over a decade old and their's nothing wrong with them. If I broke one, I'd probably replace it with a higher quality rod. But that just doesn't seem to happen.

 

There are certainly more sensitive rods though. I use these for techniques that don't require sensitivity.

[J Francho]

Of those two choices, Berkley all the way.

[Rahlow]

Been using Berkeley rods for a long time, I like the Ugly Stick

[PAbasser927]

My brother has been enjoying his fenwick silverhawk II rods from Cabela’s.  He gets them when they are on sale for 59.99.

[soflabasser]

Both the Ugly Stik and Lighting rods are good rods for the money but I prefer the Ugly Stick since it can take much more abuse and last longer under hard fishing compared to the Lighting rod.Choose a Ugly Stik that fits your needs the best based on the way you fish.

[Happybeerbuzz]

Berkley Lightning Rod Shock and Daiwa Aird X are my two value rods of choice.

[greentrout]

On 9/14/2018 at 1:10 PM, kjfishman said:

In the under $60 price range what are your picks for rods. I am thinking either Berkley Lightning Rod 7' MH or Ugly Ugly Stick ELITE 7' MH for cranking.

 

Both are good...Shakespeare gets a bad rap...I live in an area where saltwater fishing is king...go to the piers...expensive boats and the Ugly Stik is there in large numbers...to catch BIG FISH...

 

The Elite is the NEW version with GRAPHITE and much more sensitive...fish with a friend who loves it and catches bass with it...

 

I own a Shakespeare Agility casting rod that's a composite I picked up from Shakespeare's clearance for 10.49...love it for spinnerbaits and cranks....works well for wormin' and is 6'6" med. fast 1/8 - 5/8... 

 

don't worry about rod snobs...

 

good fishing...

[georgeyew]

I have the lightning shock rod and I love it. But the new non-shock lightning rod looks awesome. Love the raw graphite look and feels pricer than what the label says.

[Peddiesake]

Berkley Lightning Rod Shock and Daiwa Aird X are my two value rods of choice.

 

these are both good recommendations by beer buzz. I have both. I use the Aird for small jigs and Shock for expanded application. Both deliver value for their price range.

[BigAngus752]

23 hours ago, kjfishman said:

In the under $60 price range

You have GOT to start shopping the sales!  Sign up for Dick's scorecard and every other store's reward crap that you can find.  Watch the sale thread on this forum like a hawk.  There are a million ways to get rods at a discount.  My favorite deals so far have been:  Powell Inferno on sale at TW for $80; M/H Vendetta for FREE when I bought a Revo SX (Gen4) on sale for $99; Lew's Carbon Fire spinning rod on sale and using a combination of Dick's rewards stuff for $40.  I agree that these aren't high end rods, but they are great rods for me.  You can find a lot of rod for $60 or less if you shop patiently and diligently.  

[r83srock]

17 hours ago, georgeyew said:

I have the lightning shock rod and I love it. But the new non-shock lightning rod looks awesome. Love the raw graphite look and feels pricer than what the label says.

Can’t agree more. Wouldn’t mind owning a bunch of them if I needed rods. I have shocks that I like every bit as much as anything else I own. I’d recommend shock or standard lightning rod. Back in the day, the lightning rod was a “good” graphite rod. I don’t think much has changed in regards to that reputation.

[WRB]

Spinning or casting? Check the Flea Market forum. Be aware of shipping costs and breakage.

Tom

[FishTank]

Fenwick HMX if you can find them on sale.

[Deeare]

On 9/14/2018 at 2:35 PM, Scarborough817 said:

only one i have under $60 is a no 8 hellbent (now the 13 defy. budget rods are not worth it you will easily end up spending more in the long run, save up some more money and get a dobyns fury 

Listen to scar!   

[Catt]

All Star Classic Series $49.99 @ Academy 

 

 

[volzfan59]

At that price point, go with the Berkley Lightning rod. They've been making them for years. Heck, I was buying them in the late 80's! Great, sensitive rod for the money. But as always, go with what is comfortable in your hands and fits your style of fishing.

[LCG]

Take the $60 and look for a better rod used. Fenwick hmg is a solid rod that should be found for that price. If you search hard enough you may find St Croix bass x or Mojo's for that price used as well. As @Scarborough817 mentioned, better to buy quality the first time. 

[Boogey Man]

BPS rods are a good bargain too and go on sale frequently

 

[jeffo21]

I use BPS rods as well boogey man and I bought a couple of Daiwa Arid X's the other day

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

All Star Classic Series $49.99 @ Academy 

 

 

These rods are $20 at one of the stores by me right now. I bought a new buzzbait rod recently and it's been pretty nice.

 

 

Lightning Rods and if you can swing a little extra, the Lightning Rod Shocks are some of the nicest budget rods out there imo. 

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, LCG said:

Take the $60 and look for a better rod used. Fenwick hmg is a solid rod that should be found for that price. If you search hard enough you may find St Croix bass x or Mojo's for that price used as well. As @Scarborough817 mentioned, better to buy quality the first time. 

Where can I find a new HMG for $60?  I'd be interested in buying a couple more at that price.  Whenever I have looked, I have been unable to find sales on the HMG line.

On 9/14/2018 at 2:35 PM, Scarborough817 said:

only one i have under $60 is a no 8 hellbent (now the 13 defy. budget rods are not worth it you will easily end up spending more in the long run, save up some more money and get a dobyns fury 

This can be true.  Especially for guys on here.  However, not everyone can afford more expensive rods.  Some that can won't spend the money feeling it isn't necessary.  Maybe they like showing up their buddies that are using $500 combos. 

 

In my case I have upgraded some of my rods, and yes I would have been better off starting with the better rods.  I wouldn't have near the number of rods I now have.  However, when I got back into fishing I was not used to spending that kind of money on fishing gear.  $100 was a lot of money to me...and still is, but I am more willing to spend it now.

 

I have a Lightning spinning rod that is over 40 years old.  It has caught more fish than any other rod I currently own.  The rod has definitely been worth it to me.  I hardly ever use it anymore, but that is because I almost never use a spinning rod.  I don't ever see me getting rid of it.