Going back to budget?

[Chris186]

Has anyone ever gone back to budget rods from higher end rods? Years ago I used all BPS extreme rods. Caught a ton of fish on them, even won tournaments on them. Then little by little I started buying more expensive rods. This past season, I noticed I actually caught more fish on my cheaper rods than my expensive ones. For example,  a few weeks ago I loaded the boat on an $79 BPS cranking stick while my Orochi XX Swingfire sat in the rod locker. It started to make me think that maybe I don't need to be buying these more expensive rods, maybe I should go back to buying budget rods. Anyone else ever experience this?

[Angry John]

When fishing moving baits high end blanks are not required.  Bottom contact and dropshot is a total different game.  Crank with an ugly stick and fish jigs on a k2.

[Bluebasser86]

I started buying expensive rods several years ago but have stopped in the last few years. I'll keep my higher end rods for feel baits, but baits like topwater, spinnerbaits, traps, cranks, frogs, really don't need a high end rod imo. 

[roadwarrior]

9 hours ago, Chris186 said:

Has anyone ever gone back to budget rods from higher end rods? 

No

 

[Deleted account]

I wouldn't call it "going back" but I own rods of all levels (and have access to pretty much everything), and for the most part I choose to use mid level ones. Not that high end rods aren't in some respects demonstrably superior, I just find that they don't do anything that increases catch for me, and they don't balance well with the heavie older reels I use. Those older Extreme sticks are really good. 

[tander]

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

No

 

Is that your final answer? ?

[Mobasser]

Like you, I have some more expensive rods as well as mid grade rods. Sometimes the way tackle is made these days, it's hard to tell a big difference.I do like my better rods for worm/ jig fishing. My grandson uses a All Star from Academy Sports which cost 50.00. Very good rod for the money. I recently looked at the new Berkley Lightning rod also. Looks and feels great for 40.00.Tackle has improved so much in the last 10 yrs, you can still catch plenty of fish with less expensive rods.

[Matt_3479]

I don’t know if I could go back personally lol. Sure I don’t need the highest end rods but they are a lot more fun to fish with. With moving baits I don’t see the point in buying the most expensive but I bought the highest end I could afford. Might not be totally worth it but ever time I pick up those rods I just love the feel and look of them. My bottom contact rods I’ll probsbly always stay with the best I can afford but my moving baits as long as they are something I like, mid-high grade I’ll get it. 

[Catt]

Define "budget"?

 

I had a G. Loomis worm rod that was accidental stepped on, I replaced it with a Shimano Crucial. I don't feel it was a down grade in quality, workmanship, or sensitive.

 

Personally I don't care who's name on the rod or the cost, if it feels good I'm happy!

[Tywithay]

I still have several higher end rods, but I have looked around for some better values. You can get some really nice rods in the $150-$200 range that compete with the $400 rods.

[scbassin]

I am with RW on this NO

[flyfisher]

I guess it all depends on your idea of high end and budget.  For me it is about balance and weight and sensitivity depending on the technique.  I also fish from a kayak and i can say that weight difference matters.  You don't think a few ounces here and there add up but they absolutely do.  I am by no means a weight freak but i try and keep things light as possible without going crazy with it all.  

I stick with rods in the 100-150 range and have been pretty happy.  

[OnthePotomac]

Being an old retired dog when I took up bass fishing on the tidal Potomac I just stuck with BPS Extremes for a few years until the Carbonlites came along, except for a KVD 7' MH for my frog rod on sale for $80 at the time and a Rick Clune 6'6" top water he designed for BPS, which I also picked up for $80 on sale when he and BPS divorced.  Both of the two later are really incredible rods.

[greentrout]

Budget...berkley cherrywood 25$...KK looks good...some under 75$...

 

good fishing...

[ww2farmer]

Yes, and then back and forth.

 

Years ago I started with round Abu  Garcia's and Berkley Lightning rods.

 

I upgraded sometime in the 2000's to  Shimano LP reels (Curado and Citica D's and E's), and some, Kistler, Fenwick and St Croix rods.

 

I then downgraded a few years ago to Daiwa, Abu, and Pflueger "budget reels" and Abu, Berkley, Daiwa, and Fenwick "budget" rods. With the oddity of having custom built rods made for my most used/favorite techniques.

 

I have recently upgraded again to Daiwa Fuego and Tatula reels, and Dobyns rods.

 

At some point, and I might be there. I have to stop and just wear the stuff out. It gets expensive and is stupid to keep switching out of boredom.

[Munkin]

Not going to budget just figuring out what works best for me. As for moving baits I have sold every high end rod since it didn't offer what I was looking for. For bottom feeling baits I have slowly upgraded but do not feel that I need a $400 rod to feel a jig. For me a St Croix Avid is the best of both worlds, it provides the sensitivity I need and does not have the weight of a lesser rod. I have sold St Croix LE rods because I did not like the handle setup and the blank upgrade was not worth the price. 

 

Allen

[soflabasser]

One of my buddies gave me one of his custom topwater rods. This rod is worth hundreds of dollars but I prefer using my Ugly Sticks for most of my bass fishing. I still have this custom topwater rod but rarely use it. It is my preference and I have caught a couple double digit bass and lost count of 8 pound or better bass. With that said no amount of money wasted on a fishing rod,reel,boat,etc will make you a much better fisherman so its best to put your time on the water wisely and you will end up doing better than most bass fishermen.

[greentrout]

13 hours ago, soflabasser said:

One of my buddies gave me one of his custom topwater rods. This rod is worth hundreds of dollars but I prefer using my Ugly Sticks for most of my bass fishing. I still have this custom topwater rod but rarely use it. It is my preference and I have caught a couple double digit bass and lost count of 8 pound or better bass. With that said no amount of money wasted on a fishing rod,reel,boat,etc will make you a much better fisherman so its best to put your time on the water wisely and you will end up doing better than most bass fishermen.

poster about a month ago posted an article about a man in GA. who documented an insane number of dd bass caught with a heavy & mh action rods that were ugly stiks --mostly with a buzzbait...

 

fished with a gentleman who only used ugly stiks...very good basser...kept his finger on the line while also watching it...caught a lot that way wormin'... 

 

good fishing...

[bayvalle]

This is a very enlightening thread. I want to catch more fish on my more expensive rods to justify the purchases but many times that is not the case.

[GeekOutdoors]

23 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

Yes, and then back and forth.

 

Years ago I started with round Abu  Garcia's and Berkley Lightning rods.

 

I upgraded sometime in the 2000's to  Shimano LP reels (Curado and Citica D's and E's), and some, Kistler, Fenwick and St Croix rods.

 

I then downgraded a few years ago to Daiwa, Abu, and Pflueger "budget reels" and Abu, Berkley, Daiwa, and Fenwick "budget" rods. With the oddity of having custom built rods made for my most used/favorite techniques.

 

I have recently upgraded again to Daiwa Fuego and Tatula reels, and Dobyns rods.

 

At some point, and I might be there. I have to stop and just wear the stuff out. It gets expensive and is stupid to keep switching out of boredom.

I thought the same. I'll complete the arsenal and keep it for a while. I might go cheaper for the few rods/reels I have yet to Buy. I Will also check on used deals 

[soflabasser]

7 hours ago, greentrout said:

poster about a month ago posted an article about a man in GA. who documented an insane number of dd bass caught with a heavy & mh action rods that were ugly stiks --mostly with a buzzbait...

 

fished with a gentleman who only used ugly stiks...very good basser...kept his finger on the line while also watching it...caught a lot that way wormin'... 

 

good fishing...

Yes that article is about Pat Cullen, who is one of the best trophy bass fisherman that has lived. He has caught at least 1,100 largemouth bass over 10 pounds each, all on Ugly Stiks and Abu Garcia baitcasters. He mastered a couple techniques and we can learn a lot from Mr.Cullen.I also fish mostly with Ugly Stiks (with Penn and Shimano reels) and do well in South Florida, enough that people offer me money for guiding but I turn them down since I am not a guide. I do take my better half, family, and close friends fishing and make sure to put them on fish to keep them happy.

[snel6424]

On 10/14/2018 at 10:25 AM, flyfisher said:

I guess it all depends on your idea of high end and budget.  For me it is about balance and weight and sensitivity depending on the technique.  I also fish from a kayak and i can say that weight difference matters.  You don't think a few ounces here and there add up but they absolutely do.  I am by no means a weight freak but i try and keep things light as possible without going crazy with it all.  

I stick with rods in the 100-150 range and have been pretty happy.  

So for rods in that range, which have you found to be the most sensitive?

[flyfisher]

2 hours ago, Colton Snelling said:

So for rods in that range, which have you found to be the most sensitive?

Sensitivity is all relative but for me i have been pleased with my duckett micro magic, shimano curado and st croix rage rods as far as sensitivity is concerned.  

[NYWayfarer]

I have a mix of budget and expensive rods.

 

I wouldn't say I have gone back to budget as I can't pass up a good deal so that's when I buy most of my budget rods.

[MrFrost]

This topic is one of the biggest reasons I am glad I found this place and YouTube before completely diving head first into the fishing hobby.  It prevented me from buying something off name brand alone, and the result after five months of fishing now under my belt, is an accumulation of six rods and six reels that all have a purpose, and are all enjoyable to use, and don't leave me feeling like I am missing out.  OSome are budget friendly, and some are most costly.  One day, I would love to have a couple nice St Croix Legen Xtreme's paired with some a couple high end reels, one for texas rigging, and one for cranking, as those are my two favorite ways to fish thus far.  Texas rigging in ponds for lmb's and cranking in rivers for smb's.