$250 range for a rod - options at Bass Pro

[HeyCoach]

I have a gift card for $250 at Bass Pro and am wanting a good shaky head, weightless Senko, soft plastics, light jig spinning rod. I’m wanting to stick to a medium fast rod at about a 7 foot length. 

 

I have a few St. Croix Mojo Bass rods and am leaning towards getting a St. Croix Legend Tournament. But, I know that there are some Shimano rods and G Loomis IMX rods at the same price point. 

 

[Dens228]

I'm a devoted St. Croix guy, so my answer is...................................

[Chance_Taker4]

There are 2 rods I have recently handled a Bass Pro that I really liked and almost purchased. Those being the G Loomis IMX and Fenwick AETOS. Out of those two with no on water experience the AETOS balanced better with my Revo Rocket Spinning reel than the IMX but both felt great and light.

[LonnieP]

Your options are very limited at BPS for rods. I would go with an Avid x or LTB or use your gift card at Cabela’s on an ALX Zolo.

[LCG]

I have a mojo bass 6'8 m-xf spinning rod that is a great rod for plastics. I also have an avid x 6'6 Mh-f casting rod that is even better, but the avid x has micro guides so that may be a factor. I use braid to leader so I stick with the mojo for spinning, but if I didn't use a leader I would replace it with an avid x in a heartbeat. Amazing sensitivity and comfort. 

[CrankFate]

Just buy something with half the weight of the mojo and you’ll be happier no matter what it is.

[Heartland]

4 hours ago, HeyCoach said:

I have a gift card for $250 at Bass Pro and am wanting a good shaky head, weightless Senko, soft plastics, light jig spinning rod. I’m wanting to stick to a medium fast rod at about a 7 foot length. 

 

I have a few St. Croix Mojo Bass rods and am leaning towards getting a St. Croix Legend Tournament. But, I know that there are some Shimano rods and G Loomis IMX rods at the same price point. 

 

The TBS610 MLXF and TBS610MXF are both really nice rods for your intended purposes.  St. Croix is a great company to work with they really take care of their customers.

[deadadrift89]

FWIW if your local Bass Pro doesn't have the rods your interested in you can have them transferred from one of their other stores to your local store or at least mine did. My wife gave me around same amount on gift card a few years ago and one of the staff in fishing department had a Cara and Legend Tournament from another store sent so I could try them out. I don't know if that's the norm for them because I was in there a lot back then getting plastics all the time and always talking with staff  

[FishTank]

6 hours ago, HeyCoach said:

I have a gift card for $250 at Bass Pro and am wanting a good shaky head, weightless Senko, soft plastics, light jig spinning rod. I’m wanting to stick to a medium fast rod at about a 7 foot length. 

 

I have a few St. Croix Mojo Bass rods and am leaning towards getting a St. Croix Legend Tournament. But, I know that there are some Shimano rods and G Loomis IMX rods at the same price point. 

 

 

If it were me, I would go with the Legend Tournament 6'8'' MXF. I believe it would handle all of the techniques mentioned but it may feel a little stiff for drop shot fishing and shaky head.  If quick hook sets on light line are the objectives, this rod is great. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

At my local bass pro the most expensive rod is the avid X.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Of the Croix rods I have the LTB casting rod I like the least. Id save and get an Avid.

[fvogel67]

8 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Of the Croix rods I have the LTB casting rod I like the least. Id save and get an Avid.

On the Bass Pro website, LTB-279.99  Avid X-219.99

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, fvogel67 said:

On the Bass Pro website, LTB-279.99  Avid X-219.99

Yeah saves $60 put that towards some Tatsu.

[HeyCoach]

I may go with the Avid X if it’s really that much better than the Mojo.

 

Are they better than the G Loomis rods?

[evo2s197]

I've had numerous St. Croix  and G Loomis rods, definitely stay away from the E6X even the new 2018 model unless you can get it for under $120, it's not a good value at its retail price.

 

If you are thinking about Loomis, they are excellent rods some of the best if you stay with the GLX or NRX, the IMX is  not a good value for the price point, you have much better options in that price range.

 

As Far as St. Croix goes, you will definitely notice a difference between the Mojo and Avid or Avid X, the Avid series feel more balanced, they have a much better build quality, better warranty and are more sensitive, the avid series is overall more refined than the Mojo series.

 

In fact the Avid series are some if my favorite rods in the low 200 dollar range.

[Joshua van Wyk]

What do you guys think of the Shimano Zodias vs Avid x?

 

[evo2s197]

The Zodias can't compare to St. Croix as far as warranty.

 

15 year for st croix vs 1 year for the Zodias, essentially a tail light warranty.

[HeyCoach]

How is the Zodias vs an Avid X? Bass Pro has a Medium Extra Fast Avid X and a Medium Fast Zodias. 

[evo2s197]

A medium extra fast St croix is a light medium heavy rod compared to other brands, so its gonna be very versatile, st croix underates the blanks, it can do a lot of things very well.

 

Plus cork handles I feel are more sensitive than EVA, they use eva foam for cushioning in other industries......

[Deeare]

Whatever rod you buy you should wait for the rod trade-in offer they have in February. You'll save up to $50.   And if they don't have the rod you want they should be able to ship it to the store.