BPS Micro Lite Ultra light w/ Micro Pflueger President

[humbleangler]

I really want to do some ultra light 4lb test creek smallmouth fishing this year and kind of settled for a 6ft. BPS Micro Lite/President 20 combo. I'm happy with the reel, but really wanted a St. Croix premier rod. I just couldn't justify the $150 tag on the 6ft 2-piece for the rod alone. Anyone have any experience with the BPS rod, specifically ultra light power? 

[ratherbfishin1]

17 minutes ago, humbleangler said:

I really want to do some ultra light 4lb test creek smallmouth fishing this year and kind of settled for a 6ft. BPS Micro Lite/President 20 combo. I'm happy with the reel, but really wanted a St. Croix premier rod. I just couldn't justify the $150 tag on the 6ft 2-piece for the rod alone. Anyone have any experience with the BPS rod, specifically ultra light power? 

My friend got one and replaced it right away due to it being heavy and not really fishing well.  I've tried it and honestly hated it.  I highly recommend a St. Croix panfish series or trout series.  I have a 6' or 6'6" trout series and it is extremely light and sensitive.  The other thing you could do is if you have a Scheels near you (I see you live in midwest...) is buy their house brand ultralight rod.  I believe it is like $70 and is really similar to my St. Croix. Not to mention they have really good warranties.  That is what my friend replaced his Micro Lite with.

[Stasher1]

Imo, the Premier and Mojo are two of the worst rods for the money in St. Croix's lineup. Heavy and not as well balanced as numerous other rods in that price range.

 

If you just have to own a St. Croix but can't part with $150, look into the Triumph. Not sure if it's still the case, but they used to be built on the same blanks as the Premier, just overseas instead of in the US. That made them very similar in feel and performance, but significantly cheaper.

[jimmyjoe]

29 minutes ago, Stasher1 said:

just overseas instead of in the US.

  Just Fresnillo, Mexico. Not overseas. No rod and no blank for a rod sold by St. Croix comes from overseas. There was a VERY short period of time a few years ago when that was not true; they had sourced blanks from China. That stopped REAL quick. If you've been told different, call St. Croix.    jj

[Stasher1]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

  Just Fresnillo, Mexico. Not overseas. No rod and no blank for a rod sold by St. Croix comes from overseas. There was a VERY short period of time a few years ago when that was not true; they had sourced blanks from China. That stopped REAL quick. If you've been told different, call St. Croix.    jj

 

I could've sworn my first Triumph came with a Made in China sticker on the butt, but many years have passed since then. IIRC, (and I could very well be mistaken) the Triumph was built in China prior to SC setting up their facility in Mexico, which was the same time they released the Mojo.

[jimmyjoe]

22 minutes ago, Stasher1 said:

 

I could've sworn my first Triumph came with a Made in China sticker on the butt, but many years have passed since then. IIRC, (and I could very well be mistaken) the Triumph was built in China prior to SC setting up their facility in Mexico, which was the same time they released the Mojo.

   Correct .... on both counts.   I said, " ... they had sourced blanks from China. " What I should have written was, " ... they had sourced rods from China."  The first statement insinuates that the rods were finished here of Chinese blanks. As far as I know, that was not true. The second statement is, from what I was told by people at the factory, the true one. My choice of wording was poor, to say the least.   jj

[chameleon]

4 hours ago, humbleangler said:

I really want to do some ultra light 4lb test creek smallmouth fishing this year and kind of settled for a 6ft. BPS Micro Lite/President 20 combo. I'm happy with the reel, but really wanted a St. Croix premier rod. I just couldn't justify the $150 tag on the 6ft 2-piece for the rod alone. Anyone have any experience with the BPS rod, specifically ultra light power? 

 

 

I have this combo in the Light with the Pres20. 

 

My .02 Cents - Its my walking shore rod/Travel rod. For the price and flexibility I really enjoy it. Just fish it, my thought where if i break it/fall while walking/fishing it wasn't the end of the world. I have roughly 1.5 seasons on it and zero issues so far with the exception of the L/R cover unscrewing on me, 5 dollar fix.

[humbleangler]

19 minutes ago, chameleon said:

 

 

I have this combo in the Light with the Pres20. 

 

My .02 Cents - Its my walking shore rod/Travel rod. For the price and flexibility I really enjoy it. Just fish it, my thought where if i break it/fall while walking/fishing it wasn't the end of the world. I have roughly 1.5 seasons on it and zero issues so far with the exception of the L/R cover unscrewing on me, 5 dollar fix.

Thanks for the feedback and you echoed my thoughts...I plan on hiking and creek wading with it (also why I wanted a 2 piece) and would be really bummed slipping and cracking the stick on a tree/rock if it cost me $100+...not that I wouldn't be bummed breaking a $60 rod, but less so. Most other reviews/comments I read said it was pretty solid rod, just on the heavy side. I don't know how heavy ANY 6ft ultra light could possibly be, but if the only issue is that it's not as feather light as a St. Croix or higher end Fenwick, I'd be happy. How's the sensitivity/responsiveness/backbone for the light power?    

[humbleangler]

4 hours ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

My friend got one and replaced it right away due to it being heavy and not really fishing well.  I've tried it and honestly hated it.  I highly recommend a St. Croix panfish series or trout series.  I have a 6' or 6'6" trout series and it is extremely light and sensitive.  The other thing you could do is if you have a Scheels near you (I see you live in midwest...) is buy their house brand ultralight rod.  I believe it is like $70 and is really similar to my St. Croix. Not to mention they have really good warranties.  That is what my friend replaced his Micro Lite with.

Well, I'm going to beat this one up and hopefully get some solid use out of it, but the winters in Chicago are long and I'm sure Cabin Fever will trigger another impulse buy and convince me I "NEED" the TSS60ULF before the ponds thaw

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

12 hours ago, humbleangler said:

I really want to do some ultra light 4lb test creek smallmouth fishing this year and kind of settled for a 6ft. BPS Micro Lite/President 20 combo. I'm happy with the reel, but really wanted a St. Croix premier rod. I just couldn't justify the $150 tag on the 6ft 2-piece for the rod alone. Anyone have any experience with the BPS rod, specifically ultra light power? 

Dont know if this will ease your wanting. I have an UL St Croix Premier snagged on clearance at DSG for $24. Having used it for a few years now no way I would pay or feel its worth $120-$150. So dont think you will miss out by going with the BPS model.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

@humbleangler:  Just a thought.  I never use a credit card for online shopping after being bitten in the butt.  If I make an online purchase, I go through the checkout procedure up to the point where I know the exact amount including taxes and shipping, then buys gift card for that exact amount and complete the transaction.  Works well for me and worth the extra couple of bucks to buy the card.  But, remember to go online to register the gift card. Some vendors (Tackle Warehouse, for example) wouldn’t accept the gift card until I registered it.  No hassles and the piece of mind is definitely worth it.

[waymont]

9 hours ago, humbleangler said:

I gotta say, this Kuying Teton thing is intriguing...but AliExpress? I really don't want them having my CC info. 

I've been buying for years with a CC no problem. BUT if you are worried you can use PayPal but it seems most sellers ask for a small fee to use PayPal.

[Bankbeater]

I have the size 30 president on a 7' ML 2 piece BPS microlite rod.  I use it for small crankbaits, split shot rigs, and weightless 4" worms.  I've never had an issue with the weight of the rod or sensitivity.  Someday down the road, I might get a higher price rod, but for right now this one is working fine.

[fishwizzard]

15 hours ago, humbleangler said:

I gotta say, this Kuying Teton thing is intriguing...but AliExpress? I really don't want them having my CC info. 

I don't understand this line of thinking these days, you can set your card to send you a txt or email every time something is changed on it and federal law severely limits/eliminates the liability for having your number stolen so long as you report it promptly even if you card has a zero-liability policy, which most major banks do. 

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0213-lost-or-stolen-credit-atm-and-debit-cards

 

 

 

[humbleangler]

So I received the combo today...better than I anticipated...more power in a UL rod than I anticipated. Really don't care for the lack of guide inserts when they're just stainless and a hook holder would be nice, but overall, pairs well and looks like it will be used often. 

[volzfan59]

I own the 48" version of the BPS Micro Lite rod with a Tennessee handle. Get this, I bought mine in 1988! Been a great rod for wading. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about retiring the old girl, just can't bring myself to do it.