Rod shopping on a budget is a nightmare

[billmac]

Now I realize that part of this is my own fault because I'm not willing to spend major $$$ on fishing tackle, but I stopped in at Runnings today to see if I could get some decent, inexpensive rods.  It's not like they didn't have any, but finding what I wanted turned out to be impossible. They weren't sorted in any particular order or categories that I could divine.  I found several that looked pretty good, only to find they had the action listed but not the taper.  Fully half the rods were two piece.  Aaaagghh!  Who uses two piece rods except backpackers?  I don't think I saw a single rod with an extra fast tip.  7 feet seems to be an unpopular length, as most of the rods were 6 or 6'6".  I'm going to pop in at Dick's tomorrow, so fingers crossed.

[jbsoonerfan]

There are a ton of budget rods out there. Shouldn't be too hard to find one at Dick's.

 

BTW, I guess I should have asked. What's the budget?

[dave]

Previously owned...

[Angry John]

Buying used gets you a lot more but rod shipping prices are so bad now you will have to buy local for any real deals 

[billmac]

I was looking in the $50ish range.

[hwright38]

For $50 the Abu Vengeance isn't terrible. I'd rather go up another $10 though and get a Fenwick Eagle. Lew's also has their Laser SG-1 line, which seems serviceable, if only a bit heavier weight-wise than ideal.

[greentrout]

shakespeare ugly stik elite...bps tourney special...berkley lighting rod...kastking perigee II ...

 

good fishing ...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Sports-Outdoors-Fishing-Rods/zgbs/sporting-goods/3409871

 

 

 

[BoatSquirrel]

For us poboys, I have had excellent results with 13 Fishing Defy rods.  Numerous offerings for a mere $59.  

Do all rods need to be super light or sensitive?  Naw.  

If not at your local tackle shop, they can be had from our friends at TW with free shipping.

[Glaucus]

For $50, you literally can't beat the Daiwa Aird X. If I had a $50 budget for rods, I'd get Aird X casting rods with Fuego reels and Fenwick Eagle spinning rods with President reels. 

 

I got my son the Aird X / Fuego combo and it's excellent.

[r83srock]

I really like the lighting rods, and lighting rod shocks for the price. Walmart has em’.

[WRB]

St Croix Reign series.

Tom

[zell_pop1]

I am in agreement with the Fenwick Eagles, good rods for the money.

[billmac]

Is there some kind of default taper?  If the taper isn't listed on the rod, should I assume fast? Moderate?  If it's not listed I just put it back. Am I being too fussy with the little I'm willing to spend?

[LionHeart]

What do you consider to be the difference in taper and action?  Do you mean power?

[redmeansdistortion]

9 hours ago, greentrout said:

shakespeare ugly stik elite...bps tourney special...berkley lighting rod...kastking perigee II ...

 

good fishing ...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Sports-Outdoors-Fishing-Rods/zgbs/sporting-goods/3409871

 

 

 

I have every one of those, no complaints at all.  The Perigree is my favorite due to its weight and sensitivity.  Second would be the Tourney Special, followed by the Ugly Stik Elite and finally the Lightning Rod.

[NYWayfarer]

$50-$60 range: Kastking Perigee II, Abu Garcia Vengeance, Lew’s Laser SG1, Lew’s Xfinity, Fenwick Eagle. All great choices.

 

 

[Allen Der]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

St Croix Reign series.

Tom

I believe if you order two they are $50 each shipped 

[WRB]

Taper usually refers to fly rods where action refers to spinning an bait casting rod.

Fast action (taper) is a general use bass rod, moderate being slower taper for ease of casting lures like crank baits.

Your common bass rod today in spinning rods are 6'6" to 7' long, medium power, fast action using 8 lb test mono line.

re; RGS 66 MF-PC =St Croix  Reign 6'6" medium power fast action 1 piece rod, list price $65. American made by St Croix with good customer service.

It's your money spend it wisely.

Tom

[MAN]

$50 will get you some really nice rods.  Same quality rods fisherman used to win the Bass Masters Classics with.  

[billmac]

Well, I picked up 3 Lew's Carbon Fire rods.  MH/F casting, M/F casting, and M/F spinning.  Not exactly the specs I was looking for, but they were on sale for $40 each and I think I can make do with these.  They had a surprisingly low number of bare rods, and about a million rod/reel combos.  It looks like if you want something other than a Fast tip, you have to order online.  At least with the stores I have access to.

 

[greentrout]

you bought an 80 dollar rod for 40 dollars ... congrats ...

 

good fishing ...

[GReb]

From personal experience the key to cheap rods is to stay short in length and light in power. 6’6” MH is as long and powerful of a rod I’d buy under $80 or so. The longer cheap rods tend to get excessively heavy and heavier power become a cue stick

 

The difference between a $50 and $100 rod is night and day. Definitely worth the money if you can float it. Or I’d try to buy used.  

[Allen Der]

5 hours ago, billmac said:

Well, I picked up 3 Lew's Carbon Fire rods.  MH/F casting, M/F casting, and M/F spinning.  Not exactly the specs I was looking for, but they were on sale for $40 each and I think I can make do with these.  They had a surprisingly low number of bare rods, and about a million rod/reel combos.  It looks like if you want something other than a Fast tip, you have to order online.  At least with the stores I have access to.

 

use braid if you want those rods to act like an extra fast and mono if you want them moderate fast.  simple solution

[billmac]

These things have tiny guides.  I had planned to use braid with a fluoro and/or mono leader.  Will the tiny guides hurt my casting?

[dodgeguy]

54 minutes ago, billmac said:

These things have tiny guides.  I had planned to use braid with a fluoro and/or mono leader.  Will the tiny guides hurt my casting?

IMHO microguides are not leader compatible. It's just asking to pop out a insert. Why use leaders? Use either braid flouro or mono.The extra knots are not worth it IMHO