Looking for a good fishing rod brand that won't brake the bank

[EliteTV]

I am looking for a good rod for crankbaits for around 100 to 150 dollars. I was looking at the okuma tcs rods but I was wondering what else was out there I am also using a baitcasting reel. Also if you could recommend good brands to look at in the future it and what brands to stay away from I would appreciate it.

 

Thanks for looking and taking the time to answer

[ike8120]

I have a Dobyns FR705CB also you may want to look at the KK Speed Demon Pro rods.

[Shimano_1]

The okuma tcs rods are fantastic.  My buddy uses several and I've fished them several times.  The shimano slx rods and basspro carbonlite 2.0 are also very nice rods in ur price range. Not sure you can go wrong with most rods over the 100 range. Just shop around and find deals on whatever you want.  

[flywall99]

Dobyns has good rods in that range. If you can go a little higher then $150, dobyns sierra is worth the extra money over the fury in my opinion. 

[jakkbauer]

dobyns. just go with it. options no matter the price range for quality rods

[FishingGeekTX]

Just check the warranty is decent and that you like the looks/aesthetics.  After that, how it pairs with your reel and fishes, but you can only know what after purchase.

 

I purchase rods lately based on weight, I prefer a stiffer rod (in any taper), and lastly aesthetics/brand at that price range.  I also like winn grips at <$200 at the moment for my pond/mud rods that get more dirty than boat rods.

If you can find out if you care about weight, relative "stiffness", that's much of the selection right there.

 

Lews has an entire speed stick crankbait series in that price range.

St Croix Mojo has a glass crankbait series in that price range.

 

I don't have either of these in crankbait, but I have rods from Lews (speed stick lite with winn grips), and a Mojobass for topwater, both light and nice rods.

 

I originally got a Dobyns 705cb and found it too whippy for me.  And I find the Fury's too heavy for my taste, I prefer a lighter rod to fish all day.

 

I think I ended up with a crankbait rod from Fishing 13 that was on clearance, I think they are still $89 at tacklewarehouse on sale. 

I also got a MB Levante flatside special, both lighter and stiffer (But $200).

I haven't fished much CB this year personally, been topwater, and bottom primarily.

 

[LonnieP]

20 minutes ago, FishingGeekTX said:

 

 

 

I originally got a Dobyns 705cb and found it too whippy for me.  And I find the Fury's too heavy for my taste, I prefer a lighter rod to fish all day.

 

I like my Daiwa Tatula 7’ M/R for crankbaits. I also have a Fury 705cb and I agree with you about them being heavy. I especially notice it when I start using the Fury after I’ve had the Daiwa in my hands for a couple of hours. 

[Todd2]

All Star...I have several and like them all.

[jakkbauer]

14 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

I like my Daiwa Tatula 7’ M/R for crankbaits. I also have a Fury 705cb and I agree with you about them being heavy. I especially notice it when I start using the Fury after I’ve had the Daiwa in my hands for a couple of hours. 

Ive got the champion XP and it is much lighter but not in his price range. I do have a fury for my 795sb and that is a bit heavy to be honest but still a great rod for what im using it for

[J._Bricker]

Hey @EliteTV, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums! At your price point for cranking rods, IMO any of the well know brands make a rod that should do a fine job. Personally, I don’t put much stock in sensitivity when I’m chucking and winding. My belief is those rods are better suited for other techniques where sensitivity is more important.

 

As for the Okuma brand, I have a few of the Okuma Reflections rods. My PB came on that model rod and I don’t think she cared at the time how much I spent. The blanks are good enough, but the guides are brittle. On the flip side, I did fish a guy who threw cranks and chatter baits on Loomis GLX’s...

 

Find a rod you like, that’ll do what you want at a price you can live with and take it from there 

 

[Fishes in trees]

I don't know about you, but I'm not big on ordering rods that I haven't touched & messed with.  If it were me, I'd shop local to find something I like.  If it takes a road trip to get to a store that has a better assortment than what you've got - do that.

[Catt]

Lew's TP-1 Black 

 

If ya aint tried one the Winn grips are amazing ?

[FrankN209]

For me, Powell 3DMax's, and like J._Bricker said, Okumas are good rods for the lower price point.  

[greentrout]

i'd check out kastking's pro line ... highly rated and keep money for other fishing needs ...

 

good fishing ...

 

 

 

 

[Spoons1]

Id suggest a fenwick. I will be purchasing either the HMX($99) or the elite tech($140) to pair with my tatula CT. But the HMX's seem real nice. 

[FishingGeekTX]

Regarding Kastking, I think tomorrow is a big Amazon sale day, so you may want to factor that in.  You may be able to get a nice % off what are already lower priced rods.  They have a crankbait specific.  I have no Kastking rods, so I have no idea how they rate. 

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Most every brand has offerings across a range of prices. You’ll get better opinions by posting a budget 

[Mikeltee]

I have a dobyns champ 765cb and it's great for medium size CBs and traps. It's know as the do it all crankin rod. I just ordered a Quantum Tour kvd from dicks for 77 for shallows. I went this direction because Ajay uses several of them and CBs don't require extreme sensitivity. I can't wait to try it out. 

[dodgeguy]

Get a Bass pro shops rod.Bass pro shop rods are excellent.a carbonlite is around your price range.A Johnny Morris signature series is also.

[bowhunter63]

Carbonlight *2

[LadiMopar]

8 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I don't know about you, but I'm not big on ordering rods that I haven't touched & messed with.  If it were me, I'd shop local to find something I like.  If it takes a road trip to get to a store that has a better assortment than what you've got - do that.

 

I'm a Daiwa girl through and througn, but I agree completely with Fishes in trees on this. It would be a pity to buy a rod (at most any price point) that you haven't had a chance to handle. It might not be quite as important to you guys but having a smaller hand in my case makes a big difference in how a rod feels and responds on the water. 

 

So, do take other people's thoughts with you, but do yourself a favor before locking into any one brand....try them out as best as is possible before laying down the cash.

[Boomstick]

For brands and lines of rods, there's a few I own and would recommend. The Daiwa Tatula rods are fantastic, and I bought the 7' M/R glass rod last black Friday and it casts crankbaits a mile -- if you don't mind the extra weight of a glass rod, I would highly recommend that. I have rods in the St. Croix Avid X and Mojo Bass lines and also the Dobyns Sierra line, all of which I would recommend.

 

Not all rods in this price range are even any good. If I tap the tips of my rods on something, I can feel it (even my glass rods), but I have walked into stores and gave the same tip test to some other rods and literally felt nothing.

[ww2farmer]

Dobyns, Falcon, St Croix, Daiwa, Shimano, Abu Garcia, Berkley and Fenwick all make excellent rods in your quoted $100-$150 price range.

 

My preference lately has been Dobyns Fury's. But I picked up some Falcon Low-Riders on sale recently and they have been fantastic as well.