Favorite Rod Manufacturer

[The Maestro]

I haven't tried that many brands but of the ones I have tried I like my Shimanos. I have a 7'2 mh Expride coming. It will be my first rod of Shimano's current lineup. Really curious to see how the action and power compares to their older rods.

[ohboyitsrobby]

My favorite presently are falcons. But part of that is because they're the first mid to high end rod I had experience with. I have a ton of different rods though. Falcon, St Croix, dobyns, Denali, Lew's, shimano. It goes on and on.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For an off the shelf rod St Croix is hard to beat for quality, performance and selection. Custom builds are not price prohibitive as many assume and should be at least considered with other quality rods. 

[Riversidebassin]

I love my St. Croix’s!! I also have two Abu Garcia’s (Ike signatures series) and a BPS rod I rarely use. I really like my two Abu’s, but when it comes to a brand as a whole I put a lot of trust in St. Croix. I’d like to explore more brands, but it’s hard not to buy another St. Croix when I know it will be a quality rod!

[Jig Man]

My favorite manufacturer is Ark Rod.  They make rods for a lot of different companies, many of which are major brands.

[Fishaholic7lbs]

I’ve had several different rods over the years here lately I’ve landed with falcons and lews.. I’ve had Abu Garcia veritas fenwick elite techs skeet reese rods shimanos and one of my most favorite rods was a quantum smoke gen 1, wish they still made em like that. Also had some old team all star IM 10’s I wish I would have never got rid of

 

[Steveo-1969]

I'm an admitted Loomis fanboy and have a GLX spinning rod and 2 NRX casting rods. But the last two rods I purchased were a St. Croix spinning rod (MojoBass SCIII) and a custom casting rod built with a St. Croix SCV blank. I love all 5 rods and wouldn't want to choose just one manufacturer.

[Randy Price]

2 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

I'm an admitted Loomis fanboy and have a GLX spinning rod and 2 NRX casting rods. But the last two rods I purchased were a St. Croix spinning rod (MojoBass SCIII) and a custom casting rod built with a St. Croix SCV blank. I love all 5 rods and wouldn't want to choose just one manufacturer.

Steveo, I'm pretty much a SC fanboy but appreciate your honesty.  I primarily fish with SC's upper end LE rods but earlier this year I bought a new Mojo Bass 6'8" "Wacky Style" rod and have been super impressed with it for the cost!!!

[LonnieP]

I own rods made by G Loomis, Daiwa,Powell, St Croix, Kistler and Dobyns. I'd say the Kistler is my favorite and the Dobyns is my least. 

[NYWayfarer]

The rods that see the most action in my rotations are:

 

St Croix

Lew’s

Abu Garcia

Kastking

Fenwick

[aPaul19]

I've been able to use a few different brands (Abu, Shimano, Dobyns, St. Croix) and have had good luck/experiences with them but recently I tried a few of the ALX rods and i've been really impressed.  I'm planning on adding more to my lineup.

[Mobasser]

I really don't have a favorite brand with rods. I look them over, and like to take my reel and mount it on the rod before I buy it. Over the years I've used Berkley, Shimano, Lews,Fenwick, Diawa and one St Croix. Most have worked good

[flyfisher]

I honestly don't have one favorite brand.  I have owned probably 7-8 different brands and only a few I wouldn't buy again for the most part.  I do have my preferences but that can change.  A few year ago all I used pretty much were St. Croix and Kistler and now I am using Dobyns and Shimano and a St. Croix.  Only brands I have owned that I wouldn't buy again are Abu Garcia and Quantum.

[LadiMopar]

When I was much younger "brand/ manufacturer" wasn't even on the radar. After 50+ years I've fished a lot of different manufacturers, and I assume like most here of a certain age, you bought/used whatever fit the family budget. It just didn't matter as long as it got the job done.

 

The first exception to that "rule" came about 35 years ago when I splurged on a custom Lamiglas rod ;7.5' MH with a fast tip (as we used to say) built for reaching lake trout/salmon in a reservoir that to this day you can't put a boat on. It was like swinging a baseball bat, but it got the bait out further than most guys could manage.

 

Now that there is more money in the "bait monkey bank" it's Daiwa Elite Signature series rods, and the now discontinued Cabelas Tournament ZX rods, and the hands down work horse is a Cabelas Arachnid 7'1" ( all these Cabelas rods were made by Daiwa) 

 

No offense to the St.Croix guys, but my one and only 5'6" Trout series ultra light rod shattered first time out. Snapped and splintered at the second guide from the top. Had been drooling over these rods for years, and so wanted to love them, but must admit it was incredibly disappointing. 

 

As always, just my two cents..

[Steveo-1969]

16 hours ago, Randy Price said:

Steveo, I'm pretty much a SC fanboy but appreciate your honesty.  I primarily fish with SC's upper end LE rods but earlier this year I bought a new Mojo Bass 6'8" "Wacky Style" rod and have been super impressed with it for the cost!!!

This spring I bought the Mojo Bass 6'10" "Dropshot/Finesse" spinning rod and have also been impressed with it for the cost. 

[dodgeguy]

Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Patriot series

 

[.ghoti.]

Since I started building rods, I have either sold or given away a bunch of my factory rods. i had to look at the rack to see what I had left. Five Daiwa(two Steez, two Tatula, one TD-X). seven St Croix(one LE, three LTB, three Avid). Five Setyr rods. Seems I still like St Croix and Daiwa. Setyr is out of business.

 

My personal builds are on Rainshadow Immortal, St Croix SCV and SCIII, and MHX gen1 HM blanks. I have used several other blanks for customer rods, but those three are what I build for myself. 

 

 

[PaFrogThrower9]

Hands down Duckett for me. Tried a bunch of others and none compared to Duckett's for feel and quality to me.

[Barry S.]

I've used many different Shimano/G Loomis rods, various St. Croix rods, Quatum PT rods, Abu Garcia rods, Kistler and Fenwick, but from the time I bought my very first ALX custom rod back in the early 2000's, that began my transition from any rod that wasn't an ALX Rod. Now, after adding several other custom rods and countless production ALX rods, they are the only rod I use, period. They have a rod for every occasion. I fish for inshore saltwater species, nearshore saltwater species, all manner of freshwater species and all manner of techniques/presentations and I have done so for many many years and I have yet to find a fish I can't target or a technique/presentation I can't use with an ALX Rod. Between their extensive lineup of production rods and their custom rod shop, they truly a one stop rod manufacturer.

 

https://alxrods.com/

 

[Timberwolf530]

Most of my rods are those I have built myself based on Loomis IMX (Slate) & St Croix (SCIII & IV) blanks.  I also have a Mudhole MHX Pro I like.  I also have a few Loomis & St Croix factory rods, as well as several Duckett Ice.  I'm not a fan of Duckett's guides, but the rods themselves fish very nice. 

[Vilas15]

St Croix only from crappie and trout all the way up to musky. I have been to the factory a couple times. What else could a multispecies fisherman in Wisconsin ask for?

[Timberwolf530]

1 hour ago, Vilas15 said:

St Croix only from crappie and trout all the way up to musky. I have been to the factory a couple times. What else could a multispecies fisherman in Wisconsin ask for?

A cold Leine and a cheese hat??????

[Randy Price]

8 minutes ago, Timberwolf530 said:

A cold Leine and a cheese hat??????

I was thinking more of a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet with Olives myself

[MAN]

So many rods....but no favorites. Not even my own developed rods.  

[fvogel67]

St Croix