Best spinning rod for around 130$ or less

[Ksam1234]

Looking to get my girlfriend a decent spinning rod, she went out for the first time in years fishing with me and got her first smallmouth! I want to get her something decent I was thinking a shimano SLX or dobyns fury? Looking for something lightweight for her to use all day.  Doesn’t have to be insanely sensitive but lighter for her to use, the shimano intenza looks good to but I don’t see any reviews.  

[Born 2 fish]

I really like my Daiwa tatula spinning rod.

[Scott F]

St Croix Premieres I think are still under $130. Can’t go wrong there.

[kayaking_kev]

The SLX will be a little lighter, but the Fury is way better balanced, and actually feels lighter in hand.

[Big Hands]

I have an SLX casting rod that's a nice rod, but I recently got a new spinning rod that comes from Turners Outdoorsman, a chain of about 20 stores here in California that I really like. 

 

It's a 7'1" medium action with a reel seat where the grips meet evenly over the reel foot so it's a smooth handle in that area (as you can see in the pic).

 

It retails for $109 and their lifetime warranty on this rod allows you to replace it for half the retail price if you ever break it. 

 

Not sure you can order one right now with the current COVID situation.

[Cityangler7]

3 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

Looking to get my girlfriend a decent spinning rod, she went out for the first time in years fishing with me and got her first smallmouth! I want to get her something decent I was thinking a shimano SLX or dobyns fury? Looking for something lightweight for her to use all day.  Doesn’t have to be insanely sensitive but lighter for her to use, the shimano intenza looks good to but I don’t see any reviews.  

+ 1 on the Dobyns Fury

[garroyo130]

How long have you been together? 

 

< 1 yr = Berkley Cherrywood

1-2 yrs = Lews

> 2 yrs = Dobyns

[Fishingmickey]

I'm kinda with Garroyo there. Berkley Lighting rod would be a good deal for the bottom end price wise. St Croix Mojo bass for the upper end would be my other pick. 

[Tywithay]

Abu Garcia Venerate. I have 2 of the 7' ML and they're crazy good rods for the money. 36 ton graphite, titanium guides, and a full cork handle. Only weighs 3.8oz and above average sensitivity. 

[Dan C]

Fenwick hmg 

[Armtx77]

31 minutes ago, Dan C said:

Fenwick hmg 

 

31 minutes ago, Dan C said:

Fenwick hmg 

+1 

[kayaking_kev]

Another thing between the SLX and Fury is the warranty difference. The wrapping on my SLX says one year warranty, probably with a receipt from an authorized dealer. The Fury has a lifetime warranty with a replacement fee, unless it was a manufacturing defect, then it's free. All you need is the logo section of the rod, no receipt needed.

[Ogandrews]

I got my girlfriend a medium slx, I think it’s 6’10”. Great rod for $100, find myself stealing it all the time when I’m shore fishing. Not crazy but it is sensitive for the price. I think your for sure best option is either the st croix mojo bass or premier. I had the mojo 7’1” mf spinning rod for awhile and it was great. I use the bait casting version of the 6’8” mxf as my jerkbait/shakey head/ really finesse jig/ top water rod with a curado 70 and it is hands down the most fun combo I own to fish with. It’s incredible how light of a rod that is for the price. Super sensitive, and it has the perfect action I look for in a jerkbait rod which isn’t easy to find, and can actually be used for a lot of finesse baits. They make that same blank in their spinning line up. If you want to spend a little more the dobyns Sierra is 170 ish and is a huge step up from the Fury, I have a bunch of sierras in my collection and every one of them is awesome to fish with. Not quite as good, but I would say the Sierra is almost compareable to a g Loomis e6x in sensitivity.

[Hammer 4]

Might have a gander at the Diawa Tatula XT rods. Very light weight, good action, and they look pretty good to. Priced from 99.99 to 119.99..I have 3 of them, great value imho.

[Allen Der]

my goto smallmouth rod is a 7ft ML St Croix Eyecon (mostly ned rig and grubs).  A 6'6" M St Croix Premier is a good all around bass stick.  pair either with a 30 size pflueger president XT and you're set for under $200.

[Michigander]

My friend got his wife a 7' SLX M and she really likes it.

[WRB]

Major Craft Iovino finesse MF 6'9" spinning rod weighs 3.7 oz very well made and balanced with comfortable hande design is in the budget price at TW.

Tom

[Stephen B]

Ark Tharp series or Shimano Intenza.

[OnthePotomac]

Just picked up a 7' Medium Carbonlite for my daughter and fishing buddy for $99.99 at the Spring Classic sale with Winn grips and she is crazy about it.  Very light.

[king fisher]

Depends on if you  think she is going to want to go fishing a lot or will get bored and quit going.  If she is going to get serious about fishing then get something nice but a good value.  If she will probably only go a few times then get her the rod you have always wanted.   Then you can always use her rod when she doesn't go.  I have a friend that would always buy his wife better gear than he had.   Plan worked well until she caught on one Christmas when he bought her a shot gun.  She only hunted once, but he has never been allowed to use her gun.  The next Christmas she go jewelry.