Favorite 7' to 7'3" M / F or M / Mod F Bait Cast Rod Under $125 ?

[ChrisD46]

What is your favorite M / F or M / Mod F 7' to 7'3" bait cast rod under $125 ? ... This rod will be used for top water poppers , swimming / pitching finesse jigs , Neko rigged soft plastics  and lighter crank baits and jerk baits where you don't need a super sensitive rod or too powerful of a rod - essentially the types of applications where a medium action bait cast rod won't over power an application like a medium heavy action rod would do ... Thanks in advance for replies !

 

*I had the Abu Garcia Veritas 7' M/F rod on  my short list at $99 - however there are too many complaints regarding the latest generation Veritas  having cheap or poor reel seats which easily break .

[Tywithay]

I'd look for a good deal on a Daiwa Tatula 7' MR. It's $149 regularly, but you can find them on sale. Should be memorial sales soon as well. There's not many rods that are lighter or as well built, in that price range. 

[rangerjockey]

Probably the mojo Topwater rod. Wouldn't be my first choice for a jig rod but it would work..

I fish it in the LTB version and I think the topwater rod makes a better jerkbait rod than the model labeled as a jerkbait rod. 

I like the tip better . Great popper and walking bait rod.

[NYWayfarer]

I really like the Lew’s Mach II series of rods for the applications you mention. Great jack of all trades rod for $99

[Tizi]

16 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

I'd look for a good deal on a Daiwa Tatula 7' MR. It's $149 regularly, but you can find them on sale. Should be memorial sales soon as well. There's not many rods that are lighter or as well built, in that price range. 

This is my vote too.  Excellent rod.

[dhartman]

Love my 7' Pflueger Monarch series.

$60.00

[ChrisD46]

I appreciate the replies - all rods I am not familiar with , so looking forward to research them !

[cals400ex]

I have not used a Daiwa Tatula rod, but I hear good things about them.  Since they were mentioned a few times already, Sportsmans Outfitters has them on sale for $110 now, in case your interested.  

 

I don't have any experience first-hand with anything but budget rods, so take this advice with a grain of salt....I purchased a Lew's Hank Parker Series rod from walmart for $40.  They are 6'10", I believe, and it has been a good rod for me.  They sell this one in a M or a MH.  I only have the medium, but I'm pretty content with it.  The nice part about walmart is that you can go feel both of them in store, buy the one you want, and if you don't like it, they have not given me any problems with returning fishing equipment.  

[NYWayfarer]

12 hours ago, cals400ex said:

I have not used a Daiwa Tatula rod, but I hear good things about them.  Since they were mentioned a few times already, Sportsmans Outfitters has them on sale for $110 now, in case your interested.  

 

I don't have any experience first-hand with anything but budget rods, so take this advice with a grain of salt....I purchased a Lew's Hank Parker Series rod from walmart for $40.  They are 6'10", I believe, and it has been a good rod for me.  They sell this one in a M or a MH.  I only have the medium, but I'm pretty content with it.  The nice part about walmart is that you can go feel both of them in store, buy the one you want, and if you don't like it, they have not given me any problems with returning fishing equipment.  

The Walmart exclusive Lew's Hank Parker series of casting rods are the unsung heroes of the budget rod world.

[greentrout]

Bass pro shops bionic blade ... when on sale have seen them as low as 40 dollars ... that's what i paid ... 79.99 rod ... same graphite in it as the bass pro qualifier 2 which sells for 99.99 ... very little outlay for great fishing ...

 

Kastking perigee II 3 pc offers a med and medium heavy in one rod ... 24 ton carbon fiber ... lifetime warranty on the 2 top pieces ... great rod for 69.99 ... got mine on sale a few yrs. ago for less ... 

 

good fishing ...

[bwjay]

The St. Croix Premier line has been pretty good for me. They are a little more expensive, around $150, but generally well made, reliable, and not insensitive. They have a 7'MF and 7'MLF. They tend to under-rate their powers a bit (meaning a M is closer to a MH) so if you have the ability to check them out in the store, the ML might be more what you're looking for. They do tend to be a little tip heavy as most St Croix rods are, so if you can get a heavier reel on there, or deal with a shorter rod, or both, you can get a decently balanced rod. Best luck in your search!

[Teal]

On 5/13/2020 at 11:58 AM, Tywithay said:

I'd look for a good deal on a Daiwa Tatula 7' MR. It's $149 regularly, but you can find them on sale. Should be memorial sales soon as well. There's not many rods that are lighter or as well built, in that price range. 

Sportsmans has them for 109 right now.  Tatulas are the truth.   Just a dang good rod.  Easily performs like a 200 dollar rod.  I like the soft tips and actions for those rods.   I beleive they make 7'0 medium regular taper.  If nothing else look in the the tatula xt.   

[LonnieP]

3 hours ago, Teal said:

Sportsmans has them for 109 right now.  Tatulas are the truth.   Just a dang good rod.  Easily performs like a 200 dollar rod.  I like the soft tips and actions for those rods.   I beleive they make 7'0 medium regular taper.  If nothing else look in the the tatula xt.   

I agree. Best rod you can get in that price range. 

[Teal]

56 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

I agree. Best rod you can get in that price range. 

I got two in the last month.  I like them as much as any rod that I've had, including a dobyns extreme.  All my powell rods are 7 to 9 years old and I wont go back... no knock on the powells.. I paid more for the powells and daiwa just keeps pumping out good products.. that you can find in the most random places for good deals.  That and a 5 year warranty is pretty nice.. they even have that for the xt.  The xt is pretty nice too and can be had for 80 bucks.  I got one for my son.  

[AmmoGuy]

I just picked up the 6’10” MH/F Tatula and am considering picking up the 7’ M/R. 
 

Not sure you can beat them for the $. 
the full cork grips are nice for a change. 
 

 

[ChrisD46]

*The Tatula 7' M/R is of interest ... Is the "R" like a Moderate / Fast action ? For treble hook lures  (and chatter baits) I don't like too Fast of a rod action . I am also considering a Dobyns 733c. Sierra (on sale) as they tend to be a little softer (MH is more like a strong M) and the Sierra series has a little slower tip.

[Shimano_1]

I really like the basspro carbonlite rods and the pro qualifier rods. The pro qualifier rods were on sale a couple days ago for 69 i believe.  I have one i use for shallow cranking and its been great so far. Love that if I have any problems or break one I can run to cabelas and swap it out in 15 minutes.  

[LonnieP]

4 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*The Tatula 7' M/R is of interest ... Is the "R" like a Moderate / Fast action ? For treble hook lures  (and chatter baits) I don't like too Fast of a rod action . I am also considering a Dobyns 733c. Sierra (on sale) as they tend to be a little softer (MH is more like a strong M) and the Sierra series has a little slower 

I'd say the Tatula 7' M/R is between moderate fast and fast. I have one and use it for lipless and shallow crankbaits. The Tatula M is more comparable to a Dobyns MH. I have no experience with the Sierra's but I do have a Fury 705cb and I like the Tatula a whole lot more.

[new2BC4bass]

I have a few of the older Tatula rods, but none of the new model.  I consider them an excellent value.  Yes, they run a bit heavier than the typical stated power.  You can see that from their lure ratings.  AFAIC they are a super value at $110 and a great value at retail.  They are also fairly light.  If I remember correctly, my 6'10" MHF weighs 3.63 oz.  Don't have my laptop at work...which is where the file with its weight is at.

[Teal]

11 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I have a few of the older Tatula rods, but none of the new model.  I consider them an excellent value.  Yes, they run a bit heavier than the typical stated power.  You can see that from their lure ratings.  AFAIC they are a super value at $110 and a great value at retail.  They are also fairly light.  If I remember correctly, my 6'10" MHF weighs 3.63 oz.  Don't have my laptop at work...which is where the file with its weight is at.

I can agree with that statement about the daiwas running a but higher than the listed power. I've used daiwa on and off for years. Even backntonthe light and tough days. Every one I've had seems like the mag version, it could just be that the tapers are very fast and you just dont initially see alot of flex when you shake the rod. But to be honest, I like it.  I think the 7/m/r would be good for what he wants.  

[Gazz]

I had a Lew's TP1 Black sent to me by Lew's as a warranty replacement for a much lesser rod. They were kind enough to send me the TP1 to replace a junk rod from the Custom XP combo. The rod was probably worth about $40 and the Black is $130. The TP1 Black has really blown me away. I only have experience with the MH/F model but the sensitivity is really nice at $130. It is the only Lew's rod I use and I use it alongside my Expride and others seamlessly. It is apparently tough to find the medium model online but it looks like Academy has it and you could always call Lew's directly. It's a few bucks over your price point but would say worth it. Also, I have the new model Daiwa Tatula rod paired with the new Tatula 150 reel and I have benched that combo in favor of the Lew's. It's all personal preference but that's where I stand. 

[kayaking_kev]

On 5/13/2020 at 11:45 PM, cals400ex said:

I have not used a Daiwa Tatula rod, but I hear good things about them.  Since they were mentioned a few times already, Sportsmans Outfitters has them on sale for $110 now, in case your interested.  

 

I don't have any experience first-hand with anything but budget rods, so take this advice with a grain of salt....I purchased a Lew's Hank Parker Series rod from walmart for $40.  They are 6'10", I believe, and it has been a good rod for me.  They sell this one in a M or a MH.  I only have the medium, but I'm pretty content with it.  The nice part about walmart is that you can go feel both of them in store, buy the one you want, and if you don't like it, they have not given me any problems with returning fishing equipment.  

That Lew's Hank Parker continues to impress me every time I use it, and I fish a couple $550 rods. It's not the most durable, or made of the best components, but it is very sensitive. I broke the tip on mine because of my own fault, but replaced it and have still caught some of my biggest fish with it. I had the 6'10 M version also, but it's more like a 6'8 now.

 

I did just order that Tatula 7' M/R tonight, hoping its a versatile rod. I think I'm learning my preference is for slower rods and hope to be able to throw some t-rigs and jigs with it and some open water 1/2 frogs as well, and everything in between. 

[ChrisD46]

4 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

That Lew's Hank Parker continues to impress me every time I use it, and I fish a couple $550 rods. It's not the most durable, or made of the best components, but it is very sensitive. I broke the tip on mine because of my own fault, but replaced it and have still caught some of my biggest fish with it. I had the 6'10 M version also, but it's more like a 6'8 now.

 

I did just order that Tatula 7' M/R tonight, hoping its a versatile rod. I think I'm learning my preference is for slower rods and hope to be able to throw some t-rigs and jigs with it and some open water 1/2 frogs as well, and everything in between. 

*You have to individually inspect the Hank Parker Lew's rods at WM - the ones I saw myself had curved tips and the rod guides did not line up . It's possible that if you have several of the same model to choose from you might find a good one - but conversely at a $50 price point you can't expect too much .