Duckett Jacob Wheeler rods

[plawren53202]

Anyone used these and have an opinion? I searched but could only find one thread, from March that no one responded to. 

 

I have shaken one in Academy and they seem good, but hard to evaluate standing in a store aisle. The price point is within the range I would spend for a good rod. And I like the looks of them, as goofy as that might be to factor in when buying a rod (and I can see not everyone liking the look). My main concern with a rod is sensitivity, so I'd be interested in hearing anyone's experience with that in particular.

[plawren53202]

19 hours ago, plawren53202 said:

Anyone used these and have an opinion? I searched but could only find one thread, from March that no one responded to. 

 

I have shaken one in Academy and they seem good, but hard to evaluate standing in a store aisle. The price point is within the range I would spend for a good rod. And I like the looks of them, as goofy as that might be to factor in when buying a rod (and I can see not everyone liking the look). My main concern with a rod is sensitivity, so I'd be interested in hearing anyone's experience with that in particular.

Uh oh, looks like my thread is headed for the same fate ?

 

No one with experience with these rods? They seem to get good reviews on TW etc. but I never know how much to trust those or how many are paid by the company. Someone save me from buying a rod based entirely on liking the looks and internet reviews LOL! (or tell me it would be great, if that's the case)

[WRB]

TW doesn't provide any line/lure rating? 

Tom

[Tennessee Boy]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

TW doesn't provide any line/lure rating? 

Tom

I don't think Duckett provides line/lure rating on any of his rods.  Maybe he never got that information from the Chinese factory that made the rods.

[plawren53202]

You are correct, neither TW nor Duckett's website give line/lure ratings. Even more than that, though, I was just looking for firsthand observations and experience on the water with them. I put a lot more value in that than what a manufacturer or retailer says about a rod.

[GReb]

There are several really nice, proven rods in that price range. What are you using the rod for? I’m not saying duckett rods are bad but I’d never spend my money on one 

[plawren53202]

22 minutes ago, GReb said:

There are several really nice, proven rods in that price range. What are you using the rod for? I’m not saying duckett rods are bad but I’d never spend my money on one 

At present I only have a "jack of all trades" baitcasting combo, a Dobyns Fury/Lew's Tournament MP in Med Heavy/Fast (the 733C). I do really like this combo. I'm thinking about branching out to a second casting combo that is more specialized, either a Heavy rod that could serve for pitching jigs and dragging big Carolina rig worms; or something a little softer for crankbaits and other moving/treble hook baits. I'm leaning toward the softer option because I fish a lot of squarebills in the spring, and a Whopper Plopper and Spook a lot in the summer and fall; also fish lipless cranks a lot all year.

 

As much as I love the Fury/Tournament MP combo, it is definitely a very conservative looking combo. I recently added two spinning combos, and they are really subdued looking too LOL (Dobyns Fury M/Shimano Sahara, and Daiwa Aird X ML/Daiwa Regal). I know it's petty and stupid but I really like eye catching combos. When I got the Fury/MP I had to fight really hard not to get the Lew's Mach Crush combo, even knowing the reel was not aluminum frame, because it just looks so darn cool. So I really wouldn't mind if my next combo was something a little more eye catching. Thus my interest in the Wheeler rods. I know some people might not like the looks but I think they are really cool looking.

 

Obviously I do not want to get something that looks cool but is crap, I know there's lots of that out there. I hear good things about Duckett rods so this seemed like one that would have good looks and back up with quality, but I am struggling to find firsthand comments about them (maybe that itself is a sign?).

[EWREX]

check out 13 fate black rods. they're lime green for your flashy looking needs and an overall super solid rod especially for 99 bucks. 

[WRB]

Can't offer anything possitive about Duckett rods from watching MLF breaking several over the past few years.

I am sure Wheeler doesn't want his name associated with poor quality, if you handled the rod and like it try it!

Tom

[EzyEric]

I will give a detailed review for you, but side story first:
 

So Sportsman Outfitters had a good deal on these earlier this year ($110 I think it was) so I just picked one up on a whim as I really like the way Wheeler fishes and what he looks for in a rod (more parabolic).  I have tons of respect for Wheeler but I dislike Duckett and therefor his products as a default.  It's a very biased opinion, I can easily admit. The only negative I saw with his rods were exactly what was mentioned above where the early versions of the rods were breaking on the Pros a lot on MLF shows.  From what I heard they had a quality issue and figured that out by the next versions of the rods. Also seeing him practically give away his rods at the last few classic expos also did not leave good feeling with me.  In hindsight I almost think he did that to have his name flying all around THE BassMaster event which is now in competition with.  But given the fact I respect Wheeler (and have also grown to line him actually) , and I wanted another all around rod I picked one up on a Whim one morning.

 

I have the 7'0" Medium Heavy Casting rod.

 

When I first got it in my hands I thought it was a little stiffer than I was hoping/expecting and I also seemed less sensitive than other rods I had.  I was very impressed with how light it felt though. After using it for the past few months I have really grown to like it quite a bit.  I can get more of my hand on the actual rod due to the truely split grip.  This may not work well for you if you have large hands though. I think the tip ended up being soft enough  and the rod sensitive enough for throwing the types of lures I have been (topwater and moving baits other than crankbaits).  I have been running braid to flouro leader and my connection knot has caught on the top guide more often than I am used to.  This is probably due to the micro (or nearly micro) guides.  It has worked great for top water lures and a chatterbait.  I have become very accurate at doing roll casts with it.  I have rod flipped up to 4lbers with it and it took that very well even though I usually regret doing that every time.

 

To summarize:

• I think you can probably find a more sensitive rod at the price point (Dobyns Sierra being my first thought)
• Its very light and feels nice in the hand
• The action (at least on the rod on got) really lends to casting accuracy and distance
• I would probably only buy it again if it was on sale

If you are getting it on sale I think you should probably go for it.  I would really like another opinion on this forum :). 

 

Hope this helps, please ask me for more details if needed.  (P.S. I agree it looks very nice, wish more of it was blue than white though). 

 

EDIT: Also I think those reviews on TW about the sensitivity are fake.  There are multiple and they look similar. 

 

[plawren53202]

6 minutes ago, EzyEric said:

To summarize:

• I think you can probably find a more sensitive rod at the price point (Dobyns Sierra being my first though)
• Its very light and feels nice in the hand
• The action (at least on the rod on got) really lends to casting accuracy and distance
• I would probably only buy it again if it was on sale

If you are getting it on sale I think you should probably go for it.  I would really like another opinion on this forum :). 

 

That was incredibly helpful. Thanks so much for the detailed review.

[NYWayfarer]

I like the looks as well. The blue reminds me of my Field and Stream Tec Spec Elite rods. Those rods are beautifully colored broomsticks. Got them for $19 down from $80.

 

I know you expressed interest in the Mach Crush combo. If you can get it on sale I would recommend it. Mine is one of most heavily used combos as it it one of my farthest casting reels I own. It’s noisy and plastic but it works and takes a beating. 
 

Your conservative looking combos comment hit home with me. I like stuff that looks good as well as performs good.

[Chris186]

At one time all my rods were Ducketts. Now I only have one, but it’s not because I didn’t like them. I just wanted something different. I have only broken one Duckett, and it was actually my fault. The one I still have is an original Micro Magic from when they first came out, and that rod has caught a ton of fish. I had a Wheeler series rod and honestly, it was my least favorite of the Ducketts.  I had a 7’0 MH, and while light, I feel like it was more between a MH and a Heavy. It also was not as sensitive as I was hoping for, so I ended up getting rid of it. Not to say you won’t love it, but for me it was a no go.

[plawren53202]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. At this point as much as I like the looks of the rod I'm kind of feeling "meh" about it. Maybe if I can catch it on sale sometime. 

[Takemetothebank]

I have a duckett silverado I bought as a jerkbait rod as I don’t want to spend 250$ on a Dobyns champion that is only for jerkbaits and small spooks. I got a 6’10 medium fast action and it is perfect. It’s super light really sensitive for a 99$ Rod and the action is everything I wanted and more it can throw the small size 9 and 12 rapalla rip stops as well as your normal 110s it also has enough tip to really get bigger jerk-baits to flash but also not too much to where your pulling hooks I love this rod for jerkbaits and small spooks I have hooked around 50 fish and only lost one small one while I tried to flip him a little too green. In my opinion this rod beats the Dobyns fury in weight significantly and has a little more tip than a Dobyns 703 but it loads quite a bit easier it actually made me trade in my 703 for a 733 for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits and swim jigs 

[FrnkNsteen]

I can't speak to the Duckett Wheeler rods specifically. Thought about buying them repeatedly because I really like Wheeler.

 

Truth is though that I've had multiple Duckett rods because I always thought they were sharp and wanted to give them a chance. I had three different Micro Magic Pro in 7' M cranking rods (2) and a MH. Also had a 7' M Incite cranking, a 7'3" H Ghost. And a 7'4" Terex Dean Rojas series frogging rod. 

 

Traded all of the except the Rojas frogging rod in on other things last year. Just didn't care for them. Tried over and over to give them a chance but always thought they had too soft of tips. Got tired of setting them aside over and over and finally gave up on them.