Pleasantly surprised

[Swamp Yankee]

On 7/17/2020 at 6:26 PM, Mobasser said:

Shimano Sahara 2500fi spinning reel.Smooth, light, great drag.

I’ve had a Sahara 500fd on my 5’3” Loomis Mag Light rod since I bought it... gotta be coming up on 10 years pretty soon. It’s performed flawlessly and has tamed all sorts of bass to as big as 4#, 8 oz. 
That’s my favorite set up, I use it primarily to fish weightless Zoom fluke Jr.s Texposed. 

[ajschn06]

19 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

I came THAT close to posting about the Berkley Lightning rod, but dropped the ball after other members did.

To be sure, the Lightning rod has been a low-priced, high-performing blank for decades, and still is. 

Another low-priced rod I've held in high esteem is the BPS Bionic Blade. On a low note, 

Bass Pro has since bumped up the price on their bionic blades (Today, it's just fairly priced).

 

Roger

Another one for the lightning rod- great for the price.  I picked up a Daiwa Aird-X for like $50 and it's pretty darn nice as well.....

[Herbert Lorenzo]

Berkley Lightning  Rod own several and I'm happy with their performance. 

[BassNJake]

On 7/19/2020 at 9:00 PM, MountainMan83 said:

I guess there are no Wu Tang fans up in here.

hahahahaaaa

Liquid Swords is still one of my favorites

 

I picked up 2 Lew's hank parker rods last year on clearance at wally world.

Excellent rods for the $20 I paid for each of them.

They retail at $40 and I think they are better than that price point.

They have replaced 2 falcon bucoo rods in the $100 range

[BSOD]

For my young son.  Pflueger Trion Spincast reel.  WOW is it smooth.  When he stops for a minute to play and mess around skipping rocks, I love that d**n thing.  Was shocked how nice it is for $30,

[MN Fisher]

Just now, BSOD said:

For my young son.  Pflueger Trion Spincast reel.  WOW is it smooth.  When he stops for a minute to play and mess around skipping rocks, I love that d**n thing.  Was shocked how nice it is for $30,

I've got two Trion spinning reels and they're almost as nice as my Presidents. Great reels for the budget angler.

[BSOD]

10 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I've got two Trion spinning reels and they're almost as nice as my Presidents. Great reels for the budget angler.

Good to hear someone else has had the same experience.  And for the opposite experience, the Zebco 33 was pretty bad and went back quickly.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, BSOD said:

And for the opposite experience, the Zebco 33 was pretty bad and went back quickly.

Another one to stay away from is the Diawa Shock combos.

[txchaser]

Okuma Epixor spinning reel.

 MSRP is about accurately priced, but amazon often has them for about 40% less. At that price, they are a knockout. 

[NOC 1]

On 7/19/2020 at 5:13 PM, RoLo said:

 

You're probably not interested in the painful reality:

“Procyon” is the brightest star in the “Lesser Dog” constellation (Canis minor).

One would logically deduce that Daiwa offers an upscale rod called “Sirius”,

which is the brightest star in the “Great Dog” constellation (Canis major).

But NO, Daiwa named their esoteric model “Steez”.          

 

Roger

Love the Steez gear but hate the name. "Steez" is an "urban" (read Hip-hop) appellation meaning "Style with Ease".

 

Yeah, whatever right?

[Marc Hufnagel]

On 7/18/2020 at 8:51 AM, garroyo130 said:

Lews carbon fire rods have also been a pleasant surprise. I only have the heavy action one currently but have pondered getting the Med/mod to see if its a true med/mod as the lightning rod feels like more of a med light to me than a true medium. 

Is that the Carbon Fire speed stick or Carbon Fire?  No info I can find on the rods - Dicks has some of the CFSS in stock.  Wondering how they really are?

[garroyo130]

3 minutes ago, Marc Hufnagel said:

Is that the Carbon Fire speed stick or Carbon Fire?  No info I can find on the rods - Dicks has some of the CFSS in stock.  Wondering how they really are?

Carbon Fire Speed Stick is what I have. Its been a great rod. Its decently sensitive and casts extremely well probably because of the smaller guides it has. I would highly recommend this rod. 

[BSOD]

On 7/26/2020 at 1:51 PM, Marc Hufnagel said:

Is that the Carbon Fire speed stick or Carbon Fire?  No info I can find on the rods - Dicks has some of the CFSS in stock.  Wondering how they really are?

I can also attest to these being great

[ImThatGuy]

On 7/26/2020 at 10:51 AM, Marc Hufnagel said:

Is that the Carbon Fire speed stick or Carbon Fire?  No info I can find on the rods - Dicks has some of the CFSS in stock.  Wondering how they really are?

I can also vouch for these rods. I have a few that I use for bank fishing.  They have been on sale for $40 around the holidays.  Steal at $70, ridiculous value at $40.

[PourMyOwn]

On 7/26/2020 at 1:51 PM, Marc Hufnagel said:

Is that the Carbon Fire speed stick or Carbon Fire?  No info I can find on the rods - Dicks has some of the CFSS in stock.  Wondering how they really are?

I just did a web search, the CF speed stick that came up is the new version with a lot more red. The ones that I have and love are just CF. They're probably similar or even the same with different cosmetics. Either way, Dick's still has the old Carbon Fires on their site for 49.99. 

 

I have four, and they are all light and sensitive. The 7'3" H/F is a really good frog rod, also good for punching in the grass. The spinning rods are also good, they don't fish like 40 dollar rods- which is what I paid for them. I also really like the Winn grips.

I have a bunch of other rods, most cost way more than these, but for 40-50 dollars they're a great way to build your arsenal. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 7/19/2020 at 5:40 PM, 12poundbass said:

After my Kastking rod broke and they disappointed me with their warranty the wife and son went out and bought me a Lightning Rod. I love that thing! Right now it’s rigged with a 4/0 EWG and a 3/8 oz bullet weight and I flip with it every change I get. I might go buy a couple more because they’re cheap! 

I have a ML spinning rod that is around 45 years old.  Have a Penn 430SS on it.  I seldom use a spinning rod anymore, but when I do it is this one I usually grab even though all my other spinning rods are more expensive.  Has caught everything from sunnies to bass to pickerel to bullheads, etc.  A 6' MH casting rod is my dedicated short range spinnerbait rod.

I have a ML spinning rod that is around 45 years old.  Have a Penn 430SS on it.  I seldom use a spinning rod anymore, but when I do it is this one I usually grab even though all my other spinning rods are more expensive.  Has caught everything from sunnies to bass to pickerel to bullheads, etc.  A 6' MH casting rod is my dedicated short range spinnerbait rod.

[12poundbass]

On 7/19/2020 at 6:40 PM, 12poundbass said:

After my Kastking rod broke and they disappointed me with their warranty the wife and son went out and bought me a Lightning Rod. I love that thing! Right now it’s rigged with a 4/0 EWG and a 3/8 oz bullet weight and I flip with it every change I get. I might go buy a couple more because they’re cheap! 

My Lightning Rod I was happy with is now sitting at the bottom of the lake we fished yesterday morning. My son was using it and decided to go from the front of the boat to the back, I heard a thud, and then hear “oh no”. I look back to see my Lightning Rod fading from my life forever! He tripped over the seat, hit the back deck, and there goes my pole. 
 

It’s been an expensive year so far, and we have another three months to go. 

[NYWayfarer]

Lew’s Speed Spin spinning reel $59.99 Solid and smooth. I liked this reel so much I bought another in a different size. I have more expensive spinning reels but this one has become my favorite.

 

10 bearings

13 lbs of drag (300 model)

9.4 oz (feels solid for a graphite reel)

6.2:1 gear ratio

Silver and Gray paint job goes with almost any rod. 
Combat grips
The handle does not get loose after a full day of fishing unlike those with the screw on knob on the opposite side.

 

My only complaint is it is never on sale. 

 

 

[Randy Price]

Not this year but last year I bought a Daiwa Revros 2500 LT.  I think it was $ 40-50.00.  I put it on my "do you have a rod I can borrow" rod and have been VERY pleased with it.

[lunkerboss923]

On 7/17/2020 at 4:08 PM, DitchPanda said:

What lure or piece of gear have you bought this year that has surprised you? For me it has to be my 7ft medium mod fast Berkley lightning rod. I mean it's not gonna blow your mind but for $40 I couldn't ask for much more. I love it for squarebills.

I wanted to try spincasting, so I got a Lew's TXS combo made for Academy Sports and Outdoors. So far it's worked, I'm looking for every excuse to by a Dobyns or St Croix spinning rod and I can't find one. I finally tried a dropshot with this rod and I'm hooked.