Most sensitive jig/ t-rig casting rod under $300

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Bootlegger418 said:

Nice. Out of those which would you say is the best for jigs and t-rigs?

 

Now ya had to go & make it difficult ?

 

Lew's Custom Speed Stick Lite HM85 7'3" Medium Heavy Jig Special 

 

Taper: Moderate Fast 

Lure weight: 1/2-1 oz 

 

All around flipping-n-pitching rod for Texas Rigs & Jig-n-Craws 

[Manly Studson]

14 hours ago, Catt said:

Lew's offers some pretty sensitive rods for under your price range.

This is true. Lews is known for casting reels and (unfortunately) gimmicky color schemes. But they have affordable, sensitive rods. Their assessment of a rod’s power and action doesn’t make sense to me, but they do make good ones for a lot less than $300. The TP1 Black series of rods are great.

[NorthernBasser]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

 

I own 3 ea TP-1 Black Speed Stick  ?

I'm looking for an all-around rod for my nephew. He likes how the TP-1's look, and I've heard good things about them.

 

Have you (or anyone @Manly Studson) fished the 7'2" or 7'3" med-heavy? 

[Bootlegger418]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Now ya had to go & make it difficult ?

 

Lew's Custom Speed Stick Lite HM85 7'3" Medium Heavy Jig Special 

 

Taper: Moderate Fast 

Lure weight: 1/2-1 oz 

 

All around flipping-n-pitching rod for Texas Rigs & Jig-n-Craws 

Thanks for the suggestion. You sold me on it. The price is right, it looks good, and I'm already a Lew's fan. I'm going to get one of these, and one of another brand ( undecided) and see how they compare.

[WRB]

15 hours ago, Bootlegger418 said:

Subjective it may be. My thought is by asking anglers with more experience using rods in this price  , if a certain rod is mentioned multiple times, it will probably feel pretty good to me. Strike detection I'm pretty confident with. I've been a line holder/watcher nearly all of my life. Small differences in bottom composition and transference of vibration is what I was referring to. It was a night and day difference the day I put down the old Zebcos. I primarily use 50lb Sufix 832 to flouro leader.  You definitely can't buy time on the water. My job requires that I work 10-14 hours, 5-7 days a week. My hope is by asking the anglers in this forum for suggestions, it will greatly reduce time spent in tackle shops handling multiple rods. I then can order a suggested rod, and spend that extra time on the water instead of shopping. Do you have a recommendation?

Do you prefer a 2" fore grip lock ring cork like NRX design? If you are line holder it's needed. Most newer rods have gone back to "comfortable"  fore grip/ locking rings.

I use custom build rods in your price range to get the guide train, rod length, weight/ high mfoulus blank and reel seat. I used Alex at  ALX for my last rod build.

Tom

[Manly Studson]

7 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Have you (or anyone @Manly Studson) fished the 7'2" or 7'3" med-heavy?

I haven’t fished with that length and power. Since Lews power and action ratings are different from what I am used to, I like to purchase them in person instead of online.

[Eric 26]

I have the tp1 7’-3” med heavy mod. fast and really enjoy it. Using mine for moving baits, cranks and larger spinnerbaits. Very light and comfortable really liking the Winn grips.

[GaterB]

7 hours ago, Bootlegger418 said:

Now that is a thorough answer. Thank you sir!! Looks like there is quite a few Megabass fans. You say the taper is unique. How so?

The best example I can give is with the Perfect Pitch model. It’s a “heavy” power rod (F7 on the Megabass scale), but has a softer tip than most brand’s heavy power rod. It’s somewhere between a moderate fast and fast action. Once you set the hook, that softer tip smoothly flexes into the middle of the blank where you get the stout feel and “stopping power” of a heavy power rod. Some love it, some hate it, but for me it’s exactly what I want. Megabass rods tend to have a wide range of weights they can handle (3/8 - 1.2 oz for the PP). While they are technique specific, purpose built rods in the Orochi XX lineup, I find them capable of handling a wide variety of presentations. 

[Catt]

11 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I'm looking for an all-around rod for my nephew. He likes how the TP-1's look, and I've heard good things about them.

 

Have you (or anyone @Manly Studson) fished the 7'2" or 7'3" med-heavy? 

 

I have 2 ea TP1B70MH Worm Rods & 1 ea TP1B74H Pitching Rod

 

The 7' MH are excellent worm/jig rods for weights 1/8-1/2 oz.

 

The 7'4" H is excellent frog rod, flipping-n-pitching rod, & Medium punch rod up to 1 oz.

[GaterB]

4 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

I have a gen 1 XF PP and it is amazing.  It's a heavy but that soft tip makes it pitch plastics and jigs very well and is a great bottom contact rod.  It will also load up and a bomb a frog and then work it perfectly thanks to the soft tip.  Megabass rods are known for having these special actions or 'tapers' as slang for being just perfect for what you bought the rod for them having some surprising versatility.  A bad MB is one with a generic taper.  Those are pretty rare.  You get your 1st one because they are pretty and you keep getting more because you are usually wowed by them.   The quest then becomes what is the best MB for [insert purpose].  This often includes the used rod market as well because they sticks are limited production and in many cases an older rod is more desirable.  It is NOT a case of newer being better with MB sticks.  Its just what is in production and what is not.  They're all great.

Exactly! This is why I now have 5 MB rods from 3 different generations ?

[Bootlegger418]

19 hours ago, WRB said:

Do you prefer a 2" fore grip lock ring cork like NRX design? If you are line holder it's needed. Most newer rods have gone back to "comfortable"  fore grip/ locking rings.

I use custom build rods in your price range to get the guide train, rod length, weight/ high mfoulus blank and reel seat. I used Alex at  ALX for my last rod build.

Tom

I can't say I'd prefer it, because I've never experienced the feel, but definitely looks like it would be much more comfortable for line holding. I appreciate you pointing that out. What other rods can you recommend with this design? How do you go about getting a rod built?

[WRB]

49 minutes ago, Bootlegger418 said:

I can't say I'd prefer it, because I've never experienced the feel, but definitely looks like it would be much more comfortable for line holding. I appreciate you pointing that out. What other rods can you recommend with this design? How do you go about getting a rod built?

Call Alex at ALX and Mike at DVL. Ask them your questions and preferred rod brands to give them a idea what you are looking for including your budget. 
if you use braid with a knot and want micro guides the rod builder needs to know. Ask about shipping and warranty's etc. If you like NRX rods reference a model number, helps to define your requirements. Reference your reels used, casting distance etc.

Tom

[Bass Rutten]

On 9/3/2020 at 12:36 AM, WRB said:

You couldn't ask a more subjective question, knowone can objectively define rod sensitivity. 

Strike detection is what counts. Rods can't enhance feedback of what   the lure is doing underwater out of sight, only deaden line movements. It becomes what degree does the rod reduce lure/ line movements. The line is just as important as the rod, they work together. It comes down to personal preference and your strike detection skills. You need to touch and feel the rod to determine how it feels in your hands. Weight, castibily and balance with the lures you use and reel, line, etc. Weight is objective, 3.8 oz is about average for today's high modulus MHXF 7'3" casting rods.

You can't buy time on the water.

Tom

 

Just had an epiphany due to your above comment. I've been experimenting this year with retrieving bottom contact lures with my rod tip down and exactly inline as possible with the line/lure using only the reel to control the lure which effectively negates the rod completely, can't believe the sensitivity. Only when the rod is up or to the side does it's sensitivity matter. Hmmm.... kinda makes me question that $400 rod purchase I made last week  

[WRB]

Read my 1995 Horizontal Jigging In-Fisherman article.

PM your email and I will send copy, a photo how I hold the rod/reel with line over/under my fingers and the rod foregrip design to facilitate maximum "feel".

Tom

[Bass Rutten]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Read my 1995 Horizontal Jigging In-Fisherman article.

PM your email and I will send copy, a photo how I hold the rod/reel with line over/under my fingers and the rod foregrip design to facilitate maximum "feel".

Tom

Pm’d

[Gazz]

On 9/3/2020 at 2:48 PM, Catt said:

 

I've wrote reviews for the following 

Custom Speed Stick 

Custom Plus Speed Stick Super Grip

Custom Speed Stick Lite HM85

Super Duty Custom Plus Speed Stick HM60 

 

I own 3 ea TP-1 Black Speed Stick  ?

Lews sent me a TP-1 Black to replace the $40 junk rod that came with my custom xp combo as an eyelet popped off and the reel seat was faulty from day 1. Threat was a nice upgrade. I loved the TP-1 Black but unfortunately it may have been damaged during delivery as the tip snapped off after my 5th time using it. They are replacing it again at no charge to me but they are so heavily out of stock right now that they bumped me up to the custom plus supergrip. Not sure how I really feel about the supergrip but I’ll take an upgrade from essentially a $40 rod to a $180 rod any day of the week. It’s the 7’0 MH/F mag bass. 
 

how do you like the custom plus supergrip? Does it fish like a $180 rod or does the price tag reflect the semi gimicky grip? By the time it gets here my lake will likely be drained. I may end up just selling it for something else if I don’t like it. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Gazz said:

how do you like the custom plus supergrip? Does it fish like a $180 rod or does the price tag reflect the semi gimicky grip? 

 

The Super Grip is in my opinion is excellent for flipping, pitching, frogging, punching, or a Carolina Rig.

 

Excellent sensitive & it moves big bass quickly

 

I wasn't sure about the Super Grip but after a while I don't notice it.

[aPaul19]

I use mostly ALX rods and they’re fantastic.  For what you mentioned I’d look into their Zolo series, they sit at $230 and sounds like the Toadface or Dragger models would fit what you’re looking for but just about all of their rods fish multiple techniques really well.  

[Gazz]

1 hour ago, aPaul19 said:

I use mostly ALX rods and they’re fantastic.  For what you mentioned I’d look into their Zolo series, they sit at $230 and sounds like the Toadface or Dragger models would fit what you’re looking for but just about all of their rods fish multiple techniques really well.  

I second this. However, the toadface is probably a little heavier than you want at least in my opinion. I have the toadface and a close buddy has the deputy. The toadface is perfect for me as I got it for frogs and swim jigs and it’s amazing for that. It is pretty stiff until you get into the tip so I would highly recommend the Zolo Deputy for your average jigs and all around. My buddy won’t shut up about how much he loves the deputy. For the money, the zolo is an amazing line. 
 

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

The Super Grip is in my opinion is excellent for flipping, pitching, frogging, punching, or a Carolina Rig.

 

Excellent sensitive & it moves big bass quickly

 

I wasn't sure about the Super Grip but after a while I don't notice it.

thanks for the feedback. Do you think the magnum bass rod runs a bit heavy? Those applications seem a bit heavy for the mag bass. Well all except for Carolina rig. I don’t have it in hand yet so I don’t know but if I keep it I plan on using it just as an all around rod being MH/F. 

[Catt]

@Gazz I wouldn't be throwing Weightless Rigs on it. 

 

The whole idea of a "Magnum" series is to have a rod this kinda heavier the a standard Medium Heavy but not quite a Heavy. Ya gotta keep in mind there's no industry standards.

 

What's your definition of "heavy"?

[Catt]

I would like to add if given a choice I would prefer 2 setups, a Texas Rig & a Jig-n-Craw.

 

For my "Worm" rod I prefer a lighter (for a lack of better words) rod, while my jig rod is heavier.

 

I want both Medium Heavy X-Fast with the worm rod more towards the medium side & the jig rod more to the heavier side.

 

My Texas Rig is mostly 1/8-1/4 oz & my Jig-n-Craw is mostly 1/4-3/4 oz. Keep in mind I'm casting, flipping, & pitching with these rods.

 

The reason for 2 separate setups is my worm hook is thinner in diameter than my jig hook.

[Nibbles]

+1 for the XX Braillist

 

I like my Daiwa BLX SG rods slightly more for bottom contact but I've fished the Braillist and found it to still be a very good plastics/jig rod comparatively speaking.

[Gazz]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

I would like to add if given a choice I would prefer 2 setups, a Texas Rig & a Jig-n-Craw.

 

For my "Worm" rod I prefer a lighter (for a lack of better words) rod, while my jig rod is heavier.

 

I want both Medium Heavy X-Fast with the worm rod more towards the medium side & the jig rod more to the heavier side.

 

My Texas Rig is mostly 1/8-1/4 oz & my Jig-n-Craw is mostly 1/4-3/4 oz. Keep in mind I'm casting, flipping, & pitching with these rods.

 

The reason for 2 separate setups is my worm hook is thinner in diameter than my jig hook.

Honestly your breakdown put it into perspective a bit better for me. I’m just assuming the MH/F I’m getting is in line with the ones I currently have but that’s likely not the case. That would mostly be 3/8-1oz. When I think of flipping and pitching I usually think of a 1/2-1oz weight plus hook and trailer but that definitely depends on the situation. I have a tendency to mentally compartmentalize differen rod abilities based off of their power ratings and sometimes neglect their actual weight ratings. My jig rod is a MH/F expride and then I have a MH+ toadface for heavier apps. I also don’t do a ton with Carolina rigs but I’m looking to start. 

[MidwestBassAttack]

Although sensitivity is very subjective, my vote for a solid jig/worm rod would be a Dobyns Sierra or Champ XP 734

[Catt]

I'll give y'all another one!

 

Kistler ?