New Rod Testing?

[GTN-NY]

So if I walk into Bass Pro and see a rod I think might be nice. Looks good, price is right, action listed is right. 
but....

How do I know it’s what I really want? I’ve already bought two that aren’t working out. 
Is there a way to test it out on the showroom floor?
Maybe a length of line with a sinker on it to drag on the floor?

[WRB]

Go to a mom and pop tackle store and ask to put a reel with line and casting plug on the Rod you want to purchase and test it. Pay the few dollars extra for the service.

Or.... Go to BPS and keep buying and returning rods that feel right.

Tom

[GTN-NY]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Go to a mom and pop tackle store and ask to put a reel with line and casting plug on the Rod you want to purchase and test it. Pay the few dollars extra for the service.

Or.... Go to BPS and keep buying and returning rods that feel right.

Tom

Very few Mom n Pop places around me. The ones that are around basically have no tackle just live bait. 

[WRB]

That is a problem today few bass fishing mom and pop tackle stores are still open.

Try asking the BPS sales people if you can bring in your own reel and test the rods.

Tom

[Reel]

What is it you want to test by dragging a sinker on the floor ? Sensitivity ?

[Spankey]

Do you have any fishing buddies or acquaintances that will lend you a few different setups for you to use and try?

 

Getting to a good shop with a lot of rods is important. Crap shoot otherwise. 

[jbsoonerfan]

Well, let's see. From my observations in Bass Pro, Cabelas, etc. You can try the following. The good ol shake it like a fencing sword technique seems to be a favorite amongst many a fishermen. Of course there is also the bend in against the ground while trying to see just how far it will bend before you hear a cracking noise. One of my favorites to see is the one where one guy holds the tip while the other guy pulls up as if he is hoisting a fish.

 

Aside from the "feel" of the reel seat and grip, there isn't much you can do in the store to get a feel for the action and power.

[Spankey]

If you are at place that has a nice handful of rods there you can get a pretty good idea of tip speed and maybe do a bit of a sensitivity test on a few objects laying around the place by tapping them. Should have a reel on it though. 
 

Would think anyone with a bit of ability looking for a drop shot or mojo type rod should/could feel the difference between an Ugly Stik and a St. Croix Avid Rod. Maybe. 

[GTN-NY]

3 hours ago, Reel said:

What is it you want to test by dragging a sinker on the floor ? Sensitivity ?

Yes sensitivity

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

Do you have any fishing buddies or acquaintances that will lend you a few different setups for you to use and try?

 

Getting to a good shop with a lot of rods is important. Crap shoot otherwise. 

Unfortunately no friends that fish

[NYWayfarer]

I feel your pain. I have bought many a rod searching for the Goldilocks zone of just right. When I find it I buy multiple rods of that brand and make. Right now for me that is the St. Croix Triumph 6’6” Medium/Fast spinning rod and the Lew’s TP1 Black 7’ Medium/Moderate Fast casting rod. 
 

Come to think of it I am the same way with lots of things. Clothes and sneakers. When I find the perfect shirt or shoes I buy multiples.

[Crankin4Bass]

20 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Come to think of it I am the same way with lots of things. Clothes and sneakers. When I find the perfect shirt or shoes I buy multiples.

I think most men are that way. My wife jokes about me wearing the same thing everyday.

[NYWayfarer]

5 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I think most men are that way. My wife jokes about me wearing the same thing everyday.

Mine gives me some credit cause I buy different colors.

[Spankey]

3 hours ago, GTN said:

Yes sensitivity

Unfortunately no friends that fish

I hear that, for the longest time I couldn't get anyone to go. Fortunately my two grandsons love it and I'm trying to make bass guys out of them. Been trial and error my whole life.

 

Try to repost on the line of something like "Need rod help for ..... baits" or drop shot or jigs or crankbaits. Something on that line.

 

You will not have a problem getting opinions on rods here. But I can't buy a rod unless I touch it first.

[JustJames]

 

4 hours ago, GTN said:

Yes sensitivity

If you are gonna test out sensitivity on the rod at Store, that is gonna be tough. You cannot really compare much when dragging line out of water vs on water, also distance of line out affect sensitivity as well.

If I lucky enough to test the rod at store, I look for 3 things,
1. comfortable handle when pairing with your reel of choice. I hold my rod and reel with 3 or all fingers in front of trigger, so palm able and comfortable is very important.

Secondly, the tip bend (mostly on my UL-M rod) I want fast tip not too soft and not too stiff for different applications and not too much or weak backbone. Don’t go in store and start bending the tip top yourself (you get kick out fast) ask associates to help you. 
Lastly weight and balance of the combo.

 

With all that said, like @NYWayfarermentioned. I hardly accomplish testing rod out at store. I mostly buy online, used and test in real life fishing. I do a ton of research before I buy. If I lucky found one I like, I will buy more of that model or similar. I have 4 of Daiwa OG Tatula, 5 Shimano Crucial, 5 Majorcraft rod.  There are some I don’t like too which I sold cheap or just use as loaner. 
 

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

Mine gives me some credit cause I buy different colors.

My wife called me crazy, My t-shirts are full of the same in different color. I wear red, orange, yellow, green, purple you name it lol. My fishing shirt now is Columbia L/S Hoodie and I have 6-7 colors and still look for more when it goes on sale (only light color).

[GTN-NY]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

I hear that, for the longest time I couldn't get anyone to go. Fortunately my two grandsons love it and I'm trying to make bass guys out of them. Been trial and error my whole life.

 

Try to repost on the line of something like "Need rod help for ..... baits" or drop shot or jigs or crankbaits. Something on that line.

 

You will not have a problem getting opinions on rods here. But I can't buy a rod unless I touch it first.

Already have done that. 

so now I have a list of rods to look for and hoping to get my hands on them to see which one I get

[new2BC4bass]

Only bought one rod locally...well three if you can call a 50 minute drive one way local. 

 

I read reviews.  Check out the opinions given on posts here and other fishing forums.  Then I buy.  I've really only been disappointed once, and I hadn't researched that particular rod.  When I find a rod that I feel fishes above its price point...such as the OG Tatula and Elite Tech Smallmouth...I tend to buy several in that line (I have 6 of each).

[JustJames]

@new2BC4bassmy offer is still remain for one of that elite tech, remember?

[GTN-NY]

Well that was a disappointment!

Went to BassPro while out on the road for work. I had a list of rods to check out and to buy one. 
They basically had nothing. A few cheap outfits, a few BP rods and a couple very off brand rods. 
Oh well - TW it is!

 

Thanks everyone for your input. 
Your time and knowledge is very appreciated 

[lynxcat]

Wondering about this…anyone ever keep the tags on once received and fished with it for a short bit to see what the experience is like?

 

I’ve got a new rod that I need to evaluate the action (Shimano Expride). Plastic wrap covers the handle and there’s one tag on a guide that I think (while annoying) wouldn’t actually impact performance. I basically want to set the hook on a fish and make some casts with it. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

My new favorite rod company has a policy that allows you to send a rod back if it doesn't meet or exceed your expectations, and they do just that based on personal experience.   Obviously, they have some rules around this policy, but because they don't do brick N mortor, they understand that the angler needs to try a rod in the hand.

 

Most rod companies aren't going to like that you fished with a rod, didn't break it, but are sending it back because "it's just not for me" type deal.    

[Fishing_Rod]

Good Day!

Just a recreational angler here and I'll share my $0.02 worth. When shopping I will do a tap test and feel the difference between different rods. My personal preference is using ultra lite rigs so sensitivity is an important factor to me.

 

When doing the tap test I will gently touch different available surfaces to determine the rod's ability to communicate to me. Usually I'll gently poke at one of the hanging products nearby, something that is not a hard fixed object. I can compare how much of the contact force transmits through the rod.

 

Realize this sensitivity aspect is only one factor in selecting a usable fishing rod. Action, flexibility, is also important too. Unfortunately these are often competing qualities so you've got to find your happy solution. I say this cause you may find a really sensitive fishing rod but it may not cast as well due to limited flex, typically found with fast action rods. On the other end of the spectrum you can get a medium or slow action rod that casts really well but it is harder to feel a subtle strike. You'll be more focused to see the strike due to rod tip movement.

 

Good Luck, hopefully happier shopping! Cheers!

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by Fishing_Rod
alter word selection

[Deleted account]

On 10/20/2020 at 11:39 AM, jbsoonerfan said:

Aside from the "feel" of the reel seat and grip, there isn't much you can do in the store to get a feel for the action and power.

Ah, no. You can tell most everything about a rod that way, assuming of course you know what you are looking for. 

[Spankey]

On a medium action for more of the likes of crankbaits the sensitivity does not have to play as big a part. More of a shock absorber for swimming moving treble hook baits that are gonna get slammed or struck. 
 

Dare not to use the words “reaction strike”, will start a whole other topic. 

[MickD]

Shaking and tip jiggling don't tell anything on modern graphite bass rods.  I believe that most retail stores will take a return of an "unused" rod in the same condition as it was when purchased.  Check before buying.   Therefore one can buy it, take it home, and conduct the CCS process on it which will in no way harm the rod.  It will give objective numbers on the rod for power and action.  It will not measure sensitivity, but one can also run TNF on it to check its True Natural Frequency, and the higher it is, the more sensitive the rod probably is.  PM me for instructions on TNF.  CCS info is here:  https://www.common-cents.info/caq.htm  Do not be fooled by the focus of the CCS process on fly rods.  It was developed for fly rods but works for any rod or blank. 

 

1.  Run the tests on rods you currently own to develop data for rods you like, rods you don't, rods that work for this technique, etc.

2.  Run the tests on the purchased rod.  See how it compares and fits with what you are looking for. 

3.  Keep it or take it back.

For those who want to do CCS and don't want to invest in the 4 x 8 sheet of particle board and the space it takes, there is a way that works without all that.  I can help.