Significant Rod Upgrade Recommendations

[Happybeerbuzz]

A couple points of where I am coming from in order to clarify what I am asking for.  

1)  I am comfortable with all my gear.  I have enough Fuegos and Curados to fill the arsenal of reels.  My rods consist mostly of  Daiwa Aird X level rods.  

2)  I am not in a hurry so I am willing to take my time and save/spend more or patiently shop used.  

3)  I appreciate bang for your buck.  I am not looking for a marginal upgrade from Aird X nor spend a lot more for a rod that is only marginally better than the model below it.  

4)  I am not loyal to any particular brand as long as it is not manufactured in China.  At the same time, I am open to buying all the variations of a single brand/model.  

 

The way I view reels is that there is the $100 tier reel like the Fuego CT or SLX.  Then their tiers of quality above it like the various Tatulas other SLXs and Curados.  What I am looking for is insight on the best value rods that are two tiers or better than what I amusing.  Where is the threshold for the greatest leap in terms of value or am I looking for this to be too tidy?

[Dens228]

What do you consider being two tier levels up?  Are you going by cost?  

In the $200 range I really like the St. Croix Avids, in the $300 range I'm an Orochi XX guy all the way. 

[MidwestBassAttack]

Dobyns Champion XP 734......DX 744 if your feeling extra saucy

[FishTank]

The St. Croix Avid is a great "Best Bang For the Buck" rod.    The whole series is great but for crankbaits I would go with the Legend Glass from St. Croix.  Next step up from that for me is the G. Loomis IMX. 

[jimmyjoe]

   Yes, in a way you're looking at this in too tidy a way. Manufacturers' ideas of giving their customers the value that you're asking about was to trickle-down the specializations of the expensive stuff to the lower-priced lines. A nice idea, but I suspect that the idea was actually to sell more rods that way.

   A bad side effect of this type of manufacturing is that the "threshold" you wanted to see is becoming blurred and fast fading away.

   If you want recommendations for two levels up, you'll need to tell us which techniques that you use, and which ones you don't use. Then someone can give their opinions on value for those techniques.

   As for staying away from China ..... the American-made rods that I (personally) like the best are Cashion and St. Croix. As people answer your question, you'll see that there are others, too.

   Good luck in your search!    jj

[Cgolf]

I have a Dobyn champ XP I am really happy with along with a st Croix avid X that I also like. I know when I asked a similar question the answers I got led me to believe a jump from a 100 buck rod to say a 200 buck rod gained you a lot of sensitivity. But going from a 200 to a 300 dollar rod the jump in sensitivity was less but maybe the rod was lighter too. So I have settled on rods in the 200 range give or take a little. 
 

That said one of my favorite cranking rods is a st Croix premier medium heavy moderate action. 

[The Maestro]

If your reason to stay away from rods made in China is because you want to support American workers that's one thing. But if you don't want them because of quality concerns I'd say your doing yourself a disservice. For example the Shimano Expride line would probably fall into exactly the "bang for buck" category you're looking for.

[Happybeerbuzz]

36 minutes ago, cgolf said:

I have a Dobyn champ XP I am really happy with along with a st Croix avid X that I also like. I know when I asked a similar question the answers I got led me to believe a jump from a 100 buck rod to say a 200 buck rod gained you a lot of sensitivity. But going from a 200 to a 300 dollar rod the jump in sensitivity was less but maybe the rod was lighter too. So I have settled on rods in the 200 range give or take a little. 
 

That said one of my favorite cranking rods is a st Croix premier medium heavy moderate action. 

This is the same thing I am attempting to work out.  I am start to sense the St. Croix Avid X or equivalent is a benchmark for a bang for your buck rod. 

[jimmyjoe]

4 minutes ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

....... I am start to sense the St. Croix Avid X or equivalent is a benchmark for a bang for your buck rod. 

 

   The Avid-X rods are split grip. The Avid are full grip. That might make a difference to you, might not.    jj

[Happybeerbuzz]

1 minute ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   The Avid-X rods are split grip. The Avid are full grip. That might make a difference to you, might not.    jj

Are they the same rod blank? 
 

Once I get a better understanding of rods over$60, I will start working out specific details.  

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

Are they the same rod blank? 
 

Once I get a better understanding of rods over$60, I will start working out specific details.  

 

   The material in both is SC3. That's Saint Croix 3rd level blank formulation. SC1 is fiberglass, SC2 is the original graphite from 20-30 years ago, and like all companies, they can blend the graphite with fiberglass to achieve a composite blank with the action, weight and durability that they want.

   SC3 is their somewhat newer (workhorse) graphite formulation. The level above these is the Legend family, and those have SC4 and SC6 formulations.

   Here's the problem: The manufacturer can use the exact same materials, but make small changes to the design that are deemed appropriate, and maybe, just maybe, the customer can't even notice. Not won't notice, but can't notice.

   So are they the exact same materials? Yes.

   Are they the exact same blank? I don't know, but I would say from the standpoint of the end user that yes, they are.

   Confusing, isn't it?     ?     jj

[txchaser]

Kistler H3 is regularly available on sale below $300 and is made in Houston.

For what it is worth, my experience of sensitivity is dramatically different than an Avid-x I have.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

4 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   The material in both is SC3. That's Saint Croix 3rd level blank formulation. SC1 is fiberglass, SC2 is the original graphite from 20-30 years ago, and like all companies, they can blend the graphite with fiberglass to achieve a composite blank with the action, weight and durability that they want.

   SC3 is their somewhat newer (workhorse) graphite formulation. The level above these is the Legend family, and those have SC4 and SC6 formulations.

   Here's the problem: The manufacturer can use the exact same materials, but make small changes to the design that are deemed appropriate, and maybe, just maybe, the customer can't even notice. Not won't notice, but can't notice.

   So are they the exact same materials? Yes.

   Are they the exact same blank? I don't know, but I would say from the standpoint of the end user that yes, they are.

   Confusing, isn't it?     ?     jj

The SC2 blanks have changed in the past 15 considerably and they have had the higher SC grades for just as long.  I have old SC Avids, Premeirs, Tidemasters and Surfs and the difference in the diameter of the blank is significant.  Odds are you wouldnt be able to tell the difference from the SC2 and SC3 rods if they werent labeled.  The Avids are lighter then the Premeirs, Triumphs and older Mojos, but sensitivity wise its not night and day.

[NathanDLTH]

Dobyns champion XP is a pretty sweet line, others have mentioned the 734, the 744 is another solid option. 
 

Megabass Orochi XX is solid $300 rod with plenty of versatility in the rods. I’d recommend buying new here. 
 

ALX rods and most are built in the US, if not all of their. Never fished one, but hear a lot of good things about them. Rods in all price points. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

Any thoughts on an ALX Zolo rods. Research has led me to be intrigued by a Toadface rod specifically. It seems like it would be best to upgrade my jig/t-rig rod first.  

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

Any thoughts on an ALX Zolo rods. Research has led me to be intrigued by a Toadface rod specifically. It seems like it would be best to upgrade my jig/t-rig rod first.  

Only been out once with mine.  The owner of ALX rods has posted that he keeps 5 Toadface rods on his boat because the Toadface is that versatile.

[Junk Fisherman]

Champion XP in the $250 range is a good bang-for-the-buck rod.  The HPs are $100 more and I don't think they're worth it.  I still have 2 HPs but if I was looking for value I would stick with XPs.  

[kingmotorboat]

Dobyns champion xp 735 c and never look back. The tip is soft enough to throw almost any single hook presentation outside of punching, and the backbone is enough to send them flying out of anything. Just my two cents

[Happybeerbuzz]

I plan on throwing T-rigs with this rod, and I do not care for the hook keepers on the Avid and Champion XP.  

[WRB]

I believe members are confused between Daiwa Arid-X and St Croix Avid-X rods. the Arid-X is a $55 rod, the Avid-X is a significant up grade and meets the OP's objectives.

I fact Dobyns Sierra series rods @ $150 is a good choice. 

With black Friday sales up coming with 20% off sales the Op can up grade further.

ALX Zolo rods are good but in $250 price point, lots of choices in that price bracket.

So what is the price point?

Tom

[Happybeerbuzz]

44 minutes ago, WRB said:

I believe members are confused between Daiwa Arid-X and St Croix Avid-X rods. the Arid-X is a $55 rod, the Avid-X is a significant up grade and meets the OP's objectives.

I fact Dobyns Sierra series rods @ $150 is a good choice. 

With black Friday sales up coming with 20% off sales the Op can up grade further.

ALX Zolo rods are good but in $250 price point, lots of choices in that price bracket.

So what is the price point?

Tom

Some points of clarification:

 

I am currently at Daiwa Aird-X level of rods.  It is all I have ever known.  I wish to begin upgrading my rods significantly.  It is sounding like there is consensus that 'significantly' means in the $200-250 range by the responses I am getting.  I can live with that.  It will take me years to replace my entire rod unless I come into money, but I am patient person.  If a case could be made for spending less because $150 rods are almost as good as $250, I would love to hear it, but after my initial post, everyone jumped straight to the $200+ range.  Ideally, I am looking for rods that will last me the rest of my life.  I will be 50 in March.  

 

It is Black Friday soon, conveniently.  I told the wife that I am picking my own XMas present this year and that she owed me the same courtesy.  I have until the 27th of November to figure this out if I want to take advantage of Black Friday.

 

 

By the way, thanks again everyone for all the input.  I really appreciate it.  A lot of people know lots of fisherman.  I do not.  I only fish with a few people, and none of them have the passion that exists here on Bass Resource.  They would not be interested in this sort of conversation.  

[txchaser]

Irod Genesis II is 150 normally and got great reviews here. I have the magic stick for a frog rod and it exceeded my expectations. 

 

I don't see many complaints about the Tatula Elite rods at 175, or the AGS at 279, and from personal experience customer service is pretty good. For the applications I bought them for I'd buy again. 

 

There are Kistler H3's in the flea market for $180, on a decent sale they are 250-280, normal like 350. Great rods. Bought one and just kept buying them. 

 

IMO going to the flea market and picking up used rods that retail in the 250+ range is a big win, if you have the patience for it.

[cottny27]

 

This would be an upgrade and still cheap. I have an Arid X and I feel the blank is dead. 
These are much more crisp, lighter..plenty good for the fun fishing weekend warrior.

[Shimano_1]

There are several nice sticks in the 150 and less range that are considerably better and more sensitive than the aird you have. Dobyns fury or Sierra, daiwa tatula elite rods, 13 omens and even the fate listed above.  The new falcon lowrider rods are hard to beat and I think fish more like a 200 dollar rod than most. Sportsman's outfitters has them for 99. Depending on what you want, cork, foam, winn grips? Tacklewarehouse is a good place to get an idea of what people think of specific rods.  Ive never much cared for duckett rods. Feel that Loomis are over priced but nice rods. No experience with the newer st croix or Kistler. If I were to replace all of my rods I would get falcon, Dobyns, or even 13 fishing.  Buddy has 12 rods all 13 fishing and never had an issue with any.  Fish way above their price point. Good luck!