Rod for square bills and big ploppers.

[BigTimeBassin]

Looking for a rod that can handle square bills down to 3/8 and whopper ploppers up to the 110 size (1oz). Would also like to be able to throw lipless on it.  I don’t need it to excel at any one of these things, just looking for versatility. The dobyns 735cb glass stood out but not sure how it handles the higher end of its rating. Any advice? Am I looking for something that doesn’t exist? Budget is sub 300. 
 

thanks! 

[Fishes in trees]

For me, that's a lot of money to spend on a reaction bait rig because you can get that kind of versatility much cheaper.  I'm a fan of looking through any close out bin I come across and I've found quite a few reaction bait rigs for not a lot of money.  A 7" M or MH Berkley Lightning rod comes to mind.   3 years ago? - I came across 3 All Star Spinner bait rods for $40 each (the purple ones).  They were more or less clones of the original All Star Zell Rowland Spinner Bait Special.   They would do what you're wanting.  Currently Academy has similar rods in stock - they are a different color now.

 

Option #B might be to call Loomis or St Croix or some other rod company and ask for advice.

  

[ironbjorn]

1 hour ago, Fishes in trees said:

For me, that's a lot of money to spend on a reaction bait rig because you can get that kind of versatility much cheaper.  I'm a fan of looking through any close out bin I come across and I've found quite a few reaction bait rigs for not a lot of money.  A 7" M or MH Berkley Lightning rod comes to mind.   3 years ago? - I came across 3 All Star Spinner bait rods for $40 each (the purple ones).  They were more or less clones of the original All Star Zell Rowland Spinner Bait Special.   They would do what you're wanting.  Currently Academy has similar rods in stock - they are a different color now.

 

Option #B might be to call Loomis or St Croix or some other rod company and ask for advice.

  

The modern Berkley Lightning rods are garbage. I bought one last summer for chatterbaits when my daughter broke my chatterbait rod and everything else was out of stock due to Covid and the influx of new or returning anglers. The plastic reel seat shattered on a hook set. I returned it for a replacement and then the replacement rod had the reel seat crack on a cast. That's why people spend a little more for rods that don't require too much sensitivity.

 

[FishTank]

From St. Croix.....  6'10'' MH Legend Glass.  I have the Med version of this rod.  Great all around reaction bait rod but a 1oz lure might stretch it for my rod.   The MH would be great and the shorter length would work better for WP but this rod does have lot flex at the tip which is not my favorite for topwater. 

 

From Loomis..... IMX Pro 855CBR.  I have the 903CBR.  This may be the better rod for what you are looking at.  I personally like a slightly faster taper for top water baits and lipless cranks.  The IMX Pro series fits this need but it may be a few bucks over your budget.   I use the 903 for lipless cranks and small square bills. 

[jimmyjoe]

5 hours ago, BigTimeBassin said:

Am I looking for something that doesn’t exist?

 

   Yeah, kinda. Rods definitely exist that will throw the lures you're listing, but the problems might be setting the hook or feeling the lighter lures, no matter what the rating is on paper.

   I use fiberglass, and I like it. But if I had to fill the requirements that you've set down with one fiberglass rod, I'd be worried.

   I might go to graphite, and try the Mojo Bass MH/M 3/8-1 oz @ 7'-01".

   Might.

   Might not, too.          jj

  

[rangerjockey]

I've never been a huge fan of crankbait specific rods for squarebills. To me it's more like fishing a spinnerbait in cover and personally I'd rather the rod have enough azz to turn him and get the fish headed toward the boat.  

Ol' willy P doesn't pull very hard once it's in the water so... I'd say Loomis 843/844.

[Dens228]

MegaBass Orochi XX Swingfire

[Fishes in trees]

Sorry about your luck with the Lightning Rod.   My $50 Lightning Rod is 5 or 6 years old, sees limited action but does get fished several times each year, not always by me, and it still works great.   Berkley very well could have reduced quality in components in the time between when I got mine and you got yours.    In a way though, the rod didn't fail - the components did.  I think that blank is good enough that if you were into rod building, you could put a better handle/reel seat on it and you'd have a relatively inexpensive gem.   I 'd be interested in how much it might cost to replace the reel seat on this rod.