Good Inexpensive Spinning Rod

[B-Gee]

I would like advice on an inexpensive (under about $60), 5 ½ to 6 ½ foot spinning rod for pond fishing from shore for largemouth bass. I expect most of the bass to be between 14” to 18” with an occasional one 20” or so. I’ll be casting mostly 1/8^th oz. baits on a Daiwa 2500 reel with 15 lb. test braid and 15 lb. fluorocarbon leader.

 

I’ve reviewed earlier posts on this forum where people have recommended the following rods and I’d appreciate some opinions from any of you folks who have knowledge of any of these rods or any others that you might recommend.

 

Bass Pro Tourney Special 5'8" Medium 4-12 lbs.,  1/8 - 1/2 oz. $50

Bass Pro Micro Lite rods 6’ 1/16 Oz – 3/8 oz. Medium Light Power, Fast action $60

Lew’s Laser HS 5’6” or 6’ $30 Walmart

Okuma Celilo CE-S-602UL-1  6’ 1/32 oz-1/4 oz. $30

 

Bob

[Drew03cmc]

For a medium, I would find an Academy Sports and look at the H2O Xpress Ethos 6'8" medium. It's a great stick for the price.

[Bankc]

I've owned a BPS Tourney Special.  The blank is decent (for the money), but not extremely durable.  And the line guides are terrible.  I'd pass on that one.  

 

Really, the cheapest BPS rod I'd consider is the Fish Eagle.  It's just slightly over your budget, but in my opinion, well worth the extra $10.  Or wait until there's a sale.  

[MN Fisher]

Diawa Aird-X - I have a 6'6" M/F that I use for shore fishing and I don't plan on replacing it anytime soon.

 

For your fishing - the 6'6" ML/F - 4#-10# line, 1/8-1/2 lure - AIRX661MLFS

[PaulVE64]

A medium spinning rod will not cast an 1/8 oz lure on 15# braid more than spitting distance if its only 6ft long.

 

Edit - aird x is a beauty (my first choice) but for 1/8 oz lures you probably need the light/fast or go with a "7' in ml/f

[BlakeMolone]

Honestly I’m so happy with my berkley lightning rods, not the shock models just the regular lightning rods. I fish a lot of rip rap from the bank and occasionally fall and break them, I just go back to bass pro and get another 35 dollar lightning rod and it’s no big deal. I have nicer rods but the lightning rods are really great and the action of them makes them great for throwing both treble hook, and single hook baits.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

The 13 6'7 ML F Defy Black feels really good for $60.  13 is really good about replacing broken rods too.  Even if you shut it your car door they will replace it, you just have to pay shipping. 

[B-Gee]

2 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

For a medium, I would find an Academy Sports and look at the H2O Xpress Ethos 6'8" medium. It's a great stick for the price.

Thank you. Could you tell me what model #, length, etc. of the rod you recommend?

2 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

For a medium, I would find an Academy Sports and look at the H2O Xpress Ethos 6'8" medium. It's a great stick for the price.

Unfortunately the nearest store is 150 miles away.

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Diawa Aird-X - I have a 6'6" M/F that I use for shore fishing and I don't plan on replacing it anytime soon.

 

For your fishing - the 6'6" ML/F - 4#-10# line, 1/8-1/2 lure - AIRX661MLFS

Thank you. That looks like a good choice. I think is is $50.

[B-Gee]

2 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

A medium spinning rod will not cast an 1/8 oz lure on 15# braid more than spitting distance if its only 6ft long.

 

Edit - aird x is a beauty (my first choice) but for 1/8 oz lures you probably need the light/fast or go with a "7' in ml/f

Thank you for this advice about going for a 7' rod.

2 hours ago, BlakeMolone said:

Honestly I’m so happy with my berkley lightning rods, not the shock models just the regular lightning rods. I fish a lot of rip rap from the bank and occasionally fall and break them, I just go back to bass pro and get another 35 dollar lightning rod and it’s no big deal. I have nicer rods but the lightning rods are really great and the action of them makes them great for throwing both treble hook, and single hook baits.

Thank you. What model, length, etc. do you suggest?

[CrashVector]

H2O express from academy

[B-Gee]

3 hours ago, Bankc said:

I've owned a BPS Tourney Special.  The blank is decent (for the money), but not extremely durable.  And the line guides are terrible.  I'd pass on that one.  

 

Really, the cheapest BPS rod I'd consider is the Fish Eagle.  It's just slightly over your budget, but in my opinion, well worth the extra $10.  Or wait until there's a sale.  

Thank you. I'll pss on the Tourney Special and look into the Fish Eagle.

3 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

A medium spinning rod will not cast an 1/8 oz lure on 15# braid more than spitting distance if its only 6ft long.

 

Edit - aird x is a beauty (my first choice) but for 1/8 oz lures you probably need the light/fast or go with a "7' in ml/f

Thank you for this advice.

1 hour ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

The 13 6'7 ML F Defy Black feels really good for $60.  13 is really good about replacing broken rods too.  Even if you shut it your car door they will replace it, you just have to pay shipping. 

Thank you. Is that the medium or medium light, 1 or 2 piece?

[Aaron_H]

Daiwa Aird X and 13 Fishing Defy Black have been mentioned and they're great rods for the price, but I'd throw in the Shimano Sellus, as well. They've got a couple of shorter medium power rods that would work well.

[BlakeMolone]

1 hour ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thank you for this advice about going for a 7' rod.

Thank you. What model, length, etc. do you suggest?

I use the 7 foot light action trout model for ned rigs, tiny swimbaits, and crappie and trout fishing. I wouldn’t throw anything with a hook that has a heavier wire than a ned rig on it. A Medium light or medium action would be more versatile if you are just using it for bass.

[PaulVE64]

In my creeks i throw from a St C triumph. Its a 2pc 7 ft light/fast with 10# jbraid 8. Great rod for 1/8 oz jigs but its a little long if the brush is thick and your stuck throwing from the bank.

[CrashVector]

4 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

In my creeks i throw from a St C triumph. Its a 2pc 7 ft light/fast with 10# jbraid 8. Great rod for 1/8 oz jigs but its a little long if the brush is thick and your stuck throwing from the bank.

 

That's almost 2x as expensive as his budget.

[Finessegenics]

8 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

That's almost 2x as expensive as his budget.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_Triumph_Spinning_Rods/descpage-MBTSR.html

[PaulVE64]

8 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_Triumph_Spinning_Rods/descpage-MBTSR.html

I understand. I was only  trying to point out that from experience a 7ft rod can be a problem.

I recommended an aird X earlier.

[CrashVector]

8 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_Triumph_Spinning_Rods/descpage-MBTSR.html

He said his budget is under $60

[Finessegenics]

Just now, CrashVector said:

He said his budget is under $60

 

Grabbed the wrong quote. All is good, sorry about that

 

[BrianMDTX]

For that $$, an Aird-X is hard to beat. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

21 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thank you. Is that the medium or medium light, 1 or 2 piece?

Med Light power

Fast Action

1 Piece 

They make a 2pc model in that rod as well.  I recommend the 1pc if its possible. 

[B-Gee]

I’m most interested in either the Diawa Aird-X 6'6" MLFS or the 13 Fishing Defy Black Med Light power, Fast Action, 1 Piece. I have searched online and cannot find an Aird available and the 13 Fishing Defy Black is only available in the 7 foot length which may be OK. I looked at Tackle Warehouse and Tackle Direct among others. Elsewhere I have seen some recommendations for BPS Microlite rods and maybe I should consider one of these.

 

To repeat I’m looking for an inexpensive spinning rod about 6 ½ foot for shore fishing with 1/8^th to ¼ oz. lures for largemouth bass which will mostly range from 14” to 20”. My reel is  a Daiwa 2500 with 15 lb. test braid and 15 lb. fluorocarbon leader. Thanks for your help.

 

[BrianMDTX]

How soon do you need it? Academy can ship by 11/28-11/29. 

 

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/daiwa-aird-x-braiding-x-66-m-spinning-rod?sku=6-6-black-medium-fast

[thediscochef]

On 11/18/2021 at 10:40 AM, Bankc said:

I've owned a BPS Tourney Special.  The blank is decent (for the money), but not extremely durable.  And the line guides are terrible.  I'd pass on that one.  

 

Really, the cheapest BPS rod I'd consider is the Fish Eagle.  It's just slightly over your budget, but in my opinion, well worth the extra $10.  Or wait until there's a sale.  

This. I have a 7' BPS Tourney Special and I hate hate hate the guides on it. It's the rod that made me realize I care about the guides on rods.

 

I saw where you don't have an academy nearby but if you can spare an extra 20 to get an H2OExpress tac40, those are great rods. I have the 7'1" MF as well as the Tac40 V 6'10" and throw 1/8oz baits almost exclusively. Both of those rods are outstanding and currently $79.99.

 

I haven't done much with rods between 20 and 60 dollars, but a bit in the 10-20 and 70-100 ranges. If you want something really cheap, the Zebco Slingshots and Hotcasts will do fine with a decent reel. I figured out 1/8oz chatterbaits and 1/16- neds on a slingshot with a shimano fx2500. Not pretty but it will catch fish just fine.

 

That aside, I can second the Daiwa Aird-x and the Shimano Sellus

 

 

[B-Gee]

13 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

How soon do you need it? Academy can ship by 11/28-11/29. 

 

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/daiwa-aird-x-braiding-x-66-m-spinning-rod?sku=6-6-black-medium-fast

Thank you for this information.