Good Inexpensive Spinning Rod

[B-Gee]

12 hours ago, thediscochef said:

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

 

 

I was given a Zebco Slingshot that I have not used. It is only 5' 6". Do you think that would work for  1/8th oz. baits and largemouth bass up to about 20"? I would be using my Daiwa 2500 spinning reel.

[new2BC4bass]

I'm not familiar with many of the rods at that price.  I have fished a 6' ML Lightning for many years.  Has caught more fish than all my new rods put together.  Not fished the Fenwick Eagle, but have handled them in store.  Seem very nice for the price.  There is a 6'6" MLF model...1/8-5/8 oz.

 

I've read good things about the Aird X, but there is none listed in ML and the MF is rated 1/4-3/4 so may not do well with your 1/8 oz.

 

I like the Okuma gear I have, but know nothing about their spinning rods.  The Celilo model has a couple that should do very well with 1/8 oz. and they come in 6'6" and shorter.

[Drew03cmc]

On 11/18/2021 at 1:27 PM, Robert C. Gates said:

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

Unfortunately the nearest store is 150 miles away.

6'8" Medium H2O Xpress Ethos, they run around $69.99.

[thediscochef]

4 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I was given a Zebco Slingshot that I have not used. It is only 5' 6". Do you think that would work for  1/8th oz. baits and largemouth bass up to about 20"? I would be using my Daiwa 2500 spinning reel.

That 5'6" slingshot plus a 2500 shimano is all I used for a while when I was figuring out 1/8oz baits. I caught many largemouth bass up to 2.5lbs, catfish up to 5lbs. I've moved on to more expensive and longer rods but I caught plenty on the slingshot. It handles much like an ultralight and you can't really manhandle it but you will catch fish in the size range you're describing. Great for small brush openings and limited car space.

[B-Gee]

32 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

That 5'6" slingshot plus a 2500 shimano is all I used for a while when I was figuring out 1/8oz baits. I caught many largemouth bass up to 2.5lbs, catfish up to 5lbs. I've moved on to more expensive and longer rods but I caught plenty on the slingshot. It handles much like an ultralight and you can't really manhandle it but you will catch fish in the size range you're describing. Great for small brush openings and limited car space.

Thank you. I'll give that a try.

[uglyasheck]

Daiwa Arid X 

[Cgolf]

I own 2 that would fit what you are looking for. I have a 6’6” medium original style ugly stick and a 6’6” medium GX2 ugly stick. Honestly I like the original a little better than the GX2 and both are bullet proof. I river fish 60-100 days a year on my way to work and this rod stays in the truck all summer. Both are 2 piece sticks. Are they as sensitive as my way more expensive Dobyns or my St. Croix sticks, nope but they have caught more big fish than the more expensive sticks. I fish everything from Ned rigs to crank baits on them. I even use them in the boat for lighter jerk baits. I know Uglies get looked down on as beginner rods, but they are strong and versatile rods. I have no problem switching from an expensive rod to an ugly, each has their place for me. 
 

I have landed many 17-20” smallies on my old ugly along with some giant carp and it never flinched. 

[DitchPanda]

23 minutes ago, cgolf said:

I own 2 that would fit what you are looking for. I have a 6’6” medium original style ugly stick and a 6’6” medium GX2 ugly stick. Honestly I like the original a little better than the GX2 and both are bullet proof. I river fish 60-100 days a year on my way to work and this rod stays in the truck all summer. Both are 2 piece sticks. Are they as sensitive as my way more expensive Dobyns or my St. Croix sticks, nope but they have caught more big fish than the more expensive sticks. I fish everything from Ned rigs to crank baits on them. I even use them in the boat for lighter jerk baits. I know Uglies get looked down on as beginner rods, but they are strong and versatile rods. I have no problem switching from an expensive rod to an ugly, each has their place for me. 
 

I have landed many 17-20” smallies on my old ugly along with some giant carp and it never flinched. 

I've got alot of expensive rods but will say that there is nothing wrong with an ugly stick especially for a knock around rod like your talking about. Two of my favorite rods the last several years are a couple 7ft medhvy Berkley shock rods I picked up for super cheap at walmart. $50 normal price..think I paid $26 total for both. My favorite Ned rod this year was an $18 Shakespeare rod.

[NYWayfarer]

Fenwick Eagle. $59.99

[Skunkmaster-k]

I’ve really enjoyed my 6’10” medium fast Lews Hank Parker . I think it’s 40 or 50$. In my opinion it is worth more. 

[fishinNWA]

the Berkeley Lighting rod gets another suggestion. perfect rod to throw in the truck and go fish without worrying about taking care of it 

[throttleplate]

I just purchased the shakesphere Micro Series rod in 7 ft lite and used it at the dam last week. I bought it at fleetfarm for $19.95 and went to wallmart the other day and they have it for $16.99.

 

I bought this for casting lite lures across the river at the dams and it exceeded my needs. Also caught a couple fish on it and it was just a great purchase for me. https://www.purefishing.com/products/micro-series-spinning-rod-1149483?variant=34588821979269                                                 

[Plottman1974]

I have an ugly stik elite for beating around fishing.  6 foot.  medium.  tough as nails and a better backbone and sensitivity than the gx2.  $50.  My sons girlfriend caught nearly a 7 pound largemouth on her first cast fishing ever....I have caught several 4-5 pounders on it.  Nice rod.