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Posted (edited)

I’m hoping this thread can be a place for people to post and share the gear they’ve found that are hidden gems or just surprisingly good. Whether that’s a specific rod action/power in a particular line up or a reel people look past. Lures, line, etc. are welcome too.
 

I’ll go first. I got the idea when I got the 7’3” MXF St. Croix Victory spinning rod in my hands. This rod has such a crazy tip on it that makes it very unique and extremely versatile. If you wanna throw typical medium power rod techniques,  great this is perfect, but if you wanna also throw stuff you’d throw on a ML rod, also great. This tip is so soft and so fast that it acts like a much lighter power rod when thrown light lures because it never has to even get to the meat of the rod. Just kinda flicks it out there. Plus if you choke up on spinning rods like me, the handle feels like it was made custom to yours hand. Very unique rod. Very impressed. If you only want to carry 1 spinning rod this is the one. 

 

Addition: I'd also like to add that the St. Croix Mojo Bass 7'0" MHMF Spinnerbait Rod is the PERFECT bladed jig rod for your typical 3/8 oz lures and no one seems to give it the respect it deserves. 

Edited by Cody28
  • Like 4
Posted

I bought a brand new Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth casting rod (discontinued back in 2013), 6'9" M-XF rated for 3/8-5/8. Found it on a buy and sell site, guy never used it, just say in the rod rack for about 10 years and still had the plastic on the rod. $100 CAD.

 

Used it last fall for a little bit of finesse, Texas rigs,and spinnerbaits. It handled everything well. Very unique rod. Super short handle, so rod length past the reel is a typical 7ft rod length. More of a fast action that loads really nicely with a fish on. Lure rating is the sweet spot, but range is more 1/4-3/4. Super lightweight as well. Just paired it with a Curado 70 MGL. Going to give her a good workout in the spring, but so far she's a gem.

  • Like 5
Posted

i scored a brand new 6’10 M tatula elite AGS spinning rod on ebay for $155 shipped to my door. not bad for a $280 rod436892C9-AF39-4E5E-8ACF-74E7B834EC46.thumb.jpeg.3afa36cf48ec70c1eafb5fff4495ee48.jpeg

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Posted

It’s not so hidden but the old Mojo Bass 7’ MH/F (SCII blank instead of the SCIII) is the perfect spinnerbait and chatterbait rod. It’s more of mod-fast and balances well with my Curado DC. Love that combo and can sling those baits all day long. I even use for it squarebills. 

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  • Super User
Posted

I have found a few over the years but some more recently have been getting more use.....

 

Quantum Tour S3 of off Ebay.  I payed less than $100 for it.  It has been a fine reel and so far has fished as well as reels I have payed a lot more for.  

 

St. Croix Mojo Yak 7' M Fast.  Great rod for the money.  It's not the most sensitive but in a kayak its perfect.  Every time I use it, it surprises me. 

 

Abu Garcia Fantasista Registra 7' M Fast.  I picked this up for a good price at Sierra Trading Post and its a top of the line rod with sensitivity, balance and power that can be compared to a G. Loomis GLX. 

 

Abu Garcia ALX.   Not the smoothest reel but it sure is fun to fish.  

 

Shimano Vanquish spinning reel.  A JDM only reel that is light and as smooth as the older Stellas.

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Posted

My new Champion Extreme 743c paired with a Curado 150 MGL. Lightest rod I've ever casted. Threw it around in the street with a weightless senko and you could feel every pebble. 

Screenshot_20220106-221905_Gallery.jpg

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  • Super User
Posted

Diawia Tatula casting rods are just as light, just as sensitive, & just strong as any rod at twice its price point.

 

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  • Super User
Posted

Nothing really hidden....I learned about all this stuff on here...lol

 

Quantum HPT reels.  Quantum gets much negative ink, so these were routinely on the Bay site for just over $100.  Far better than any other <$200 reel I have used.

 

FFO - I must have gotten nine or ten rods from them over the years.  Sad that they don't sell deep discount (good?) stuff any more.

 

Frogg Toggs.  Not really hidden, but surprisingly impressive to me. If you like the material, all the gear performs well and is durable at great price points.

 

SC Rage - One of my first baitcast rods; SCIII at clearance price ($80) ten years ago....still one of my favorites 

  • Global Moderator
Posted

Original Falcon FC-6-17 “Carolina Lizard Dragger”

 

For a rated 6 power, heavy action rod rated just to 1oz, it’s an outlier of anything else out there. 
The power of the rod is grossly overrated imo. I have 4&5 power rods by other manufacturers that are comparable to the power what Falcon rates this. 

 

 

Mike

  • Like 1
Posted

Powell Endurance Spinning 7'2" Med Composite/Glass - Jerkbaits, small cranks, potato chip cranks, poppers. Only non-custom 7'2" composite spinning rod I could find. 

 

 

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  • Super User
Posted

Fenwick Smallmouth Elite Tech 6'10" MF and 6'10" MH-MF casting rods.  Fenwick Aetos 6'6" MLM casting rod.  Quantum Tour Edition 6'10" HF and 7' MF casting rods.  Pinnacle Primmus HS Xi, Prodigy (older gray one), BPS Carbonlites (gold ones), Black Max 1600C, old Pflueger Trion, old blue Patriarch XTs, Okuma Helios Air are a few casting reels that seldom ever get mentioned, but have been very good to me.

 

Love my OG Tatula casting rods.

 

EDIT:  Am a fan of my older Fenwick HMGs.  Quantum Smoke 7' MF is another nice rod seldom mentioned.

Posted
16 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

It’s not so hidden but the old Mojo Bass 7’ MH/F (SCII blank instead of the SCIII) is the perfect spinnerbait and chatterbait rod. It’s more of mod-fast and balances well with my Curado DC. Love that combo and can sling those baits all day long. I even use for it squarebills. 

I've never owned the SCII version but I have a 2 piece SCIII version and for some reason the 2 piece model has a much softer tip than the 1 piece. It too works great for these applications as well.

  • Like 1
Posted

couple years back i had a dobyns colt 734C which was a stellar rod for my moving baits. chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, whopper ploppers, spooks, etc. worked great. i personally couldn't think you could beat that for $80

Posted

I really enjoyed my Okuma EVX casting rod this past season. A rod that doesn’t seem to receive a lot of praise or recommendations but those who reviewed/used it on here seem to universally enjoy them. 

  • Like 1
Posted

From my personal gear I have to go with the Daiwa Saltist Back Bay spinning reels. They are every bit as smooth, if not even more so, than the Stradic FL and Tatula LT reels, and they are built like a tank. They are all around great reels for someone that needs a reel that they can use in both fresh and salt water. 

Posted

About 15 or so years ago I bought a Basspro Pro Qualifier 85 million modulus casting rod and loved it so much I bought another one a few weeks later.  I caught over 2000 bass a year for about 13 years until I broke the last one.  I took up rolling my own now and they're just as good.

  • Like 2
Posted

Not hidden IMO but the Dobyns Sierra line of rods, both casting and spinning.

 

I don't think their is a better rod out there in that price range.

 

I own lots of high end rods but still use the Sierras and really enjoy fishing with them.

  • Like 1
Posted

Shimano Crucial EVA black 6-10 M F jerkbait rod (spinning) I have fished almost every rod brand and type I can think of and this rod has been a favorite. Also a great find for $45 on clearance

Posted

Ohh man is this the thread for me!

Spinner Rods

Denali Pryme MLF rod- A beast for the panfish. Actually has a 1/64oz rating, which is super rare for a sub $100 rod. Will throw a trout magnet 3 miles. $70 on the site. Found mine for $40.

Denali Kovert White River MM rod-Local to my area as far as I know. Can't even find em on the website. 12+1 guides, IM8, and soft. A great spinning crank rod. $70 but again got it for $40.

 Shimano Fightin Rod MHM- Anybody remember these? Got it for $5 in great shape. Love it for walleye.

Caster Rods

Shimano FX MHF-A $15 cranker! Nuff said.

Abu Conolon Premier MHXF- Got it for $30 on FB. Amazing for jerks and drop shot.

Berkley Air IM7 HM- An 8'6" xdeep cranker IMO. Very sensitive. Found it for $20 brand new.

  • Like 2
Posted

I posted earlier about a reel, but wanted to add a lure. For lure I think the BizzBaits soft plastics specifically their Dizzy Diamond are an absolute hidden gem. I don’t know of too many people that use them, but they are great worms. That Dizzy Diamond has become my absolute favorite Neko rig worm, and I have caught a ton of fish on them since I started using them. 

  • Like 2
Posted

Daiwa BLX 7’4 Limber Graphite. 
 

I was concerned since they went on pretty steep sales that Daiwa had screwed these up, man was I wrong. 
 

Hands down my favorite medium and deep crank rod, as well as the absolute best chatter and big topwater stick I’ve used. Has blown me away from how light it is and how well it fishes. 

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  • 3 months later...
Posted
On 1/6/2022 at 7:30 PM, Cody28 said:

Addition: I'd also like to add that the St. Croix Mojo Bass 7'0" MHMF Spinnerbait Rod is the PERFECT bladed jig rod for your typical 3/8 oz lures and no one seems to give it the respect it deserves. 

Scouring the forum for feedback on this rod and glad to see you like it. 

I fish from a kayak and am in the market for a single-hook moving/reaction lure rod so to speak. That 7'0" appeals to me also as I fish mostly small lakes in south jersey. I know it's not optimal but a rod that can handle chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swim jigs all at least decently would be huge.  

  • Super User
Posted
On 1/10/2022 at 9:15 AM, TBAG said:

Not hidden IMO but the Dobyns Sierra line of rods, both casting and spinning.

 

I don't think their is a better rod out there in that price range.

 

I own lots of high end rods but still use the Sierras and really enjoy fishing with them.

ARK rods turned my Sierras and Kadens into bench warmers, the Tharp series in particular, and they cost a good bit less at $129. My Fury 735 still sees lots of action though. It's a solid spinnerbait/swim jig/frog rod for the $$$.

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  • Super User
Posted
On 1/7/2022 at 5:23 AM, Catt said:

Diawia Tatula casting rods are just as light, just as sensitive, & just strong as any rod at twice its price point.

 

I checked one out at my local shop recently, and liked it. Lot's of more expensive rods on the rack that aren't as light or balanced. Same story with ARK. You get a lot of rod for your hard earned $$$ with both.

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