New casting rod.

[whatevrdoumean]

Looking to buy a good all around baitcaser rod. My budget is $200.00 little more little

less. Any suggestions on brand and rod. Thinking medium heavy in 7 foot. I fish everything from jigs to cranks to spinnerbaits and some top water. Been watching a lot of YouTube videos but hard to get an unbiased review. My reel to pair with the rod is a Shimano Curado 200e7. Thanks for all the suggestions. Mike

[MiceNReets]

Why not get a 7’ MH Curado rod?  I believe they’re around the $170 price range.  I’ve heard great things about them as well.   ?? 

[casts_by_fly]

I love my falcons and they suit me and my style very well.  I don't know what type of action or weight of bait you're looking at, but I'll throw a couple out there.  You said medium heavy and a bunch of bait so I'm thinking a one-rod does it all situation.

 

I think my favorite is the 6'10" finesse jig (5 power) in the expert lineup ($200).  I've thrown most everything on it.  It's great for 3/8 bladed baits, 1/4-3/8 jigs with trailers, and topwaters.  It fishes a DT6 or DT fat just fine (both are around 3/8 oz).  If you are going heavier and like a more powerful rod or are planning to pitch 3/8 a lot then the head turner (6 power, 6'10") is very similar but a bit more powerful.  I have both rigged at any given moment.  I use the head turner as my lighter pitching rig with 17 mono (the Amistad with braid is my heavy pitching rig).  The head turner is not my preference for bladed baits but lots of guys love it for that.  For most of my moving baits (usually 1/2 oz plus a trailer), I prefer a moderate fast action and bump up to the 7' 6 power lizzard dragger.  Lots of power down low, a bit more bend in use.  Great for single hook moving baits, throws medium to large cranks well, will throw a 110 plopper really well.  Its a little slow in action to be a regular jig/t-rig rod but it does it in a pinch.

 

rick

[dodgeguy]

Dobyns Sierra or Kayden . 

[Captain Phil]

I own two Shimano Zodias rods, one 6' 10 MH and one 7' 2" MH.  The price was slightly higher than your budget, but not as much as some.  They are the lightest most sensitive rods I have used and the quality is outstanding.  The carbon grip is smaller than a traditional cork handle, which I like as it's easier to palm.  

[WRB]

The SC Victory castings rods are very light weight 3.5-3.7 oz and within your price point. 

Tom

[Functional]

If you aren't looking for bottom contact sensitivity the dobyns sierra is great for the baits you mentioned. If you want bottom contact sensitivity too the ARK Tharp series/diawa tatula cork version on the low end and Expride A a bit above your budget. 

 

I've tried a bunch of inbetween rods and I'm not sure anything above the 140-150 range gets you anything better until you get to the expride. 

[T-Billy]

On 5/18/2022 at 4:52 PM, tander said:

 

Selling 2 Daiwa Tatula Rods, one is medium heavy, the other is heavy. Both are 7'1", never used. The handles has been sealed with U-40.  Would like to sell as a pair. Asking $190 shipped for both. Will ship in a pvc tube. PayPal only.

 

 

I'd snap these up from the BR flea market if I were you @mikeh88. Heckuva deal and those Tatulas are really nice rods. 

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Functional said:

If you aren't looking for bottom contact sensitivity the dobyns sierra is great for the baits you mentioned. If you want bottom contact sensitivity too the ARK Tharp series/diawa tatula cork version on the low end and Expride A a bit above your budget. 

 

I've tried a bunch of inbetween rods and I'm not sure anything above the 140-150 range gets you anything better until you get to the expride. 

I have no sensitivity issues at all with the Sierra.

[Functional]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

I have no sensitivity issues at all with the Sierra.

For me it's not completely lacking sensitivity but the others I listed I feel a noticeable difference. I absolutely love my sierra for spinners and is dedicated to that now. I tried it with Trigs and jigs (what I bought it for)  but bottom feel lacked for me with its softer tip. A little load on the tip like with a spinner or moving bait seemed to give it some life for me and enough flex to not rip the hook out on strikes l. 

 

Nothing against Sierras at all, just my feelings for those applications. 

[dodgeguy]

That's why my other suggestion was a Kayden.

[Catt]

Diawia Tatula TTU711MHXB 

7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast 

[padon]

i can only comment on rods i have experience with. shimano zodias is very good in that price range as is the st.croix victory.

[whatevrdoumean]

Just a follow up to my original post. I ended up getting a 7’2” Shimano Zodias in Med Heavy. Little over my $200.00 price point but it just felt that d**n good in hand. Hopefully if all goes well it will be getting a workout this weekend. Mike

[T-Billy]

22 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I have no sensitivity issues at all with the Sierra.

Don't buy an ARK or Tatula or you will. Suddenly your Sierra will feel dead in your hands. Happened to me.

 

20 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

That's why my other suggestion was a Kayden.

The above mentioned rods are more sensitive and responsive than the Kaden too, and for less $$$. I still like my Kaden 744, and Fury 735 for moving baits, but they don't impress me for bottom contact. My Sierra and Kaden flippin sticks are collecting cobwebs, replaced by the ARK Tharp Series, King Cobra, and Money Maker.

 

[Boomstick]

I would have gone Victory, but the new Zodias was a good choice as well.

4 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Don't buy an ARK or Tatula or you will. Suddenly your Sierra will feel dead in your hands. Happened to me.

 

I would say the Tatula and Sierra are roughly comparable personally.

[roadwarrior]

Okuma Psycho Stick

 

https://okumafishingusa.com/products/psycho-stick-rods

 

PSY-C-721MH

[Catt]

On 6/3/2022 at 10:07 PM, Boomstick said:

I would have gone Victory, but the new Zodias was a good choice as well.

I would say the Tatula and Sierra are roughly comparable personally.

 

Not even close ?

 

Tatula is twice the rod of any mentioned above. Better sensitivity, moves big bass out of cover better, the reel seat is extremely solid.

 

Medium Heavy is supposed to be somewhere between a medium & a heavy. The Tatula leans towards the heavy side making it ideal for jigs.

[Boomstick]

57 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Not even close ?

 

Tatula is twice the rod of any mentioned above. Better sensitivity, moves big bass out of cover better, the reel seat is extremely solid.

 

Medium Heavy is supposed to be somewhere between a medium & a heavy. The Tatula leans towards the heavy side making it ideal for jigs.

It depends on which Tatula. The 6’10” MH/F doesn’t have a lot of tip making it best for lighter jigs, same as the Sierra 704C. The 7’1” MH/F is better for jigs.

 

I do find the 6’10” is far more sensitive than the 7’1” too, not sure if it’s because it’s a first gen and my 7’1” is a second or it’s a difference in blanks

[WPCfishing]

I recently Purchased 5 ARK Reinforcer rods.

The rods feel completely different from my Exprides, Kistler’s and Diawa’s. 
5 star rods.. I’m going to pick up a 7’6”, I’m going to give the 40T Limited a shot. 

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Boomstick said:

It depends on which Tatula.

 

TTU711MHXB

7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast 

 

I also have a TTU731MHFB 7'3"

Medium Heavy Fast. Well suit for bigger jigs.

[Boomstick]

8 hours ago, Catt said:

 

TTU711MHXB

7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast 

 

I also have a TTU731MHFB 7'3"

Medium Heavy Fast. Well suit for bigger jigs.

I don't have the 7'3" so I can't comment, but the 7'1" definitely has a little more power for heavier jigs.