$400 budget for 2 all around rods?

[DFWO]

I'd like a spinning rod and a casting rod for pond/bank fishing on a ~$400 total budget.  All around type rods, nothing technique specific.  I like cork handles, but I'd consider something else. For reels, I have a Tatula 2500 and a Tatula SV TW.

 

I'm leaning towards Tatula rods, the 6'10" MHF casting, and the 6'8" MF spinning.  But I'd like some other opinions before I pull the trigger.

[LonnieP]

Hard to beat the Tatula rods for the price

[new2BC4bass]

32 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

Hard to beat the Tatula rods for the price

I'm partial to my Tatulas as well.

 

OP, never touched one, but the St. Croix 6'8" M-XF gets lots of praise on here.

[QED]

The Phenix feather series rods seem to meet your budget constraints and are really light.  One caveat though, I only own a few Phenix K2 rods, so just pointing you to the feather series based upon their published specs.  The K2s work really well but are at a much higher price point.

[casts_by_fly]

A pair of falcon experts is my choice.  The 6’10” head turner for one.  The 6’10” drop shot if you need a spinning rod. Not much you can’t do with those two and that’s exactly $400

[dodgeguy]

Dobyns Sierra

[Eric 26]

Although I don’t own either of the specific blanks my vote would be the Okuma TCS A blanks in 7’-0” med plus for both. I have the 7’-3” hvy fast casting version of this blank and it’s awesome at its $145.00 price point. The 7’-0” med plus version’s are moderate /fast for a more all around use that you’re looking for. Also the spinning version is available in a 3” shorter version 6’-9” with the same power rating mod./fast. Bonus both rods combined come in at $290.00 pre tax/shipping (Tackle Warehouse) leaving plenty of money for rod sleeves and some extra lures?

[new2BC4bass]

46 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

A pair of falcon experts is my choice.  The 6’10” head turner for one.  The 6’10” drop shot if you need a spinning rod. Not much you can’t do with those two and that’s exactly $400

The 6’10” Head Turner is still on my wish list even though I don't need another rod.  The Amistad was also on my wish list, but got one of those last year. 

[LCG]

If you can maybe check out the rebellion line of rods by Daiwa. Pretty nice rods for $200 a piece. I have the MH and ML models and very much enjoy them. 

[DFWO]

44 minutes ago, LCG said:

If you can maybe check out the rebellion line of rods by Daiwa. Pretty nice rods for $200 a piece. I have the MH and ML models and very much enjoy them. 

 

Yeah, I've heard really good things about them.  I wish I could find one locally to check out.

[LCG]

I wanted two very versatile combos and these two piece rebellion rods have been wonderful to fish with. Higher end two piece rod that has a nice action and plenty of power. Lightweight and sensitive. The fact that they can go on family trips is a huge bonus for me. Caught a 4 1/2 lber yesterday up close and personal with a wacky rig, the ML had the power to get her in. The MH is more of a "hold my beer, I got his" type of power with a nice softer action 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

The 6’10” Head Turner is still on my wish list even though I don't need another rod.  The Amistad was also on my wish list, but got one of those last year. 

its funny, I picked up the pitchin stick in the bucoo sr line last year. I fished it a bunch but I only liked it as a pitching rod and not the versatile rod that everyone loves that blank design for. I got the expert version this spring and my perspective changed on both. I think the difference was the reel for me.  When I put just a little bit better reel on it the rod was alive. I went back to the pitchin stick with a different reel and it was the same. It’s a great blank design and once you dial it in for you and what you want, it’s a great rod. 
 

i also have the amistad expert and it’s a great rod if you want a quite heavy pitchin stick. A slightly lighter power rod that I called a slightly lighter amistad with the head turner tip is the heavy jig rod in the cara. I’ve only just got it, but I think it’s exactly what I was looking for.

[uglyasheck]

I have Tatulas with the cork handles and love them but the Rebellions are great also. 

[PhishLI]

13 hours ago, DFWO said:

I'd like a spinning rod and a casting rod for pond/bank fishing

Are trees along the bank a factor where you expect to fish, or do these ponds have open shorelines?

[Shimano_1]

The tatula rods are hard to beat. The falcon lowrider rods are hard to beat for the money as well! They're not cork handles but the new tatula rods xt I believe are super nice for 100 bucks. If I were looking for a few new rods on a budget it would be those.

[DFWO]

6 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Are trees along the bank a factor where you expect to fish, or do these ponds have open shorelines?

 

Both, really.  Just depends on the pond.  But in general, it's pretty wide open.

[PhishLI]

54 minutes ago, DFWO said:

Both, really.  Just depends on the pond.  But in general, it's pretty wide open.

Then I'd opt for a casting rod between 7'3"-7'6". The Tat SV will be happier with the extra length. Here you can dial the brakes down to 4-6 for greater distance with most baits using a power-sweep cast instead of harder casts and higher brake settings with a shorter rod between 6'6" and 6'10". This reel in particular seems to be helped more than usual by rod length, so if hitting targets farther out is what you're interested in this is the way to go.

 

The Ark Essence 7'6" MHF has been working well for me chucking any bait under the sun from 1/4 oz to 1oz.

[new2BC4bass]

18 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

its funny, I picked up the pitchin stick in the bucoo sr line last year. I fished it a bunch but I only liked it as a pitching rod and not the versatile rod that everyone loves that blank design for. I got the expert version this spring and my perspective changed on both. I think the difference was the reel for me.  When I put just a little bit better reel on it the rod was alive. I went back to the pitchin stick with a different reel and it was the same. It’s a great blank design and once you dial it in for you and what you want, it’s a great rod. 
 

i also have the amistad expert and it’s a great rod if you want a quite heavy pitchin stick. A slightly lighter power rod that I called a slightly lighter amistad with the head turner tip is the heavy jig rod in the cara. I’ve only just got it, but I think it’s exactly what I was looking for.

Good to know about how much difference the reel makes.  Thanks.  The Expert Amistad is another of my rods that hasn't had a reel on it.  What reel worked best with it for you?

[Derek1]

4 hours ago, DFWO said:

 

Both, really.  Just depends on the pond.  But in general, it's pretty wide open.

I’m a bank fisherman my self. I’ve found rods around the 6’10” length seem to be a good compromise. Between  getting good casting distance and walking the trail and pitching to shore line targets. 

Also if I was looking in the $200 range. I’d be looking at shimano zodius or falcon expert. 

[DFWO]

This is my first baitcaster, so I just don't have a strong sense one way or the other.  I'm fishing mostly smallish ponds, so long bomb casts aren't usually necessary.

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, DFWO said:

This is my first baitcaster

 

1 hour ago, DFWO said:

I'm fishing mostly smallish ponds, so long bomb casts aren't usually necessary.

A Tatula SV by its nature isn't a reel for bomb casting. It can't bomb baits whatsoever unless the bait is totally aerodynamic, so this isn't what I was suggesting. I own this reel, and extending it's useful casting range is desirable if it's the only casting reel you own. There are parts of the seasons where bass won't be on the bank, or even within a decent cast out. They'll be farther out, and if you can reach them you'll have a chance. If not, you'll blank. All of my local fishing is in no-boat ponds from 6-30 acres. I live this type of fishing, so I've been down this road.

 

Your best bet, if you want to be truly versatile, is to split the budget between two casting rods. A 6'6" and a 7'3" or 7'6". One for tree'd ponds, and one for open water. Swap the reel over where necessary. There are perfectly fine $100 casting rods out there, or steal from your spinning budget for two $150 casting rods and a $100 spinning rod. There are plenty of perfectly fine $100 spinning rods out there. I have a Tatula LT3000 on a Tatula XT 7'MF. I also have a Ballistic 2500 on a Zodias 6'8"M. The actual differences are negligible, IMO.

[casts_by_fly]

4 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Good to know about how much difference the reel makes.  Thanks.  The Expert Amistad is another of my rods that hasn't had a reel on it.  What reel worked best with it for you?

My amistad has the revo SX that I didn’t like on the pitching stick. It’s a heavier reel at 7.8 oz but the amistad is a bigger rod and it balances fine. And since I’m rarely fishing less than 1/2 oz or more total bait weight (and almost always pitching) I turn off all of brakes and tension and just go fishing.  I’ve fished it with my STX and it’s a better reel but the SX works fine.