St Croix Legend Glass crankbait rod / Daiwa Tatula Elite rods

[Kyle S]

29 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I pm'd some of the dudes who've ordered and received rods from them, and they said they came in tubes.

I purchased 3 rods and they came in a nice tube all together. I like shopping at Midway. I haven't shopped their in quite some time though. You're post got me searching around on their site, which has led to me seeing all kinds of great deals. Too many to list if I'm being honest. I'll certainly be checking out Midway more often. Thanks! I hope you guys enjoy those Tatula Elite rods! That was one heck of a deal. Wasn't easy to pass up lol

[OG Crankster]

I bought and received 3 different rods over the last couple of weeks. All 3 were wrapped nicely and shipped in a cardboard tube.  They actually did a great job.

[gim]

I am shocked that so many of you are willing to buy a rod online without touching, holding, or inspecting it before you buy it.  The feel, weight, and balance of a rod is so important to me that I'm not willing to risk buying one before I get my hands on it.  Then there's the risk of damage during shipment too, that has been well documented here.

[Johnbt]

"I am shocked that so many of you are willing to buy a rod online without touching, holding, or inspecting it before you buy it. "

 

I was shocked when I ordered my first Shimano/Loomis Conquest. And the second, third and fourth, too. 

[Jrob78]

30 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I am shocked that so many of you are willing to buy a rod online without touching, holding, or inspecting it before you buy it.  The feel, weight, and balance of a rod is so important to me that I'm not willing to risk buying one before I get my hands on it.  Then there's the risk of damage during shipment too, that has been well documented here.

I totally understand why anyone would feel this way but if I only bought rods I could get my hands on first, I wouldn't have many of the really great rods I have now. I live in a major city and I'm still very limited in what I can actually get my hands on, especially higher end non Loomis stuff. I've bought a few rods that were different than what I expected but I can always find a use for them. I've never ordered a rod and had it show up broken, lucky I guess. 

[Fishin Dad]

12 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

I totally understand why anyone would feel this way but if I only bought rods I could get my hands on first, I wouldn't have many of the really great rods I have now. I live in a major city and I'm still very limited in what I can actually get my hands on, especially higher end non Loomis stuff. I've bought a few rods that were different than what I expected but I can always find a use for them. I've never ordered a rod and had it show up broken, lucky I guess. 

I agree.  I do my research, trust people on this site, and take my chances.  My tournament buddy has the Tatula rod I ordered.  I have only received one rod broken and it was taken care of very easily.   For 50% off, I am willing to gamble a little too.   Nothing like coming home to a 7 1/2 ‘ tube on your porch!!   Like Christmas every time!!!

[Cbump]

I would own Dobyns Colts or Furys and Falcon Lowriders only if I didn’t buy rods online without seeing them. 
 

Doesn’t bother me at all to order a rod from a proven company online. 

[NorthernBasser]

58 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I am shocked that so many of you are willing to buy a rod online without touching, holding, or inspecting it before you buy it.  

 

 

Like others have said, I don't have access to every rod model that's made, so it's kind of hard to handle them before I buy. I'd like to, for sure. But it's just not possible. If I order a rod and don't like it I'll usually just sell it. 

[PhishLI]

35 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

 I have only received one rod broken and it was taken care of very easily.

Same here, because the tube got crushed. Besides that, if you hate the feel of a rod, just return it for a small fee. I always do a dry run right away with a hard cast using a weight at the stated limit to screen out for infant mortality. Every rod so far has passed this test, and none have ever failed when bringing in a fish. I've ordered at least 60 rods online. I won't bother getting one if it's shipped in a triangular box, or a box of any kind. My brother has had a bunch of those come in broken from amazon and DSG.

[Eric 26]

I too agree that the selection of rods are so vast it’s impossible to try before you buy in many cases. With that said I trust in the opinions of the members on this site as well as the reviewers and had purchased 2 Okuma rods that I really tried to see/feel beforehand and I’m glad I took the chance.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I bought a Chatterbound without ever hearing about the company or the rod, let alone handling it after it was recommended by a few on here.

 

The rod single handedly changed the way I Bass fish.  It spawned a confidence in moving baits that changed everything for me.   

 

Also ordered three JDM higher end Daiwa reels this last year, best three reels I've owned.    Never felt them in hand prior.    

 

People on here, the TW reviews, and a few other places will usually give you the straight and narrow.   Homework is paramount, but buying without handling isn't as risky if one takes a little time to research.   

[NavyToad]

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

I am shocked that so many of you are willing to buy a rod online without touching, holding, or inspecting it before you buy it. 

We’re just a bunch of knuckleheads who haven’t yet reach your level.

[NorthernBasser]

6 hours ago, gimruis said:

I am shocked that so many of you are willing to buy a rod online without touching, holding, or inspecting it 

 

But when it finally comes in the mail...

 

[jlieu]

18 hours ago, Kyle S said:

I purchased 3 rods and they came in a nice tube all together. I like shopping at Midway. I haven't shopped their in quite some time though. You're post got me searching around on their site, which has led to me seeing all kinds of great deals. Too many to list if I'm being honest. I'll certainly be checking out Midway more often. Thanks! I hope you guys enjoy those Tatula Elite rods! That was one heck of a deal. Wasn't easy to pass up lol

I was quite surprised as I'm familiar with Midway for firearms purchases; but never had thought about fishing equipment until recently.  

 

To my surprise, every rod I've purchased has been well packaged (bubble wrap/packaging material inside tubes...and sometimes tubes are even inside boxes!).  I've had 100% damage-free experiences with them so far.

 

My experiences with Amazon and Walmart on the other hand...I think I've received more broken rods than in-tact ones.

[PhishLI]

13 hours ago, jlieu said:

To my surprise, every rod I've purchased has been well packaged (bubble wrap/packaging material inside tubes...and sometimes tubes are even inside boxes!).  I've had 100% damage-free experiences with them so far.

Mine just came. Well packaged. Not loose in the tube whatsoever.

[PhishLI]

13 hours ago, jlieu said:

I was quite surprised as I'm familiar with Midway for firearms purchases; but never had thought about fishing equipment until recently.

Me either. Last spring I was looking for a Gantarel Jr in Crappie. It wasn't in stock yet where I usually look, and projections were out to August in better known places, but they had them and the price was awesome. That accidental circumstance put them on my radar. Great prices often, and fast and free shipping.

[NorthernBasser]

2 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Mine just came. Well packaged. Not loose in the tube whatsoever.

First impression of the rod? 

[PhishLI]

14 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

First impression of the rod? 

 

134 grams=4.7 ounces, Balances right at the front of the reel nut with a Fuego CT. I'll be using a Tat 150 which is heavier by a skosh, so it'll be perfect. Top 4 guides are micros. I fish straight mainline, so fine with me. Guides are nice and straight. No bow in the blank. I prefer a downward facing loop hook keeper, so bully for me. It's a true fast, not x-tra F, so that's good too. Liking it. We're dropping into the 20s later and tomorrow, so a stress test will have to wait a minute.

[NorthernBasser]

42 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

 

134 grams=4.7 ounces, Balances right at the front of the reel nut with a Fuego CT. I'll be using a Tat 150 which is heavier by a skosh, so it'll be perfect. Top 4 guides are micros. I fish straight mainline, so fine with me. Guides are nice and straight. No bow in the blank. I prefer a downward facing loop hook keeper, so bully for me. It's a true fast, not x-tra F, so that's good too. Liking it. We're dropping into the 20s later and tomorrow, so a stress test will have to wait a minute.

Nice, thanks! I do like the open style hook keeper. 

 

4.7 oz is definitely on the heavy side for a 6'9 rod (tho it is a heavy, right?) but if it balances, that helps. I am a little worried now how heavy the 7'3 MH I ordered is going to be. 

[PhishLI]

50 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

4.7 oz is definitely on the heavy side for a 6'9 rod (tho it is a heavy, right?

Yes. It's a heavy.

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

Nice, thanks! I do like the open style hook keeper. 

 

4.7 oz is definitely on the heavy side for a 6'9 rod (tho it is a heavy, right?) but if it balances, that helps. I am a little worried now how heavy the 7'3 MH I ordered is going to be. 

The 7’3 i think is the Brent Ehler rod I have all of the Tatula Eite rods. I wouldn’t call any of them truly fast rods, the all seem to be a bit slow/load up on the tip. 
 

The 6’9 and 7’1 heavy are the Andy Montgomery skipping rods. Set the hook deep with these rods as the really load up. Strong back bone but you really have to lean into to get to it.

 

The 6’9 Ml rod is the Seth Feider rod and it’s a damned noodle. I use it, but it’s nothing like the Cabela’s ZX 6’9 jerkbait rod I used previously. It’s hard to work a jerkbait because it absorbs all the jerking and you’re not gonna really be able to shake grass off with it.

[NorthernBasser]

What are you mostly using the 7'3 MH Ehler rod for? I'm expecting it to be a utility rod for me. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

What are you mostly using the 7'3 MH Ehler rod for? I'm expecting it to be a utility rod for me. 

T-rigs, bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, traps, dark sleeper

 

it’s a great all purpose rod. 
 

All of them are very sensitive despite that the blank is not exposed on the handle / reel seat.

[Cbump]

5 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Nice, thanks! I do like the open style hook keeper. 

 

4.7 oz is definitely on the heavy side for a 6'9 rod (tho it is a heavy, right?) but if it balances, that helps. I am a little worried now how heavy the 7'3 MH I ordered is going to be. 

Dang, here I am thinking that’s light! Lol

 

Mine will be here tomorrow! If It works out, it’ll be my 3/8 finesse jig rod. 16lb sunline bms. 

3 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

The 6’9 Ml rod is the Seth Feider rod and it’s a damned noodle. I use it, but it’s nothing like the Cabela’s ZX 6’9 jerkbait rod I used previously. It’s hard to work a jerkbait because it absorbs all the jerking and you’re not gonna really be able to shake grass off with it.

I have this rod also. It’s the only jerkbait rod I’ve ever used and you’re right. Big time noodle. I just thought that’s the way jb rods were supposed to be since I had no other experience. 
Makes me want to sell It to try something else. I always prefer more power. 

[NorthernBasser]

16 minutes ago, Cbump said:

Dang, here I am thinking that’s light! Lol

 

 

I guess it depends what you're used to, or what you compare it to. To me 4.7 oz is on the high side for a 6'9 H rod. 

 

The 7'2 H Zodias weighs 4.47 oz. My 7'6 XH ALX IKOS is 4.73 oz. 

 

But if it balances well you don't notice the extra weigh as much (see: Dobyns). 

 

It's funny because what's considered heavy nowadays in rods and reels would feel like feathers years ago.