Recommend an all purpose casting rod on the lighter side.

[Woody B]

I currently fish with 5 rods.  One of them I don't really like and I'm looking to replace it.  

First, the rods I have, what I use them for and what I like/dislike about them.

 

1.  Lews Mach casting.  MAPC-  7 foot medium action, medium or moderate taper.  The rated lure weight is 1/8 to 1/2 ounce.  This is my favorite rod.  I can cast light stuff pretty good but it's got enough backbone for big fish.  I successfully landed a 53 pound flathead catfish with it.  (on a crankbait).  I've boat flipped bass as heavy as 4 pounds.  This is a tough rod.   

 

2. Lew's TP-1 Black Speed Stick Casting Rod 7'3" Med Hvy.   Rated lure weight is 3/16 to 1 ounce.  I like the rod but not for light stuff.  It fishes quite a bit stiffer than my MAPC.   I like it for t-rigs and shakey heads with weights at least 1/4 ounce.  (the weight of the weight itself, not the entire lure)

 

3. Dobyns Colt, CL734C.   7'3"  Dobyns calls in Hvy-Fast, but it fishes lighter than that.  It's rated for 1/4 to 1 ounce.   It's good for stuff down to 3/8 ounce or so.   I like it.  It feels good in my hands.  It's quite a bit heavier (actual weight) than either of my Lews rods.   I suppose because it's a cheaper model.  I like it for mid size cranks, (Rapala DT's, ect) and bladed jigs.  The OG4's I like as well as Bandit cranks and Strike King 3's are a little too light for it. 

 

4. BPS patriot.  (I think it's my most expensive rod, and the one I like least) 7 foot med/fast.  Rated for 1/4 to 5/8.   Me and it simply don't get along.  I can't cast stuff well with it.  I can't cast 1/4 ounce stuff with it good at all.  It's too whippy for stuff over 1/2 ounce.  I've also broken 2 guides.  

 

5 Duckett Silverado.  7'3" Heavy/fast.  I don't think it has a lure weight rating.  I use it for heavy stuff,  A-rigs, deep cranks, big swimbaits ect.  I can cast pretty good with it.  I've used it for stuff as light as a 3/8 ounce Devils horse but it's not ideal for that.   The balance is terrible, it's tip heavy.  Not a big deal for me, but don't want someone to read this and buy one without knowing that.   

 

 

I can fish "most" of the stuff I fish with on most of my rods.  Occasionally I want a OG4 (silent) and a Bandit 100-200-300 or Strike King pro 3 or xd 3 both tied on.  The Lews Mach 7 med med is the only one that's I'm good and accurate with at that weight.   I'm considering another Mach med med or even a Mach 2 so they aren't identical.

 

I'm considering a Cashion BFS.  I looked at one.  It didn't seem too floppy.  It was rated at 1/8 to 7/16 ounce.  I fear it will be too whippy if I ended up with a bladed jig tied on it.  I also wonder if it's stiff enough to set the hook on a big bass.  Especially on something like a Devils Horse with trebles.  Any other recommendations for fairly light Cashion rods.  They're made here in NC.  That's a plus for me.  

 

I like the Dobyns CL734.  I'm also considering a Dobyns a little higher end than a colt in a "3" power instead of "4".   I'm figuring a higher end one would weigh less too.  The weight isn't a big deal.  I'm built like a fire hydrant and have auto mechanic upper body strength/stamina.  It's still a shock when I put down one of my (lower end) Lew's and pick up the Dobyns.  It feel like it weighs twice as much.  All three have the same reels on them.   

 

I "could" spend a bunch.  I'm tight, not broke.  I know St Croix makes excellent rods.  I'd be gritting my teeth paying for one of them knowing they warranty them even if it's stupidity that breaks it.   I'd kinda hate to buy a rod that was super sensitive, and light as a feather.  I fear I'd be replacing more rods after that.  LOL

 

As always, thanks.  

[Big Hands]

31 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I'd be gritting my teeth paying for one of them knowing they warranty them even if it's stupidity that breaks it.   I'd kinda hate to buy a rod that was super sensitive, and light as a feather.  I fear I'd be replacing more rods after that.  LOL

 

**cough** Ugly Stik! **cough-cough**  ;~)

[Mojo Bass]

I’d recommend dipping your toes into a st croix and just get a bass x so you’re not spending a lot of money and you can just kinda get a feel for their rods….. see if you like them or not…….  I have a new bass x 7’1 medium heavy fast and it’s a nice rod for the price point but if you want something on the lighter side just go the with medium fast 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I have a 7'1 M F Muse that I really like.  I use it for just about anything that's too light for a MH.  Its got a lightish tip, but not whippy.  Its rated like a typical M power 1/4-5/8 but the rating is accurate.  It can throw 3/16, but to really get the rod to load you need 1/4 oz.  If you break a 13 rod they replace it with the cost of shipping.  The Omen Black 3s are on sale right now and they share the same blank as the Muse.  Ark probably has a great M power rod for the money, but I havent had any experience with anything but their 7'3 MH.

[optimator]

I really like my Kistler LMH.

[GReb]

Zolo twitch

[Junger]

Tatula Elite 7’ M/MH AGS, throws 1/8oz pretty easily with the right reel.

[casts_by_fly]

What you’re describing is a medium to medium heavy, moderate to moderate fast rod rated 3/16-3/4 or thereabouts. I would suggest looking into the falcon expert finesse jig. It’s rated 1/4-3/4 in the expert series and 3/16-5/8 in the other series. If you called the expert 3/16-5/8 I’d have no problem with that. Light tip and top end, medium power on the bottom. Great sensitivity.  My expert version will cast an unweighted fluke a mile.  I have fished it with 1/2 oz chatterbaits and a zako which ends up around 7/8 oz (it works, but is better a little lighter). It is my primary walking bait rod with a half ounce treble hooked lure. No issue with enough backbone there. It will fish an og4 or dt4 just fine and if I’m target casting them it’s a great choice. It’s a really good overall rod, really light weight, great feel. 

[Bass Rutten]

Have you considered med-light or bfs? I recently picked up a 7ft kistler medium-light (1/8-3/8oz) and paired it up with the shimano slx bfs, had a hoot over the weekend catching mayan cichlids on ned rigs and small lures, I feel like I just opened up a whole new alternate dimension of fishing.

[Woody B]

Thanks for all the recommendations.  I had decided I was going to just keep what I've been using for a while, but I lost a combo while I was fishing today.  I suspect the bait monkey got it.   I had sit it on the deck.  I was fishing out of the other side of the boat.  About 5 minutes after sitting it down I went to pick it back up and it was gone.   I guess I sit it too close to the edge and it slipped it the lake.  It wasn't windy today.  I was back in a quite pocket.  Had there been any kind of splash I would have heard it.  I really like my 734 Dobyns.  I think I'm going to get a 733,  from a higher line than the Colt that I have.  

[Dangerfield]

I love my 6' 9" Medium Regular Daiwa Fuego casting rod, I use it for topwater and chatterbaits (Mini-Max), I'm thinking of getting a second for jerkbait duty. It's not whippy like a cranking rod and the backbone is good enough for an exposed single hook. You can pick up one up for dirt cheap and they're very light.

[badfish79]

I'm not familiar with the baits you listed so I'm curious, are you talking lighter weight, or lighter power than what you currently have?

 

[Woody B]

I ended up Cashion Core Series.  7 foot med/hvy- fast action.  It's labeled as a "worm/jig" rod.   I looked at a BUNCH of rods at a local tackle shop.  The Cashion being made right here in NC is what sold me.  I like it.  It "feels" good.  The grip is "different".  It's kinda a weave type grip.  I like it so far.  I'm not a grip snob.  Some of my rods have Winn grips, some have EVA.  I like the Winn when it's hot, but the EVA is better for me when it's really cold.  Haven't been hot and sweaty or freezing cold with this rod yet.   I caught several bass on it with a variety of lures.   It's labeled a "worm/jig" rod.   I'll probably leave a worm on it most of the time but I wanted to try it out.   I was able to accurately place a 6" zoom worm with a 3/16 ounce shakey head where ever I wanted to.   I swapped lures several times to try it.  My favorite top water lure is a Devils Horse.  I could cast and work it good with this rod.  I caught one while I had a Devils Horse on this rod.   You can really feel the thump with a bladed jig and spinner bait.  I like that too.   It's tough too.  While I was playing musical lures with this rod I caught a 17.54 pound, 34 inch long Flathead Catfish.   It's got enough backbone to bury a treble in a bony catfish mouth, and also enough....whatever it takes... to keep a big fish pinned during a long fight.  Me and the Cat were both tired by the time I got it in the boat.   I've got a SLX 150 reel on it.  

 

Thanks for all the advice.  

[jejenkyns]

On 4/9/2023 at 2:26 AM, Junger said:

Tatula Elite 7’ M/MH AGS, throws 1/8oz pretty easily with the right reel.

This is what I was going to say...