Rods series by Company : Hidden Gems, etc.

[Espo66]

Hi All,

 

Might be a weird way to go about it, but lately I've been thinking about trying as many rods by manufacturer as possible (within reason).

I know many anglers find what they like and stick to that company, but hey, I'm not a pro and would like to check out some of these companies I see on TW.  Also would like to experience some of the proven companies talk about often on this forum. TBT, anything over $350 starts to be diminishing returns, for me. My one Megabass rod was purchased used, but I'm open to suggestions above and below that number. 

 

Looking for thoughts like, "If you are Bass angler or gear aficionado, you really should try this rod from this series, b/c all things came together and they really got it right with this one, its special.." 

 

Here are my current rods: 

 

13 Fishing Fate Black	MLF	7'	1/8-1/2
MegaBass AARON MARTENS	MF	6'10	1/16-1/2
Daiwa Aird-X	MM	6'6"	1/4-3/4
St. Croix Premier	MF	6'6"	1/4-5/8
St. Croix Legend Glass	MM	6'10	3/8-1
Star Rods Aerial Live Bait	MHF	7'	1/2-3
St. Croix Avid X	MXF	6'4"	1/4-5/8
BPS JM Sig	MM	6'6"	1/4-5/8
Shimano Expride	MHF	6'10	3/8-1
Ark Brandon Cobb Series	MHF	7'4"	1/4-1
Daiwa BLX JDM Bass	HF	7'2"	3/8-2
St. Croix Avid Inshore	HF	7'	3/4-2

 

Here are some I've seen talked about on this forum in the past and/or seem interesting:

Disclaimer: I'm not looking to buy all these, or asking for how they fit my current setups, just looking affirmations or additions based on the spirit of the thread.

Megabass: 

• P5 Z Crank Elseil MM 7' 1/4-3/4; 
• Orochi XX FSS MM 7' 3/8-3/4;
•   Orochi Perfect Pitch MHXF 7'2" 3/8-1 1/4oz

G Loomis: 

• NRX+ 821S DSR 6'10 1/16-5/16; 
• Loomis IMX Pro 7'1" Med 852C JWR

St Croix

• Victory 7'3" MXF

Daiwa

• Tatula Elite Ehrler MXF 7' 1/8-1
• Tatula Elite Howell MLF 7' 1/4-5/8

Shimano

• Shimano Posion Andrea 267ML

Ark

• Tharp Series Spin Rod 6'10" Med Lt Meterman Special

Falcon

• Cara 7'2" Med Hvy Swim Jig
• Lowrider Head HF 6'10 1/4-3/4
• Bucoo SR Amistad HF 7'3" 1/2-1-1/2

ALX

• ZOLO Series 6'9" Medium + SpinSkip
• 7' Med Lt+ Maestro
• ZOLO 7'2" Med Hvy+ Toadface

Kistler

• Helium MF 7' 1/8-3/8

Quantum

• Smoke Series

Okuma

?

Phenix

• Feather Series

Cashion

• CON Spinning Rod 7' Medium Ned Rig

Halo Fishing

?

Bass Pro Shop

?

13 Fishing

?

Others...

 

 

Thanks for any input!

 

Larry

 

[optimator]

I've got the IMX-PRO 853 so I can't comment on the 852. The 853 is a great rod, but the XF tip makes it more suitable for jigs to me. I also have the Toadface. It's turning into my favorite rod. It just really does almost everything good. A great tip with a killer backbone. My first Feather is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. A 7' 1" ML casting. I'll be able to add more about that one after the weekend. I also have a NFC blank Kister Helium, but in LMH. It's a fantastic weightless Senko rod. And it does well with T-Rigs too. 

[webertime]

Evergreen Combat Stick Moving Special (shower blows rod).  Fish with 30lb braid and a leader of your flavor.  This rod will work a Shower Blows and Vision 110 great but...  chatterbait spinnerbait buzzbait and keitech type swimbait also do very well.  It's sort of a quiver killer.

 

St Croix Victory 73Hxf.  It's not a heavy...  this is as close to the vaunted GLoomis NRX 873 you'll find taper and action-wise.  Jigs and Carolina Rigs

 

Megabass Perfect Pitch.  Frogs, Magdrafts, flipping, big topwaters and jigs another quiver killer.

 

Short of big cranks these 3 cover most "casting presentations" very very well.

 

[Pogues2300]

I owned the orochi flat side special and actually kinda regret selling it. Was really good for square bills/shallow diving cranks and also smaller walking baits/poppers

[Tatulatard]

Majorcraft benkei.  Either the BFS or the short swimbait rod for Japanese weirdness.  You could buy a higher end majorcraft line not on tackle warehouse for cheaper but the benkei is what's on TW. 

[a1712]

ALX OXIM Agent, it's just special. Does a little bit of everything right. 

Daiwa Rebellion 6'10" MH/R. Best target casting rod I've ever used for Bladed Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Squarebills, Paddletails etc. 

Daiwa BLX Sensitive Graphite 7'2" MH/Fast. Love this rod for T-rigs and Jigs. 

Side note; I bleed Shimano blue. Brian. 

[WRB]

ALX and IRods are a hidden gems.

[BrianMDTX]

I have a Kistler Helium 7’ MHF. It’s one helluva rod. Especially on sale. 

[txchaser]

Helium Light MH/F or Heavy MH/F. They sit in a range that is hard to find elsewhere, they are about 1/2 notch above or below the MH. The HMH is my current favorite chatterbait/swimjig rod, and I'm probably five rods deep trying to find the perfect rod for that presentation.

LMH is amazing on unweighted senkos or light t-rigs. I have one z-bone, and it's nicer than the heliums but IMO the helium maxxes out on the price performance curve. 

 

Irod magic stick for a frog rod

 

Anything in Daiwa's "Regular" action - super versatile - spinnerbaits, mid-depth cranks and squarebills, etc. I wish I could find a better blank than the tat elite since I use it a lot, but the higher end stuff has the CF guides which are too fragile for me. 

 

(Cue the haters) I was gifted a googan black series in the XL (2-4oz) model. It's great for big soft swimbaits and is dramatically more sensitive than my Irod. ~$239 on the karl's site

[kingmotorboat]

I prefer my phenix feathers and m1’s over my Dobyns dx’s. They’re both definitely hidden gems 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

13 makes some great rods in the Muse lineup.  Very competitive @ retail, but unfortunatley I think 13 is doing away with them in order to push the Swindle rods, so there on clearance for 130.  I really like their 7'1 M F as a do it all M.  Its not a super fast F, but its crisp and great with trebles.  Its got enough sensitivity and speed for lighter single hook baits/Trigs.  They make a 6'7 and a 6'10, obviously the shorter the faster the action.  I just like the 7'1 as a do it all.

[NorthernBasser]

7 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Majorcraft benkei.  Either the BFS or the short swimbait rod for Japanese weirdness.  You could buy a higher end majorcraft line not on tackle warehouse for cheaper but the benkei is what's on TW. 

I have the 6'9 MH/MF I've been using for close quarters spinnerbait fishing. It's awesome. These rods should be more than they are.

 

Few more gems.

 

Powell Naked casting (7'3 H)

Savage Gear Black Ops casting (7'1 MH)

Legit Design Stand Out casting (6'10 MH)

Ark Tharp Honey Badger casting (7' MH)

ALX Zolo Dream (7' M)

[Catt]

Diawa Tatula TTU711MHXB 7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast.

 

Diawia Tatula TTU731MHFB Medium Heavy Fast 

 

Kistler Helium 

HE7045HMH

7'0" Heavy Medium Heavy X-Fast

 

 

[MiceNReets]

15 hours ago, webertime said:

Evergreen Combat Stick Moving Special (shower blows rod).  Fish with 30lb braid and a leader of your flavor.  This rod will work a Shower Blows and Vision 110 great but...  chatterbait spinnerbait buzzbait and keitech type swimbait also do very well.  It's sort of a quiver killer.

 

St Croix Victory 73Hxf.  It's not a heavy...  this is as close to the vaunted GLoomis NRX 873 you'll find taper and action-wise.  Jigs and Carolina Rigs

 

Megabass Perfect Pitch.  Frogs, Magdrafts, flipping, big topwaters and jigs another quiver killer.

 

Short of big cranks these 3 cover most "casting presentations" very very well.

 

Great suggestions!! That 7’2 MH evergreen combat shower blows rod is awesome!  

[Hulkster]

IMX Pro MBR 903C is a hidden gem. the shorter version of this rod (843) get all the attention but the 7'6 length combined with the MH Mag Bass taper is really awesome. 

[casts_by_fly]

I am a Falcon guy and since I like consistency that's all I've bought and fished for the past couple years more or less.  I started with the Bucoo series, moved into the Expert line, and have supplemented with Caras for models not in the expert lineup.  I think I have 14 now across all of them and I've handled a few more in store.  You don't say if you want versatile rods or specialists, so I'm going to suggest based on a specific rod doing a specific job its designed for.  Also, every Falcon rod is under your price point, even the Caras.  I think a Cara at $250 is an incredible value for how well they perform.  The Expert at $200 is just as good, and maybe even better value.  The Bucoo SR are great rods at $100 and certainly punch above their weight.  I'll give you one from each lineup.

 

7'2" Cara swim jig.  Its already on your list, but I'll mention it again.  I don't have a ton of time on this rod yet but its a winner.  A 3/8 swim jig plus trailer is awesome on this rod.  I have 30 lb braid on it for the grass.  Just a great feeling rod for what its designed for.  I can also see this as my buzzbait rod or as a light texas rig rod.

 

6/10" Expert Finesse jig/topwater as a 3/8-1/2 oz topwater rod.  Walking baits, poppers, small ploppers.  It has a light tip and top section to fling the lighter baits a mile and plenty of backbone to set the hook.  The rod is feather weight (mine has an Abu MGX and comes in at 8 oz total setup) and balances beautifully.  There is another thread in this forum where I just compared it to the Head turner.  The HT is a little more generalist for me and a fantastic rod. It's a 9/10 at everything it does.  But to answer your question I'm going with rods that are a 10/10 at a specific thing.

 

7' Bucoo SR Dragger 1 (H/F, 3/8-1 oz) as a bigger bladed bait rod.  Its a great 1/2 oz chatterbait/spinnerbait rod at that price point.  The rod was designed as a carolina rig/jig dragger but in the Bucoo series it isn't as fast of an action.  It has a soft tip and top 1/3 that loads great casting the bigger bladed baits, but a lot of power down low.  It fishes great for that purpose and in 2021 I don't think I had anything else tied on that rod but a 1/2 oz CB for basically the whole year.  I'd call this one a hidden gem at that price and for that purpose.

[PBBrandon]

The Dobyns Champion XP 734c definitely fits the bill for being magically special. The quintessential “do it all” rod. Anything between 3/8-3/4 of an ounce, it’ll do wonderfully. Perfect action for moving baits.  maybe a tad on the slow side for bottom contact, but it’ll handle a football jig just fine too

[FishTank]

Megabass Valkyrie H with spiral wrapped guides. Great rod. It can be used for all sorts of stuff.

[SproDD79]

Anything Major Craft is a winner, I really like the 7ft MS 1 medium jerkbait casting rod, it's wonderful for blade baits as well. The only issue I have with Major Craft is some of their rods have really long handles, I prefer shorter handles. In terms of price and build quality , they are hard to beat.

[Bandersnatch]

On 6/2/2023 at 12:22 AM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

13 makes some great rods in the Muse lineup.  Very competitive @ retail, but unfortunatley I think 13 is doing away with them in order to push the Swindle rods, so there on clearance for 130.  I really like their 7'1 M F as a do it all M.  Its not a super fast F, but its crisp and great with trebles.  Its got enough sensitivity and speed for lighter single hook baits/Trigs.  They make a 6'7 and a 6'10, obviously the shorter the faster the action.  I just like the 7'1 as a do it all.

Agreed, the muse rods are just nice darn rods. I like them better then their $150 more envy black 2 series 

[Espo66]

Thanks to all for the great input. I have it in a spreadsheet, tried to post it, but it is too big.

 

I reorganized it in a list, by technique and price. I let rods be in up to 3 categories (techniques) if they were mentioned as being versatile. This list is a combination of opinions of Bass Resource Forum members and TW reviews. IMO, more trustworthy than lots of reviews on the internet and social media. Hopefully, others find this useful.

 

LMK if there are any omissions or any others you feel s/b included.

BTW, one interesting thing, there are not a lot of Rods in the $300 range, or less than $100, but I expected that.

 

Highlighted  rods are the ones I own and are in the category where I use them. Some to be upgraded, but I will vow for a few:

 

 

Shimano Expride 6'6" MHF 3/8-1 - Its reputation is well deserved

St Croix Legend Glass 6'10 MM 3/8-1 - I can feel every wag of the baits a$$ with this!

St Croix Avid X 6'4" MXF 1/4-5/8 - Really happy with the length when working topwater and jerk baits

13 Fishing Fate Black 7' MLF 1/8-1/2 - every time I cast, I go, "Wow, why can I cast so far with this cheap rod?"

Daiwa BLX JDM Bass 7'2" HF 3/8-2 - Found this on closeout for $200, it's becoming my favorite rod.

 

The List:

 

Dropshot:

 

$130

Ark Tharp Meterman Special 6'10" MLXF 1/8-5/8

 

$155

Major Craft Benkei Spinning Rod 6'8" MLF 1/8-3/8

 

$550

Megabass Aaron Martens 6'10 MLF 1/16-1/2

 

NedRig:

 

$60

Daiwa Aird-X 6'6" MM 1/4-3/4

 

$130

Ark Tharp Meterman Special 6'10" MLXF 1/8-5/8

 

$155

Major Craft Benkei Spinning Rod 6'8" MLF 1/8-3/8

 

$260

Zolo Dream 7' M 1/4-3/4

 

Shakey Heads:

 

$65

13 Fishing Fate Black

7' MLF 1/8-1/2

 

$220

Cashion

ICON Shaky Head 7'2" MHF 1/8-5/8

 

$260

ALX Zolo Dream 7' M 1/4-3/4

 

Jig Skipping:

 

$155

Major Craft Benkei Spinning Rod 6'8" MLF 1/8-3/8

 

$260

ALX Zolo Medium + SpinSkip 6'9" MF 3/16-1/2

 

$400

Shimano Posion Andrea 6'7 MLM 1/8-7/16

 

$475

P5 Z Crank Elseil 7' MM 1/4-3/4

 

Weightless Worms:

 

$150

Daiwa Tatula Elite Ehrler 7' MXF 1/8-1

 

$260

ALX Zolo Medium + SpinSkip 6'9" MF 3/16-1/2

 

$300

Kistler Helium 7' LMHF 1/16-5/16

 

$550

Megabass Aaron Martens 6'10 MLF 1/16-1/2

 

Weightless Flukes & Jerkbaits:

 

$60

Aird-X 6'6" MM 1/4-3/4

 

$65

13 Fishing Fate Black

7' MLF 1/8-1/2

 

$260

ALX Zolo Medium + SpinSkip 6'9" MF 3/16-1/2

 

 

Wacky | Neko Rigs:

 

$160

St Croix Premier 6'6" MF 1/4-5/8

 

$130

Ark Tharp Meterman Special 6'10" MLXF 1/8-5/8

 

$300

Kistler Helium 7' MF 1/8-3/8

 

$550

Megabass Aaron Martens 6'10 MLF 1/16-1/2

 

Weighted Swimbaits & CoinRig:

 

$60

Aird-X 6'6" MM 1/4-3/4

 

$150

Falcon Lowrider 7'3" MHM 3/8-3/4

 

$160

St Croix Premier 6'6" MF 1/4-5/8

 

$300

Kistler Helium 7' LMHF 1/16-5/16

 

 

UnderSpins:

 

$65

13 Fishing Fate Black

7' MLF 1/8-1/2

 

$160

St Croix Premier 6'6" MF 1/4-5/8

 

$200

Falcon Expert 6'10 MLF 3/8-1/2 oz

 

Topwater:

 

$100

Ark Brandon Cobb 7'4" MHF 1/4-1

 

$150

Daiwa Tatula 7'1" MHXF 1/4-1

 

$180

Evergreen Combat Stick Moving Special 6'10 MXF 1/32-3/8

 

$200

Falcon Expert 6'10 MLF 3/8-1/2 oz

 

$220

St Croix Avid X 6'4" MXF 1/4-5/8

 

$350

Megabass Orochi XX FSS 7' MM 3/8-3/4

 

Jerkbaits:

 

$150

Daiwa Tatula 7'1" MHXF 1/4-1

 

$220

St Croix Avid X 6'4" MXF 1/4-5/8

 

$260

ALX Zolo

Med + Jerkbait 6'9" MF 3/8-3/4

 

Lipless Crankbaits:

 

$100

Ark Brandon Cobb 7'4" MHF 1/4-1

 

$130

13 Fishing Muse Black

7'1" MF 1/4-5/8

 

$150

Daiwa Tatula Elite Howell 7' MLF 1/4-5/8

 

$220

St Croix Avid X 6'4" MXF 1/4-5/8

 

$250

Falcon Cara Swim Jig 7'2" MHF 1/8-3/8

 

$260

ALX Zolo Med Hvy+ Toadface 7'2" MHF

3/8-1 1/8

 

$300

Kistler Helium 7’ MHF 1/4-1

 

$300

Savage Gear Black Ops casting 7'1 MHXF 3/8-1

 

$350

Megabass Orochi XX FSS 7' MM 3/8-3/4

 

$400

G Loomis IMX Pro MBR 903C 7'1 MM 1/4-3/4

 

Crankbaits:

 

$130

13 Fishing Muse Black

7'1" MF 1/4-5/8

 

$150

Bass Pro Johnny Morris Sig 6'6" MM 1/4-5/8

 

$180

Evergreen Combat Stick Moving Special 6'10 MXF 1/32-3/8

 

$200

Falcon Expert 7' MM 1/4-3/4

 

$475

Megabass P5 Z Crank Elseil 7' MM 1/4-3/4

 

Squarebills:

 

$150

Bass Pro Johnny Morris Sig 6'6" MM 1/4-5/8

 

$200

Daiwa Rebellion 6'10" MH/R 1/4-1

 

$240

Dobyns Champion XP 734c 7'3 HF 1/4-1

 

$275

St Croix Legend Glass 6'10 MM 3/8-1

 

$475

Megabass P5 Z Crank Elseil 7' MM 1/4-3/4

 

Spinnerbaits:

 

$150

Bass Pro Johnny Morris Sig 6'6" MM 1/4-5/8

 

$150

Falcon Lowrider Head Turner 6'10 HF 1/4-3/4

 

$200

Daiwa Rebellion 6'10" MH/R 1/4-1

 

$275

St Croix Legend Glass 6'10 MM 3/8-1

 

$350

Megabass Orochi XX FSS 7' MM 3/8-3/4

 

Chatterbaits:

 

$100

Falcon Bucoo SR Dragger 7' HF 3/8-1

 

$100

Ark Brandon Cobb 7'4" MHF 1/4-1

 

$180

Evergreen Combat Stick Moving Special 6'10 MXF 1/32-3/8

 

$200

Daiwa Rebellion 6'10" MH/R 1/4-1

 

$260

ALX Zolo Heavy Dragger 7'4" HF 3/8-1 1/2

 

$275

St Croix Legend Glass 6'10 MM 3/8-1

 

$300

Kistler Helium 7'3" HMHXF 1/4-1

 

Light Jig | T-Rig/C-Rig :

 

$130

Ark Tharp Grinder 7' MHM 1/8-1 1/2

 

$160

Daiwa Tatula 7'3 MHF 1/4-1

 

$210

ALX Oxim

Agent 7'1" MHF 1/4-7/8

 

$210

St Croix Victory Full Contact 7'3 HXF 3/8-7/8

 

$210

Powell Naked 7'3 HF 1/4-1

 

$250

Shimano Expride 6'6" MHF 3/8-1

 

$250

Falcon Cara Swim Jig 7'2" MHF 1/8-3/8

 

$380

G Loomis IMX Pro 853C JWR 7'1" MHXF 3/16-5/8

 

Medium Jig | T-Rig/C-Rig :

 

$210

St Croix Victory Full Contact 7'3 HXF 3/8-7/8

 

$225

Legit Design Stand Out casting 6'10 MHM 3/16-3/4

 

$250

Shimano Expride 6'6" MHF 3/8-1

 

$250

Falcon Cara Swim Jig 7'2" MHF 1/8-3/8

 

$260

ALX Zolo Heavy Dragger 7'4" HF 3/8-1 1/2

 

$380

G Loomis IMX Pro 853C JWR 7'1" MHXF 3/16-5/8

 

$400

Daiwa BLX JDM Bass 7'2" HF 3/8-2

 

Heavy Jig (Pitch/Flip) | 1-2oz Swimbaits:

 

$100

Falcon Bucoo SR Amistad 7'3" HF 1/2-1-1/2

 

$280

St Croix Avid Inshore HF 7' 3/4-2

 

$475

Megabass Orochi Perfect Pitch 7'2" MHXF 3/8-1 1/4oz

 

Soft Bodied Swimbaits:

 

$170

Okuma TCS 7’3” HF 1/4-2

 

$260

ALX Zolo Med Hvy+ Toadface 7'2" MHF

3/8-1 1/8

 

$300

Kistler Helium 7'3" HMHXF 1/4-1

 

$380

G Loomis IMX Pro 854C JWR 7'1" HF 5/16-3/4

 

$400

Daiwa BLX JDM Bass 7'2" HF 3/8-2

 

$475

Megabass Orochi Perfect Pitch 7'2" MHXF 3/8-1 1/4oz

 

 

Frogs:

 

$150

iRod Genesis III Magic Stick 7'5" HF 1/2-2

 

$170

Okuma TCS 7’3” HF 1/4-2

 

$260

ALX Zolo Med Hvy+ Toadface 7'2" MHF

3/8-1 1/8

 

$400

Daiwa BLX JDM Bass 7'2" HF 3/8-2

 

$475

Megabass Orochi Perfect Pitch 7'2" MHXF 3/8-1 1/4oz

 

 

Deep Cranks:

 

$80

Star Rods Aerial Live Bait MHF 7' 1/2-3

 

$250

Falcon Cara Deep Runner 7'3" MHM 3/8-3/4

 

$280

St Croix Avid Inshore HF 7' 3/4-2

 

Med Swimbaits 2-3oz:

 

 

Heavy Swimbaits 3-10oz:

 

$100

Daiwa DX Swimbait XHF 8' 3-10oz

 

[Columbia Craw]

Alpha Anglers Rebound. This is a Lamiglas SR705R re-born but with new technology.  Those who fished the “yellow rod” know what I’m talking about.

[TOXIC]

I’m sorry but posts like this really make me laugh.  Why? Because a rod that feels like a million bucks to me and does everything I want it to, could feel like a wooden broomstick to you.  We don’t fish the same way, have differing experience levels, and a thousand other factors that make me different from you.  That’s why fishermen usually find a rod or series of rods that fit them and stick with it.  That’s why marketing is such an important part of rod choice. The cost of the rods on your list is pretty steep just to find what works for you.  The number of rods that have infinitesimal differences would be mind boggling.  I understand the thrill of buying and trying lots of different rods and the collecting factor as well but asking what is someone’s recommendation is like making a list of every rod manufacturer out there.  If it were me, I would put some qualifying factors on your search like cost and if you want to take a short cut, just go to a custom rod maker and have exactly what you want made for you.  Good luck on your search.  

[Lmbasshunter]

I used to be a st croix guy until about 7-8 years ago when I tried Dobyns. Dobyns rods has just about any rod you’d ever need for bass fishing. They are also very good about answering the phone or emails when you have a question. I called them up last week with a few questions I had about a rod.  I spoke with Mike, who was very helpful. 

[BassFishermanTyler]

I will add in a Daiwa Rebellion 7ft 11in heavy fast casting rod.ure rating is 3/8-4oz. Id says it tops out at about 3 1/2. Fishes hard swimbaits well for me. Handles tiny klash/arashi glides which is mostly what I have been throwing in it. I dont hear much about it but it is well priced. $200 retail plus a good 15-20%+ is enticing. Nearing Levante leviathon territory for price but its a solid option for a bit less.