Break down rods?

[Bazoo]

I'm considering getting 2 breakdown rods to keep in my Tracker. My van bit the dust so now my handful of solid rods don't get to go much because I often fish a few hours when I am in town with my family and there isn't room for my rods too. I primarily fish from the bank.

 

Preferably I'd like something I can find at basspro/cabelas, walmart, or academy to so I can get an idea of the action in person.

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For baitcasting rods,

I have an Abu Garcia Black Max 6'6" Med rod. I like its size, weight, action, and softness for an all around rod. This is my favorite rod. I can cast 1/4 oz lures on it with ease, but it will also handle crankbaits and spinnerbaits okay. I normally run 12 pound big game with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2 

 

I like a Bass Pro Crankin' stick but it's 7'3" for crankbaits and similar things, again with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2.

 

Lately however, I've mostly been using a cheap zebco 5'6" rod with an Abu Black Max reel since it's my only breakdown casting rod. I do like it for some stuff and because it has a softish tip and does well with lighter lures. I can throw a weightless texas rigged lizard easily, with a weightless zoom finesse worm being the limit of what I can throw. This rod doesn't have enough backbone, but it's light and manageable.

 

I tried a Berkley Lightning rod in medium 7' and I didn't like it. It was way too stiff in the tip to cast anything lighter than 3/8 and preferred 1/2 oz lures. Like casting with a broomstick. I rarely fish heavy lures, and rarely heavy cover.

 

So what I'd like is something that will take the place of the Abu rod, in the $120 or less range.

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For spinning I have,

 

Berkley Lightning rod 7' in medium with a Quantum drive 30 reel. I like the cork grip.

 

Bass Pro qualifier 7' rod in medium with a Pro Qual 2 spinning reel. Both are medium action. I dislike this rod doesn't have a forward grip area. I like the action good though.

 

I like them both just fine and about equal and I use them about the same amounts and for the same things. The Quantum has braid on it currently and the Pro Qual has 8 pound big game mono. So basically I would use them depending on which type of line I want to use.

 

I use a spinning rod for light lures. I throw a zoom grub with a 1/16 oz bullet weight or weightless plastics. I also use a spinning rod in brush when I can't cast a baitcaster. Sometimes I'll shoot the lure to where I want it to go. I rarely will use a spinning rod with stuff like crankbaits or spinnerbaits, but occasionally.

 

I do have a breakdown spinning rod, but it's heavy and not suitable for lightish lures. It's a Rhino Tough 6'6" medium. I don't care for it, though it did save my bacon once. I had it in the car and I'd forgotten my other rods.

 

Whichever rod I get, I'll be using one of the above reels on it. Again, $120 or less is my range.

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Suggestions please.

[casts_by_fly]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/SearchResults/?ccode=CASTRODPP&filter_type=castrod&sort_by=AtoZ&current_page=1&Piece.clist=FILTCROD2PI

[TLHSS]

@Bazoo How long do you want the rods to be when they are broken down?

[GRiver]

@Bazoo you have a Walmart near ya….. Ozark Trail had some rods that were what you might like, kinda heavier backbone but lighter tip for casting. But for the life of me, I can’t remember if the where two pieces or not. 
I keep two telescopic rods in the truck, they collapse down and fit into a back pack. 

[Bazoo]

7 hours ago, GRiver said:

@Bazoo you have a Walmart near ya….. Ozark Trail had some rods that were what you might like, kinda heavier backbone but lighter tip for casting. But for the life of me, I can’t remember if the where two pieces or not. 
I keep two telescopic rods in the truck, they collapse down and fit into a back pack. 

I'm not opposed to an off brand, if it is decent quality. Honestly, I didn't even consider looking at that brand. I won't be pulling 50 fish days or working a tourney trail, but I don't want to have mechanical failure due to poor quality. Living in the car though isn't the best thing for a fishing rod though.

[Bazoo]

13 hours ago, TLHSS said:

@Bazoo How long do you want the rods to be when they are broken down?

44" or less would be desireable, but I could go 55" or so if they are diagonal in the back of the Tracker. I have a spot devoted to the break down rod I currently have.

[DogBone_384]

I keep a 7’ M/F Diawa Tatula travel casting rod in my truck for quick stops. It’s on the heavier side of medium and comes in a nice padded case. Fit and finish is typical Diawa. It’s around $130.

 

 

 Look at Ike’s travel rods since you’re already familiar with how Abus fish. They offer casting & spinning models. They also come with padded cases.

 

Good luck picking out your new rods.

 

[new2BC4bass]

Can't help with suggesting a 2-piece (or more) rod to be found locally.  I did want to ask about your Berkley Lightning rod.  My only Lightning is a very old spinning rod, so it can't be compared with today's rods.  I looked up the 7' Medium rod and it has a Moderate Fast tip.  This makes it hard for me to believe that a 3/8 oz. lure won't cast a mile.

 

I've never used a MF rod that wouldn't handle 3/8 oz. fine, and I have that power/action in 10 different brands.  A Moderate Fast tip should handle that weight even better.  I even use MHF for 3/8 oz. in vegetation with several brands of rods.

 

What reel are you using on that rod?  Is the reel properly cleaned and lubed?  It's possible that the reel is some of the problem.  Some older reels such as the Zillion do better with 3/8 oz. and up.  At least according to a TT review.  Thus I put my Zillions on MH or H rods since I have plenty of reels that handle 3/8 oz. very well.

[Eric 26]

I’m going to suggest 3 rods for starters that all can be found at BPS/Cabelas. The first is an Abu Garcia Vendetta but I will say I find them a bit stiff for my liking, the second is a Daiwa Ardito travel rod 3 piece and the 3rd is a St Croix Triumph travel rod. The Abu is below your budget and both the Daiwa and St Croix are above your budget but BPS is getting ready for the spring classic sale and if you’re not opposed to trading in one of your current rods the Daiwa would be within budget. The only caveat is the Daiwa is shipped from Daiwa which could be a problem, I have had BPS order me 2 different rods during the spring sale but I also checked with the fishing department manager not store manager first to make sure that I would be able to use my trade in and pre pay so I received said trade in value. I will also add I haven’t used any of the above rods so no opinion at all but @Crankin4Bass mentioned using the Daiwa on this site. 

[Crankin4Bass]

@Eric 26Funny. I was looking for recommendations for 2 piece 6'6" casting and spinning rods when I saw you tag me. Also looking for padded and divided rod tubes to keep them in the trunk.

 

I do have a three piece Daiwa Ardito in casting rod in medium power. Overall, it's great. Fit and finish are above the price and the case is great as it has dividers for all three pieces. Only downsides to me are it's a bit heavy in weight and the power of the medium is more like a MH to me. I also prefer 6'6" rods. I'm probably just being picky, but you can never have too much fishing gear. 😁

 

[Rockhopper]

https://jdmtackleheaven.com/products/legit-design-wild-side-multi-piece-baitcasting-model-wsc611mh-5?_pos=2&_psq=Legit+Design+Wild+Side+Multi+Piece+Baitcasting&_ss=e&_v=1.0

 

https://jdmtackleheaven.com/products/legit-design-wild-side-multi-piece-spinning-model-wss610ml-5?_pos=1&_psq=Legit+Design+Wild+Side+Multi+Piece+spinning&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[new2BC4bass]

16 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

https://jdmtackleheaven.com/products/legit-design-wild-side-multi-piece-baitcasting-model-wsc611mh-5?_pos=2&_psq=Legit+Design+Wild+Side+Multi+Piece+Baitcasting&_ss=e&_v=1.0

 

https://jdmtackleheaven.com/products/legit-design-wild-side-multi-piece-spinning-model-wss610ml-5?_pos=1&_psq=Legit+Design+Wild+Side+Multi+Piece+spinning&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Nice rods, but way above his budget.  Can OP find them at basspro/cabelas, walmart, or academy?

[Eric 26]

@Crankin4Bass I’m not sure if you’re opposed to ordering from overseas but our fellow member @bulldog1935 has shared some terrific finds in quite the broad price range on both here and in pm’s with me and I know he can definitely help you find what you’re looking for.

[Crankin4Bass]

@Eric 26Thanks for heads up! I'll check out @bulldog1935 posts.

[bulldog1935]

The multipiece rods that impressed me most below stratosphere were Abu Garcia, Daiwa (Black Label) and Legit Design.  

Unfortunately, only available in ML-BF, Abu Xrossfield 654 impressed me way above its price.  

 

I think you should raise your ante by $20 and look seriously at Daiwa Ardito.  

[islandbass]

@Crankin4Bass: I use pool noodles to protect the top half of my two piece rods and they are a functional no frills way to keep them padded. I’ve been protecting my top halfs initially with pipe insulation way back when but they didn’t protect spinning rod tips well because of the larger guides. Pool noodles work very well if your trunk is well kept and doesn’t have any loose and heavy things in it. I’ve probably been using them for 10 or more years. 
 

If I needed more protection than a pool noodle, I will probably make something out of pvc tubing. 
 

The bottom halves stay safe in my rod quiver with the reels attached. It’s a beautiful thing, 😇

 

To the op, @Bazoo: there are a lot of 2 or multiple piece rods already given, but if they still make them, Shimano’s convergence and compre lines are solid, best bang for the buck. The challenge might be in finding them. Best of luck. 
 

 

 

 

[Bazoo]

On 2/7/2025 at 2:35 PM, new2BC4bass said:

Can't help with suggesting a 2-piece (or more) rod to be found locally.  I did want to ask about your Berkley Lightning rod.  My only Lightning is a very old spinning rod, so it can't be compared with today's rods.  I looked up the 7' Medium rod and it has a Moderate Fast tip.  This makes it hard for me to believe that a 3/8 oz. lure won't cast a mile.

 

I've never used a MF rod that wouldn't handle 3/8 oz. fine, and I have that power/action in 10 different brands.  A Moderate Fast tip should handle that weight even better.  I even use MHF for 3/8 oz. in vegetation with several brands of rods.

 

What reel are you using on that rod?  Is the reel properly cleaned and lubed?  It's possible that the reel is some of the problem.  Some older reels such as the Zillion do better with 3/8 oz. and up.  At least according to a TT review.  Thus I put my Zillions on MH or H rods since I have plenty of reels that handle 3/8 oz. very well.

I don't know if I understand what you're saying. It sounds like to me, you're thinking that I said I'm having trouble casting a 3/8 lure on my Berkley Lightning rod.

 

I routinely use a 1/16oz bullet sinker with a Zoom Fat Albert grub and whatever hook I have handy. I also will use a weightless Zoom finesse worm, normally with an Ozark Trail 2/0 offset worm hook.

 

I keep the reel cleaned and oiled. I don't know about properly, but what I consider proper. I got into some water that had a lot of silt in it and I ended up having to take the bail all apart and clean it.

 

I am not saying I have a problem at all. I am was merely saying what I have, and what I do with it, but that I need a breakdown rod because I have a smaller vehicle now.

 

I would rate the Lightning rod as medium medium. I don't do ultralight stuff normally, but I have tried a few casts with some lighter lures and it is just is too heavy of an action.

 

-------------------------

 

I haven't read through all the comments yet, but I'm working on it. I appreciate everyone's insight.

[new2BC4bass]

Bazoo, you said:  "I tried a Berkley Lightning rod in medium 7' and I didn't like it. It was way too stiff in the tip to cast anything lighter than 3/8 and preferred 1/2 oz lures. Like casting with a broomstick. I rarely fish heavy lures, and rarely heavy cover."

 

Which is why I said what I did.  According to the Berkley website this rod has a Moderate Fast action.  It's hard for me to image it casts like a broomstick.  Even if the action is more 'Fast', a MF rod should have no problem casting 3/8 oz. a fair distance.  I assumed you meant it would cast 3/8 oz., but preferred 1/2 oz. for any kind of distance since 3/8 oz. was the lightest you would use on the rod.  Normally mid-range weight lures handle best. The rod's lure rating is 1/4-5/8 oz. from what I was able to find.

 

I honestly don't know what to think about your results with the rod. 

 

My 40+ year old  Lightning 6' F spinning rod rated 1/8-3/8 oz, seems more Medium action to me.  Will cast 1/8 oz. Roostertails great and lighter ones far enough to use this rod.

 

On a side note...I've cast weightless 10" ribbontail worms on 3/0 to 5/0 hooks with several MHF rods without a problem.  Total weight should be around 3/8 oz.

 

I'm thinking from what you said that the reel is cleaned and lubed just fine.  What reel is it?

 

Although some people have no problem casting light lures with the old Trion casting reel, it gave me nightmares on a MF rod with the before mentioned worm/hook using 30# braid.  It's a casting machine with 17# mono and using a 1/2 oz. jig with trailer.  That's why I originally asked what reel you were using.  Some are better with 3/8 oz. and below than others.

 

[Bazoo]

I looked at Walmart this evening. They have a Berkley Cherrywood breakdown spinning that I liked. they only had a handful of sectional rods in the whole store, not counting the durangos and hotcasts.

 

I've seen some bad reports on those though so I'm leery.

 

I checked out an ozark trails 2 piece as well, in casting. It was a MH/F but not balanced in my opinion. I didn't like it.

On 2/9/2025 at 11:24 PM, new2BC4bass said:

Bazoo, you said:  "I tried a Berkley Lightning rod in medium 7' and I didn't like it. It was way too stiff in the tip to cast anything lighter than 3/8 and preferred 1/2 oz lures. Like casting with a broomstick. I rarely fish heavy lures, and rarely heavy cover."

 

Which is why I said what I did.  According to the Berkley website this rod has a Moderate Fast action.  It's hard for me to image it casts like a broomstick.  Even if the action is more 'Fast', a MF rod should have no problem casting 3/8 oz. a fair distance.  I assumed you meant it would cast 3/8 oz., but preferred 1/2 oz. for any kind of distance since 3/8 oz. was the lightest you would use on the rod.  Normally mid-range weight lures handle best. The rod's lure rating is 1/4-5/8 oz. from what I was able to find.

 

I honestly don't know what to think about your results with the rod. 

 

My 40+ year old  Lightning 6' F spinning rod rated 1/8-3/8 oz, seems more Medium action to me.  Will cast 1/8 oz. Roostertails great and lighter ones far enough to use this rod.

 

On a side note...I've cast weightless 10" ribbontail worms on 3/0 to 5/0 hooks with several MHF rods without a problem.  Total weight should be around 3/8 oz.

 

I'm thinking from what you said that the reel is cleaned and lubed just fine.  What reel is it?

 

Although some people have no problem casting light lures with the old Trion casting reel, it gave me nightmares on a MF rod with the before mentioned worm/hook using 30# braid.  It's a casting machine with 17# mono and using a 1/2 oz. jig with trailer.  That's why I originally asked what reel you were using.  Some are better with 3/8 oz. and below than others.

 

My Berkley Lightning rod in spinning casts light stuff without issue. The rod I was complaining about was a Berkley Lightning casting rod I had a while.

 

The spinning reel I have on the Lightning rod is a Quantum Drive 30. I also may use the other spinning reel I have on the breakdown rod, which is a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2 spinning. I think I like this reel better. I keep braid on one and 8lb mono on the other.

 

There might have been a little confusion. I am shopping for both a new spinning rod and a new casting rod.

 

I don't expect to cast anything lighter than 1/4oz on the casting rod, but I do cast 1/4oz lures, and I want the rod to not just be marginal, but to thrive with them. I do cast 3/8oz, but very rarely will cast 1/2oz lures.

 

Make no mistake, this is a get by kind of deal while I drive a smaller vehicle, and then only when my family is with me. Whenever I can get away by myself or with just the boy, then I'll take my 1 piece rods as I don't care for sectional rods.

[Bigbox99]

I use one of these in ML casting as a car rod.  The ML is an extra fast because all the rods up to MH have the same back portion of the rod so it casts like an XF.  The ML is the tip and the middle sections are more like a M.  It's basically a MLMMH rod XF action 

 

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqI9vOL

[Fishingmickey]

     Tackle warehouse has this Falcon travel rod it is a bit above your price range at $149.  But I feel it is a better rod then the Diawa Ardito. The link is a spinning rod, medium, moderate action. The bait casting travel rod is MH/F same price. They come with travel cases also.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Lowrider_Traveler_Spinning_Rods/descpage-WTR.ht

 

Here is a couple more links:

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Stick_Traveler_3pc_Spinning_Rods_w__Tube/descpage-SST3.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Lux_4-Piece_Travel_Spinning_Rod/descpage-LUTS.html

 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Milliken_Series_Travel_Spinning_Rod/descpage-MITSS.html

 

The above are all within your price range.

 

Fishingmickey

 

[Bazoo]

Thanks. I like the look of that Lews. It's a consideration. If I can't find one to handle before purchase though, I probably won't risk it.