Abu Garcia Rod

[crankbait2009]

Hey guys

i was at my local BPS yesterday and decided to stop in and wander around the store for a bit. i have plans of going there for the BPS classic at the end of the month to pick up a Revo STX and a complimenting rod to go with it. I have my eyes on a Shimano Crucial to go along with the STX.

i decided to hold the STX in my hand to see how it felt and compare it to my existing reel that this is replacing. now just to make small talk with the guy, i was telling him how i was going to get teh crucial and he mentioned two other rods that would be "better" than the crucial as well as cheaper.

so i listened and he directed me to the Abu Garcia Vendetta rod as well as the Rick Clunn RCX rod.

now, i held each rod in my hand and as light as both feel, i wasnt sold. the Abu Garcia was very light and i liked the colors but the rod handle seemed very empty. i am used to the cork handles, it just seemed like the support was missing.  Plus teh eye closest to the location the reel would be was HUGE, whats the reason for a HUGE eye on the rod?

has anyone ever used a rod without the cork/foam handle?

anyone ever use theh AG Vendetta and compared it to a Crucial to justify what this guy was telling me?

i was going to buy the crucial and dont mind spending the $150 for it as plaaned. but if there is something cheaper and BETTER, let me know.

i went to tackletour.com to read the review but it didnt have a "rating" to compare it to a crucial.

any advice would be appreciated.

[RichF]

Hope this helps,

I have used both the vendetta and the crucial, both 7ft mh.  The vendetta is a decent rod for the price but is in no way better than the crucial! Crucial is more sensitive and has a better feel. The taper of the vendetta feels a bit weird when setting the hook on a fish.  Def go with the crucial.

[Pantera61]

I use the Vendetta 6'9" for light pitchin' duties. A carp swam past my bait. How do I know it? I brought a nickel-sized scale back to the boat. A half dollar sized sugar maple leaf drifted past my bait. How do I know it? I brought it back to the boat hooked through the center. Yeah, under the weekguard. An inch long minnow swam past my jig. You know how I know it? I'm sure you guessed by now.

I'd buy the Vendetta and pocket the other $70 knowing I'm the smarter guy with more money in his pocket and more fish in the livewell.

[-nick-]

I'd go crucial just because you know it's a good rod, PLUS if something happens to it just bring it back to BPS and get another.

[Hammer 4]

Get the Crucial.

I have a Rick Clunn, and no way is it as good as the Crucial..same goes for the Vendetta.

Plus you get a Lifetime warranty with the Shimano..

[crankbait2009]

i guess i'll learn to not second guess myself and go with my gut feeling.  thanks for the input everyone!!

[The Rooster]

I use the Vendetta 6'9" for light pitchin' duties. A carp swam past my bait. How do I know it? I brought a nickel-sized scale back to the boat. A half dollar sized sugar maple leaf drifted past my bait. How do I know it? I brought it back to the boat hooked through the center. Yeah, under the weekguard. An inch long minnow swam past my jig. You know how I know it? I'm sure you guessed by now.

I'd buy the Vendetta and pocket the other $70 knowing I'm the smarter guy with more money in his pocket and more fish in the livewell.

I'd be more impressed if you knew these things swam passed your bait and you said you "felt" it rather than just reeling in proof and finding out then. I can do that with an Ugly Stik too. Did you mean to say you felt something and then after that found proof that it actually happened??

[The Rooster]

I have not personally held the Vendetta rod or the Rick Clunn but I have held the Crucial.  For that much LESS money as what each other one costs I cannot even see those other two being in the same league with the Crucial based on price alone.  The lifetime warranty is another big thing to consider.

[Pantera61]

I use the Vendetta 6'9" for light pitchin' duties. A carp swam past my bait. How do I know it? I brought a nickel-sized scale back to the boat. A half dollar sized sugar maple leaf drifted past my bait. How do I know it? I brought it back to the boat hooked through the center. Yeah, under the weekguard. An inch long minnow swam past my jig. You know how I know it? I'm sure you guessed by now.

I'd buy the Vendetta and pocket the other $70 knowing I'm the smarter guy with more money in his pocket and more fish in the livewell.

I'd be more impressed if you knew these things swam passed your bait and you said you "felt" it rather than just reeling in proof and finding out then. I can do that with an Ugly Stik too. Did you mean to say you felt something and then after that found proof that it actually happened??

Yes.  The sensitivity was remarkable.  After I detected each event, there was proof of each event when my jig got back to the boat.  Says a bit for the sharpness of the hooks, I guess.

[Lipped M]

For less money,take a look at the Compre line.I agree with others on the Crucial being a good stick.

I think the reasoning behind the "huge" 1st guide was to provide less restriction while casting,has something to do with the diameter of the spool lip in relation to diameter of 1st guide.

[The Rooster]

For this particular rod, he's talking about a casting rod, not spinning.  The first guide being larger than needed can't be explained easily there unless the rod is meant for larger diameter lines such as heavy mono or something.  I'm only guessing, I don't know why they would do that for a casting rod. 

Someone mentioned Compre.  I'd have to say I agreeeeeee. Crankbait2010 knows why.  However you'll never be sorry you bought a Crucial either.  Whichever one you get you'll be happy.  I'd love to own some of both but Compre's are more affordable to me so I get those.

[Lipped M]

Your right,apologies crankbait2010

[TrippyJai]

I have both rods and although I haven't used the Vendetta yet because of the weather, I do like the Crucial better from just the feel of it. My opinion could be biased because I do like full grip cork rods, but seriously here... we are comparing 2 rods that are almost $100 apart. If you really want performance, I guess take everyone's word for it and buy the Crucial, but I would like to add that the Vendetta has very few bad reviews and is a heck of a deal for a $80 rod. You can use the extra money to get other things too. Up to you and how tight money is. Being a student, I look for best value at the lower end of things.

[Tin]

I love how people have not handled something and can still give their .02 on it. ;D

Vendetta's are great rods for the money. But they are so cheap their longevity scares me. We will see how much longer my flipping stick lasts. ;D

Crucial's are also great rods but I have witnessed and heard of too many people breaking them and returning them to BPS. On one trip to BPS last May I witnessed 3 guys bringing in broken Crucial's. Towards the end of the year I did not hear about broken Crucial's as much so maybe the fixed or improved something. (This issue was all over local bass boards for a couple month's last year).

Now I know most rof breakage is mostly user abuse and or misuse but the numbers seemed to be a little too high for my liking.

As for the BPS Clunn rod, plain and simple all BPS rods feel like broomsticks to me.

[flippn stick]

Hope this helps,

All new rods built now with weight reductions, I.E carrot stix, vandetta just to name a couple will be sacraficing how tough they are. Well maybe not a Daiwa Steez as these are in the 500-600 dollar range. Most of these manufacturers know that these rods may break. I have broken 2 carrott sick flippn sticks on hook sets. They replaced them with no questions asked. All i am saying is that the crucial will probably last longer, however i am a fan of the lighter weight rods. They have removed foregrips and made most of these with split grips. The purpose here is to do away with un unnessasary weight. You will have more sesitivity and control and enjoy a vandetta more than the crucial. Go vandetta. Pair it with a revo stx, which in my opinion is the best reel for the money and you will not be sorry.