W+M Skeet Reese rod VS. Bass Pro Shops CarbonLite rod

[Bassnajr]

Hey all....

So I wanted to pick up one last inexpensive rod before ice out. Bass Pro Shops has their CarbonLite rods on sale ($20.00 off regular price) and had one W@M Skeet Reese cranking rod left for $89.99. I checked both out and ended up leaving with the Skeet Reese rod. I found the Carbonlite was much stiffer, although lighter than the W@M which was bulkier but a much faster tip/action. The yellow and black color sucks, but I feel it is a better rod for the money. Anyone use these rods yet? I'd appreciate any feedback

Alan (bassnajr)

[KYntucky Warmouth]

The tessera rods seem to have a painfully slow action and just seem so flimsy.  Watching Skeet fish with them is almost like watching him whip around a wet noddle.  They seem good for cranking but man are the whippy. 

[Bassnajr]

Whippy is a good word for them Rick....it's what I said to the BPS guy. Better to cast light cranks etc. with he said. It would be nice if he's right.

[bobbyc]

I have the same cranking stick. Purchased a few months ago, yet to use it. I do like the fast tip, and the glass blank. I actually like the colors also.

[Paul Roberts]

Both rods are untried as yet. But from what I've read about construction and saw at BPS, you are right on in your impressions.

First, it sounds like you compared an apple and an orange. The Skeet cranking rod will be moderate in action, as well as much lower in MOE. Maybe you compared it with a CL cranking rod -I didn't look to see if they offer one.

The CL is a super high modulus blank, so it will feel stiffer, esp without any load on it. This fools lots of people not used to high MOE rods. I used to sell rods in a large tackle shop, back when graphite first hit the racks. Man they could be a tough sell when guys were expecting fiberglass and always said, "I'd like one with more 'action'" ;D I'd explain that graphite was rigid when there isn't a load in it, which is largely where the sensitivity comes from. But it'll still bend when there's a fish on it.

While at BPS I can say that I liked the CL and the Skeet Reese rods the most in the price range. I likened the SR to Carrot in feel -very light (this is probably due to construction allowing less material to be used -it appears we're slipping into the golden age of rod building now ). The SR are softer than the CL, due to lower MOE, but probably PERFECT for a cranking stick. If that's what you wanted you probably just scored.

Remains to be seen though. The ice'll break and we might just find those ~85mil PSI CLs shatter, and the SRs fish like wet noodles. But I doubt it. I think we both SCORED (I bought a CL -for jigworming).

[sal669]

Hey all....

So I wanted to pick up one last inexpensive rod before ice out. Bass Pro Shops has their CarbonLite rods on sale ($20.00 off regular price) and had one W@M Skeet Reese cranking rod left for $89.99. I checked both out and ended up leaving with the Skeet Reese rod. I found the Carbonlite was much stiffer, although lighter than the W@M which was bulkier but a much faster tip/action. The yellow and black color sucks, but I feel it is a better rod for the money. Anyone use these rods yet? I'd appreciate any feedback

Alan (bassnajr)

Did you mean SLOWER  ACTION ??? A rod that bends easier and more into the blank is SLOWER than a rod that bends less and most of the bend is in the "tip" part.

[Bassnajr]

Yes...I stand corrected.

The whole rod "bows" I guess you would say. The Skeet rod is "whippy" at top and bends quite a way down the blank. The CL was "light" in weight but stiff. I have never owned a rod like the W@M before so I hope I described it right.

Thanks for the correction.

[Ineedanewscreenname20170204]

I was looking for a spinning rod for tubes and trick worms last night at BPS. The Skeet Reese rods are very nice and light but the actions are listed as Moderate I think and they felt soft. I tried the CarbonLite (6'6" MF) and it felt perfect. I looped a tube through the guides to feel how it loaded up and it's about perfect - esp. for $70!   

[burleytog]

My interest in the Skeet rods was quelled after handling them.

I'd hate to try to set a jig or worm using the 'worm' rod.

[skunked_again]

My interest in the Skeet rods was quelled after handling them.

I'd hate to try to set a jig or worm using the 'worm' rod.

i bought that rod on impulse. my plans are to use the rod for shaky head, tubes, weightless worms and such. i like the feel of the rod for weightless plastics. i do know you can throw a 5" fluke a good distance with the right reel.

[kikstand454]

the guy i fish with got one (skeet reese) and c-rigged with it.

now he has three. he uses revo sx's and he loves the rig.

i tried it out and was considering getting one too. we can get them at cost though.

i wanna point out though that bassinajar said that it was a "crankin" rod which is made with glass and is supposed to be more forgiving than the carbonlite worm rod.

but yeah i think the tips on the SR are a bit soft....

[fishin4ever]

I looked at the skeet reese rods LONG and hard and put it next to a bps carbonlite rod.  I honestly feel that the sr rods to be poorly made.  So i went with the carbonlite rods.  I have two casting(7 med/hvy casting and 7 med/hvy spinning) I must say that im very happy with my purchase

[Bassnajr]

Funny you say that.

I took the W@M back today and grabbed the CarbonLite. The Skeet rod was too heavy with the reel on it, and the "whippyness" was just to much for me.

Alan (bassnajr)