Looking for new spinning rod. Suggestions?

[BrianSnat]

I'm starting to replace my Ugly Sticks and other cheapie rods with better rods. All of my rods are Med or Lt action and I want to start with something with a little more backbone.

I want it to be a versatile rod, mostly for fishing plastics along with some dropshotting, topwater and the occasional crankbait and I don't want to spend over $150 (lower is better).

Here is what I've come up with so far. Any comments about these choices? Preferences? Am I on the right track? Any others I should be looking at?

Shimano Crucial CRS-66MH MH/Fast 8-15lb

Shimano Compre CPS-66MHB MH/Fast 8-15lb

Fenwick HMG GS 66MH-F MH/Fast 8-17lb

St. Croix Premier PS66MF M/Fast 8-12lb

St. Croix Triumph TRS66MF M/Fast 8-12lb

Abu Garcia Veritas VRS66-6 MH/Fast 8-14lb

G Loomis GL2 SJR783 MH/Fast 8-15lb

[Grey Wolf]

I'm starting to replace my Ugly Sticks and other cheapie rods with better rods. All of my rods are Med or Lt action and I want to start with something with a little more backbone.

I want it to be a versatile rod, mostly for fishing plastics along with some dropshotting, topwater and the occasional crankbait and I don't want to spend over $150 (lower is better).

Here is what I've come up with so far. Any comments about these choices? Preferences? Am I on the right track? Any others I should be looking at?

Shimano Crucial CRS-66MH MH/Fast 8-15lb

Shimano Compre CPS-66MHB MH/Fast 8-15lb

Fenwick HMG GS 66MH-F MH/Fast 8-17lb

St. Croix Premier PS66MF M/Fast 8-12lb

St. Croix Triumph TRS66MF M/Fast 8-12lb

Abu Garcia Veritas VRS66-6 MH/Fast 8-14lb

G Loomis GL2 SJR783 MH/Fast 8-15lb

The Crucial is heads above the other rods on your list. Get it , you'll love it.

[BrianSnat]

I'm starting to replace my Ugly Sticks and other cheapie rods with better rods. All of my rods are Med or Lt action and I want to start with something with a little more backbone.

I want it to be a versatile rod, mostly for fishing plastics along with some dropshotting, topwater and the occasional crankbait and I don't want to spend over $150 (lower is better).

Here is what I've come up with so far. Any comments about these choices? Preferences? Am I on the right track? Any others I should be looking at?

Shimano Crucial CRS-66MH MH/Fast 8-15lb

Shimano Compre CPS-66MHB MH/Fast 8-15lb

Fenwick HMG GS 66MH-F MH/Fast 8-17lb

St. Croix Premier PS66MF M/Fast 8-12lb

St. Croix Triumph TRS66MF M/Fast 8-12lb

Abu Garcia Veritas VRS66-6 MH/Fast 8-14lb

G Loomis GL2 SJR783 MH/Fast 8-15lb

The Crucial is heads above the other rods on your list. Get it , you'll love it.

I do have one Crucial rod (6' 6" M/XF) and love it. The considerable difference between it and my cheapie rods is the reason I'm looking to upgrade the rest of them over time, but Crucial is really pushing the high end of my price point (as is the G. Loomis GL2). I was hoping to get something that was head and shoulders above my cheapie rods but not quite as expensive as the Crucial.

[BASSclary]

BPS Carbonlite (REALLY LIGHT AND SENSITIVE!)

Falcon Bucoo

Falcon LowRider

Crucial (Very nice stick)

St.Croix Avid ('Bout 20$ over but well worth it)

Would you spend like $165ish?

If so then consider Powell Max and Dobyns Savvy series.

[BrianSnat]

I've read a lot of good things about the St Croix rods. Are the Premier and Triumph that far below the rest of their line? Would they be a significant improvement over the low end Shimanos and Ugly Sticks that I already own?

After I use my Crucial my cheaper rods feel like lead weights in my hand.

I'm looking for something that might not be such a shock when I switch rods, but hopefully will come in around $100. The Crucial is my absolute high end price wise, but if I can find something cheaper that can deliver similar, albeit slightly less performance I would want that.

[ChiCityBasser]

Check out Cabelas rod sale :

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0053032122638a&navCount=1&podId=0053032&parentId=cat20374&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat20374&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20374&hasJS=truehttp://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20374&id=0064414123858a&navCount=4&podId=0064414&parentId=cat20374&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20374&hasJS=true

The Prodigy is also on sale:

[SirSnookalot]

There are rods out there that don't have the name recognition as some of the more popular ones on the market.  Sometimes it's worth a shot to try something else, often times you may be pleasantly surprised.  One of my acquaintances bought a 7' 8/17 med rod, I handled it and fell in love, extremely light with awesome backbone, so I bought one ( mine is 8' 8/17), then a another friend saw mine and then got one.  Each of these 3 rods have handled fish well over 30# both from a personal standpoint as well as being a witness.  It's become my favorite rod..........TSUNAMI AIRWAVE, $100., paid $65 for mine.

[Dave T.]

Two other good options in the "under $150" range are the Powell Max rods, and the TFO (Temple Forks Outfitters) rods. The TFO rods come in at around $100.

[SJB1226]

Daiwa Fuego spinning rods run 200 but you can find them new on ebay for 150-160 with free shipping... Those rods a long with the Zillion casting rods are stellar in there price range... Those Fuego sticks are very sensitive (the Zillion casting and Fuego Spinning rival The Steez in Sensitivity) they are very light and very very strong.. you will love the reel seat they are so comfortable its crazy... they will out preform any rod you had listed i assure you.

[birdy]

Another option is Acadia sports. I for one can not afford the top end rods and tried this company and was pleased with the product. I know they are not as popular but as mentioned by sirsnookalot above there are alternatives that can be quite good. Check their selection, you might like what you see.

http://www.acadiasports.com/rods.asp?ru=0&v=&tdt=&ssid=

[roadwarrior]

Be patient and keep your eye on our Flea Market. You

should be able to pick up an Avid for $100-$125. Here

are a couple of specific suggestions: AVS68MXF, AVS

70MF or AVS70MHF.

8-)

[mainebassin650]

The Carrot Gold Stix are on sale right now for $129. I really like mine.

As far as spending a lot on rods, I don't really feel that spending $50 or $500 makes it worth it. It's all about what feels comfortable to you.

To be honest, my favorite rods out of all of mine are Berkley Lightning Rods ($40). I throw them more than any of the others.

[Stasher1]

Be patient and keep your eye on our Flea Market. You

should be able to pick up an Avid for $100-$125. Here

are a couple of specific suggestions: AVS68MXF, AVS

70MF or AVS70MHF.

8-)

I'm with RW on this one. Wait for a deal on an Avid or post a WTB ad in the Flea Market. I've owned the Crucial, Premier, and Triumph (all good rods in their price ranges) and the Avid beats them all, imho.

Something to consider when looking at the Premier and Triumph: They're built on the same blank so there is no difference in sensitivity from one to the other. The Premier is built in the US and typically has better fit/finish than the Mexican-made Triumph, but there isn't $.05 worth of difference in performance between the two.

One rod that I've purchased recently that you really ought to look into is the Quantum Energy PT. They retail for about $100 but can be found for quite a bit less online if you shop around. They're light, well balanced, and come equipped with Fuji Hardloy guides and a lifetime warranty. I picked up a 6'6" M/F spinning model about a month ago and I have really been impressed by its performance.

[WanaBe_Like_IKE]

Well if you wanna keep it cheap I wouldnt go with a Crucial or G Loomis and you dont hear much about Fenwick here is what I would be looking at

Carbon Lite - $90

Bucoo-$100

Compre - $100

Veritas - $100

Vendetta - $80

A wise man once told me that you should get what you want not what people tell you to get or you will never be happy or content with what you have

Hope this helped

[BASSclary]

I'm going to strongly recommend you buy the best rod that you can. You'll be satisfied that you got the BEST rod you could and you'll never think to yourself, "What if I bought that (for example) Lowrider or Avid, instead of buying this Vendetta. Maybe I really should have gotten a better rod."

Just saying, it would eat me up knowing I could've gotten a great rod for just $30 more instead I settled for less because of a few measly dollars.

Just my 2 Cents