2011 BPS Bionic Blade B/C Rod

[ghost]

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Bionic-Blade-XPS-Trigger-Rods/product/10210581/-1749643

Looks great, a nice change to this rod at a real good price.  The BPS I went to didn't have any in stock...I was bummed!  I have some BPS points I was looking to spending...

The Spinning rod also looks promising, glad to see BPS stepping up w the times.  I wonder when the Extremes and Pro Qualifier rods get a facelift...2012?

[dodgeguy]

i think bps ruined their rods.i will never buy another.it's probably going to be stcroix avids for me.

[*Hootie]

Most of my rods are BPS. Never had a problem with them myself. I have cheap stuff and I have high end stuff. Never had a problem with any of it. I guess I always luck out and get the only good copy of all the bad company's products.

Never could get myself worked into a frazzle over a reel or rod that's 1/10 of an ounce to heavy.

I have seen the new bionic blades. Got to get a couple, as if I really need them. Love the split grip.

[Goose52]

I have 19 BPS rods, including 4 Bionic Blades, so I'm a fan of the brand. I got them all on sale or clearance, including Extremes for as low as $39 - a good value.

My Bionic Blades are OK - they are all 2-piece and I fish them often and also use them as my travel rods. The Blade is the bread-and-butter of the lower-end of the BPS brand so I can see why BPS would want to "jazz-them-up" to try to keep up with some competing brands. They advertise a 15% weight reduction which would take these new Blades down to about what Extremes weigh which is good. The new split-grip configuration is something I guess BPS felt they had to do to match the market movement. Not trying to start the full vs. split-grip argument in this thread, but split-grips are a deal-breaker for many of us. If they put the OLD Blades on clearance at a killer price, I might buy a few more - but the new Blade, I'll never buy one. For those of you thinking about the new Blade...DON'T buy at the $79.99 price - TRY and be patient and wait for the sale!  At the full $79 price, there are several other competing brands that you should consider before getting the Blade...but on sale for $59 or so, the new Blade might be an OK value.

.....I wonder when the Extremes and Pro Qualifier rods get a facelift...2012?

Upgrades are OK as far as better blanks and components, but if they go split-grip on these series, BPS has completely lost me as a customer. If they're smart, they will retain several full-grip rod series.

i think bps ruined their rods.i will never buy another.it's probably going to be stcroix avids for me.

I have my first Avid inbound via UPS right now... :

[J Francho]

i think bps ruined their rods.i will never buy another.it's probably going to be stcroix avids for me.

I can bring these Sunday, for you to handle:

AVS63MLXF

AVC70MHF

AVC68MXF

AVC70MM

AVC70MHM

I have a few more, but they're on the bench getting the cork redone.  Some of the ones above are already done, and I'll share what DVT Mike told me on how to do it.

[Goose52]

i think bps ruined their rods.i will never buy another.it's probably going to be stcroix avids for me.

I can bring these Sunday, for you to handle:

AVS63MLXF

AVC70MHF

AVC68MXF

AVC70MM

AVC70MHM

I have a few more, but they're on the bench getting the cork redone. Some of the ones above are already done, and I'll share what DVT Mike told me on how to do it.

The AVC70MHF is next up on my shopping list...

[J Francho]

I hated mine at first.  For this one, getting the right reel on it matters.  Try before you buy.  once you have comfortable match, its a very versatile rod.  A little bit more powerful than most MH, but great.

[Goose52]

I hated mine at first. For this one, getting the right reel on it matters. Try before you buy. once you have comfortable match, its a very versatile rod. A little bit more powerful than most MH, but great.

That's good to know- thanks. Before I buy, I might start a thread on 7' MH rods in the range from Avid up to IMX/GLX MBR843C and hear what people think.

Apologies to the OP for going OT...

[Lucky Craft Man]

I have some older Bionic Blades that I thought were not bad.  Though, I hate to see Bass Pro go to the split rear grip.  I have one rear split grip rod, but with some pipe insulator and Rod Wrap, it is now has a full rear grip.

[Stasher1]

.....I wonder when the Extremes and Pro Qualifier rods get a facelift...2012?

Upgrades are OK as far as better blanks and components, but if they go split-grip on these series, BPS has completely lost me as a customer. If they're smart, they will retain several full-grip rod series.

I think we'll see a redesign of the Extreme and Pro Qualifier rods in the very near future. They've gone out of their way to reduce the price of their Johnny Morris rods, so the new JM Signature Series II is now only $10 more than the PQ.

I prefer a full cork grip, but the fact that for only $10 more I can get a lighter rod with a better blank is hard to ignore.

[Goose52]

.....I wonder when the Extremes and Pro Qualifier rods get a facelift...2012?

Upgrades are OK as far as better blanks and components, but if they go split-grip on these series, BPS has completely lost me as a customer. If they're smart, they will retain several full-grip rod series.

I think we'll see a redesign of the Extreme and Pro Qualifier rods in the very near future. They've gone out of their way to reduce the price of their Johnny Morris rods, so the new JM Signature Series II is now only $10 more than the PQ.

I prefer a full cork grip, but the fact that for only $10 more I can get a lighter rod with a better blank is hard to ignore.

I think you're absolutely right. As it stands right now - the PQ and Extreme are at the same price point - $99. I would think sales of Extremes will fall off the cliff except for models like the 3-piece Extreme where there's no PQ equivalent.

One thing for sure...if they do revamp the PQ and Extreme lines, I'll be watching the Clearance section like a hawk, waiting for some good deals on the old PQs and Extremes...

[Stasher1]

Well, apparently they've already started...

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Pro-Qualifier-XPS-Trigger-Rods/product/98314/-1432342

The price has also increased to $140, which puts them in direct competition with the JM Sig. Ser. II.

[Goose52]

Well, apparently they've already started...

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Pro-Qualifier-XPS-Trigger-Rods/product/98314/-1432342

The price has also increased to $140, which puts them in direct competition with the JM Sig. Ser. II.

Yikes - those aren't in the 2011 hardcopy catalog!  They have the old solid-grip PQs for $99 in the catalog. Time to keep an eye on the clearance page !

[Stasher1]

I'd be willing to bet that was a typo. They've been $129, I believe, for the past couple years now and $99.99 used to be their "sale price".

[Goose52]

I'd be willing to bet that was a typo. They've been $129, I believe, for the past couple years now and $99.99 used to be their "sale price".

I'm not in the market for a PQ rod right now...but I wonder if they would honor the $99 catalog price on a phone order?

BTW - only the 7'6" PQ rods have the split grip, the others still have full-grips (for now..............).

[Stasher1]

I don't see why not. The price in the catalog is the same as their sale price, so they're not really losing money.

Last time I was in the store (about two weeks ago), they were still marked $129.99

[dodgeguy]

the guides on the johnny morris signature series are downgraded from titanium framed fuji sic to pac bay guides.split grips do nothing but take weight off the wrong end of the rod.

[flipin4bass]

i've got a couple of the older Bionic Blades I bought 10 years ago for the kids and ended up using them myself over the years. Got them on sale and for the money I think they're a good rod, they've hauled in more than their share of fish.

[Senkoman12]

what is you guys' problem with split grip. i am neutral about them, i dont hate them nor love them. i have one rod that is split grip and i love it. its my lamiglas excel, great rod, they do reduce weight and it is noticible

[dodgeguy]

what is you guys' problem with split grip. i am neutral about them, i dont hate them nor love them. i have one rod that is split grip and i love it. its my lamiglas excel, great rod, they do reduce weight and it is noticible

you are taking weight off the wrong end of the rod.a st croix premier 6-6 mh is 4.5 oz with full grip.a mojo 6-6 mh is the same rod with split grip and it is 4.1 oz.you have removed a whopping .4 oz of cork and made the tip feel heavier.you would be better of adding a balance weight to the rod butt to get a weightless tip.

[Goose52]

I have some reasons why I don't care for split-grip rods and will choose a full-grip rod over a split-grip:

-- The valid technical reason that dodgeguy gave - you're taking weight off the wrong end of the rod.

-- The rod manufacturer is telling you where to put your hands - I want to be able to grasp the length of the grip, anywhere I want.

-- I palm the reel and often the butt is resting underneath my forearm - I'd rather have cork under there than the bare blank or just the little end-butt.

-- Finally, I think much of the buzz on these rods is just trendiness...and I'm not one to chase trends... ;D

Would I EVER buy a split-grip rod. Maybe. Like Stasher1 said, you might see a split-grip rod that has quality components and a good blank, at an attractive price, and it may be too good a deal to pass up.

I actually have a sort of split-grip rod - a BPS Extreme with the Cam-lock extendable butt (got it for about $49, couldn't pass it up). I can somewhat live with this concept as at least I can adjust the end-butt to where I want it. Based on the experience with this BPS rod, the only new-gen split grip rod that I've looked at is the Abu Verdict - the adjustable butt might make it tolerable... :

[Senkoman12]

I have some reasons why I don't care for split-grip rods and will choose a full-grip rod over a split-grip:

-- The valid technical reason that dodgeguy gave - you're taking weight off the wrong end of the rod.

-- The rod manufacturer is telling you where to put your hands - I want to be able to grasp the length of the grip, anywhere I want.

-- I palm the reel and often the butt is resting underneath my forearm - I'd rather have cork under there than the bare blank or just the little end-butt.

-- Finally, I think much of the buzz on these rods is just trendiness...and I'm not one to chase trends... ;D

Would I EVER buy a split-grip rod. Maybe. Like Stasher1 said, you might see a split-grip rod that has quality components and a good blank, at an attractive price, and it may be too good a deal to pass up.

I actually have a sort of split-grip rod - a BPS Extreme with the Cam-lock extendable butt (got it for about $49, couldn't pass it up). I can somewhat live with this concept as at least I can adjust the end-butt to where I want it. Based on the experience with this BPS rod, the only new-gen split grip rod that I've looked at is the Abu Verdict - the adjustable butt might make it tolerable... :

the split grip is part of the reason that made me pull the trigger on my excel but im glad i got it. made in usa, high quality blank and components and only $110

[Goose52]

the split grip is part of the reason that made me pull the trigger on my excel but im glad i got it. made in usa, high quality blank and components and only $110

There you go - sounds like a great deal !

[skunked_again]

more "fad" rods.

[Pa Angler]

I have used the older non split handled Bionic Blades a great rod for the money. I too had my reservations on the split handle till I purchase 2 BPS carbonlite 6'-6" spinning rods last May 1 M and 1 MH I can place one finger in front of the size 30 reel on 6'-6" rod and it will balance. I have since sold all my Johnny Morris Signature rods on Ebay and replace them with Carbomlite rods. I have to say if your going to spend $79.99 on the Blade go the extra $ for the Cardonlite just my experience from using both new and old.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler