Calico Jack

[Flangler]

So I picked up a 7' medium action spinning rod yesterday from Dick's. It was only 55.00, and I'm paring it with a Pflueger President reel. I hope the rod works well!

[SirSnookalot]

Best freshwater move I've made in a long long time. Bought a Calico Jack med 8/17, after returning an allstar inshore rod, and I use this rod rod for hi bank canals. Using it probably 90% of the time now for fresh. I think it's big brother , the Hurricane redbone is a better rod, but I do like the fact this rod has a longer butt than the redbone of the same specs. I'm using a Floog Supreme 35, with 10# braid.

[Avalonjohn44]

Good rod. I have a Calico Jack Hurricane, the rod length says 7', but it measures 7'2". I love it, and just like you guys I have a Pflueger reel on there... Better than a lot of higher priced rods I have used. I'm glad to hear they can still be found since I need another - I had it propped against the counter one day before a trip, there was a crank on the lure keeper, and my big dumb lab walked into it and hooked herself. Tore out one line guide as well as the lure keeper as she dragged it through the house yelping...

[Flangler]

Best freshwater move I've made in a long long time. Bought a Calico Jack med 8/17, after returning an allstar inshore rod, and I use this rod rod for hi bank canals. Using it probably 90% of the time now for fresh. I think it's big brother , the Hurricane redbone is a better rod, but I do like the fact this rod has a longer butt than the redbone of the same specs. I'm using a Floog Supreme 35, with 10# braid.

Yea I was looking at the Redbone rods, but I didn't want to spend that much....But it looks like I got a good buy for the price. Can't wait to try it out!

[Flangler]

Good rod. I have a Calico Jack Hurricane, the rod length says 7', but it measures 7'2". I love it, and just like you guys I have a Pflueger reel on there... Better than a lot of higher priced rods I have used. I'm glad to hear they can still be found since I need another - I had it propped against the counter one day before a trip, there was a crank on the lure keeper, and my big dumb lab walked into it and hooked herself. Tore out one line guide as well as the lure keeper as she dragged it through the house yelping...

Yea I got mine at Dick's for 55.00.

[SirSnookalot]

You won't be sorry, I'd stack it up against anything twice it's price.

[Bassyak]

I have the 7' Med model as well...been my favorite rod for weightless Trick worms and the like. Never heard anyone else even mention them before. Found mine at the Navy Exchange in King's Bay, GA about 7 years ago for around $50. Great rod for the price with a nice long handle and a good tip for light baits. I like it better than my 7' Med Crucial.

[SirSnookalot]

There are other excellent rods that fly under the radar, little or no advertising. The people I know that use these rods spend little or no time on any type of online forum, so there is very little word of mouth.

If anyone ever has a chance to try a Tsunami Airwave, I would have no doubt that you'd be impressed.

[Flangler]

There are other excellent rods that fly under the radar, little or no advertising. The people I know that use these rods spend little or no time on any type of online forum, so there is very little word of mouth.

If anyone ever has a chance to try a Tsunami Airwave, I would have no doubt that you'd be impressed.

Hey where is Lake Worth Lagoon at?

[SirSnookalot]

Hey where is Lake Worth Lagoon at?

Lake Worth Lagoon is the intra coastal waterway in Palm beach county, about 20 miles long.

[Flangler]

Lake Worth Lagoon is the intra coastal waterway in Palm beach county, about 20 miles long.

Oh! So I caught a 5lber on the Hurricane rod the first time I used it. Worked great! He nailed a 5" Senko on a shakey head.

[new2BC4bass]

There are other excellent rods that fly under the radar, little or no advertising. The people I know that use these rods spend little or no time on any type of online forum, so there is very little word of mouth.

If anyone ever has a chance to try a Tsunami Airwave, I would have no doubt that you'd be impressed.

How about a review? Could you give a review on some of these other 'under the radar' rods? Thanks.

[SirSnookalot]

How about a review? Could you give a review on some of these other 'under the radar' rods? Thanks.

The Tsnunami for one..........Star rods and they make rods suitable for bass as well. Imo the spine is a bit underrated, much stronger. I recently bought a Star stellar lite ($99) 7' 10/20 2 oz lure weight, incredible casting distance and really handles the fish well. I am going to get another, I'm really enjoying this rod. Star is really not under the radar, but I don't think most freshwater fisherman know much about them.

[new2BC4bass]

The Tsnunami for one..........Star rods and they make rods suitable for bass as well. Imo the spine is a bit underrated, much stronger. I recently bought a Star stellar lite ($99) 7' 10/20 2 oz lure weight, incredible casting distance and really handles the fish well. I am going to get another, I'm really enjoying this rod. Star is really not under the radar, but I don't think most freshwater fisherman know much about them.

Sounds like the Star would make a good crankbait or small swimbait rod. What do you use it for? What is the sensitivity like? Could it be used for jigs?

How about the Tsnunami? What is your experience with that rod? I like quality gear, but can't buy it new (if at all), thanks in part to taking a big cut in pay in 2009. I'm always looking for the best value for my money.

I got back into fishing last year. At that time $100 for a rod and $200 for a reel simply wasn't even in my vocabulary. Now I've got a Zillion 50th, Alphas ito and a TD-Z 103HL Type R! All used of course. Also picked up a used Zillion rod that has me wanting a bunch more, but they aren't cheap even used.

I try to buy rods that can be used for multiple techniques. Hoping to pick up a Zillion 6'6" Medium Extra Fast this year for soft plastics and small spinnerbaits. Been told that in will also handle small shallow cranks if I don't mind a stiffer tip.

Oops. Strayed.

[SirSnookalot]

The Star does have a stiffer tip but I can cast as far or further than anything else I own. The Tsunami is probably more sensitive and very light. My kind of fishing and my target species do not require overly sensitive rods, the fish here rip the rod out of your hands and refuse to give it back. Kidding aside I have caught 1/2 pound mangrove snappers on jigs with no problem of not being able to feel the bite, same goes for freshwater bass....I for one don't put as much stock in the sensitivty issue as others do.

[new2BC4bass]

I have an Internet friend who prefers rods with extra fast tips. Says casting is more accurate. Tip recovery is faster which aids in casting accuracy. Which is one reason he likes Daiwa rods. I'm equating the stiffer tip of the Star rod to an extra fast tip. I like that you are getting very good casting distance with the rods. I have to fish from shore. Most casts are shooting for the moon. Sounds like I need to broaden my horizons. I've always had an affinity for the underdog. I have no problem using gear that no one else ever heard of as long as I get expected performance.

[SirSnookalot]

I just bought another Star this morning, will have a Soron 60 on it's back.

[Diggy]

I just bought a 7 ft mh based on the recc from the sales person. President spinning will be on it. Will test tomorrow, sure feels light. Almost bought a Tec spec but this felt better.

47 and change after the cupon for ten off

[SirSnookalot]

I've got the med calico jack, I love this rod, it's my main bass rod for canals or weedy water. I did notice they are making a mh now.

[Diggy]

Rod is awesome and the reel is smooth also. Im content with the spinning setup. Id def buy more of them. I need to peel the plastic off of the cork now

[SirSnookalot]

Nice set up for snook off the beach.

[Flangler]

I have a MH set-up with a Shimano Sahara and love it. It's a great multi-purpose rig!

Nice set up for snook off the beach.

[new2BC4bass]

I was looking at the Tsunami Airwave rod models. What is the difference between the Airwave Spin and the Airwave Inshore models? Can I assume both would serve for freshwater fishing? Ones I was looking at:

Spin Series

Model line wt lure wt.

601MF 6-12 1/8-3/8

661M 6-12 1/8-3/8

Inshore Series:

Model line wt lure wt.

6101MLF 6-12 1/8-1/2

701MF 6-17 1/8-5/8

801MLF 6-14 1/8-1/2

I just picked up a Daiwa SSII 2500C that I am considering using for 1/8-1/4 jigs with small tubes or grubs. Would like to try for smallmouth in the Delaware River next year...either from shore or wading. I would have preferred a 2000 model, but when a deal comes along you grab it!

I didn't see any of the rods mentioned in this thread (Calico Jack, Redbone, etc.) at my local Dick's. Haven't checked at Sports Authority yet. Not a lot of choices on line from what I've seen so far.

Since money is pretty tight at the moment, I probably will go with a Daiwa V.I.P. rod. They are on sale at TW for $59.95. I'll start a different thread for these rods.

However, I'd like to try a couple of these rods sometime in the reasonably near future. More than likely in a casting model since I've mostly switched over to this type of reel.

Thanks for any help.

[SirSnookalot]

I also own a Tsunami airwave inshore rod, 8', 8/17 spinning, lure weight up to 3/4 oz but it handles 1 oz spoons beautifully. It's a good rod but I would not use it for bass rod. For my bass fishing I use a calico jack inshore 7' 8/17 rod, mainly for high banked canal use to lift them out of the water, pond use I prefer a 6'6 6/12 rod.

I have 6 redbones, various lengths and power and the only negative for me is their 7 foot rods have a short butt, I prefer a longer one, also their m and mh rods are rated for 3/4 oz and 1 oz. I'd like to see them offer a mh that would be rated for 1.5 - 2 oz lures, for those baits I use a Star rod. For your use I think this would be a non issue.

Dicks no longer carries the Tsnuami airwaves, I think Bimini Bay is one of the few places you can order it from, personally I'd never buy rod without being able to put my hands on it first.