Help Me Purchase My Next Rod

[GripItRipIt]

Hello,

I was given a pfleuger baitcasting reel. I want to purchase a rod, mainly to be used for fishing with a weighted worm or a weedless jig. I am lost with all the choices available these days. All I know pretty much, is that I need a MH. A shorter rod feels alot more comfortable and easier for me, and althogh I dont do alot of pitching/flipping, most of my casts are shorter, and 99% of my fishing is off of shoreline structure or docks.

I will be making a trip to BPS this weekend, buy I picked up some new rods at my local wamart($15-20), and I was surprised at how nice and light they felt. Any value here? My price range is under $50.

I know it comes down to what feels best when I am shopping, but what I was lost on was how stiff it should be, and the length.

Also, any input on line? Anything but braided, idk whether to get mono or fili...i am thinking 12lb, I use a jig most of the time, but it would be nice to have the option of using a larger texas-rigged worm, or a swimbait.

Thanks alot!

[Scorcher214]

For worms and most other soft plastics, a 6'6" or 7' medium spinning rod would be better. But if you want a good all around BC, I would suggest a 6'6" medium action rod would be best.

As for line, I suggest 12lb test Suffix Elite. I use it on all my BCs. Suffix Elite is very limp due to it's special winding process and I think it makes a great difference. Best line I have ever used.

If you want more information, read Glenn's post in this thread here

[Raider Nation Fisher]

If you throw another twenty bucks on it, the Carbonlites are on sale for 69 bucks right now. Thats btw a twenty to fifty dollar discount. Those rods are great, especially at that price. However for the under fifty price range. The Berkley Amps and Lightining rods are pretty nice. As are the Diawa Procyon rods. I have one spinning and one bc. Both have held up well, ans thats fishing them over two hundred days a year for the last three years.

Line wise, with you excluding braided line. I would say ten to twelve pound Seagaur flouro.

[Grey Wolf]

Under 50.00 = Berkley Lightning rod.

[BASSclary]

I wouldn't waste my time going to BPS for a rod under $50, however under $75 dollars or so I would make the trip.

But if your sticking with your under $50 budget I would get the lightning rod.

[BASSclary]

And why don't you want braid? Just curious. It's the best line out there IMO for jigs, plastics, and many other techniques.

[GripItRipIt]

Thanks for the replies!

I will look into the berkley lightning! So a med action instead of MH would be ok for jigs? The reason I ask, is that recently I have been missing alot of fish, and my friend who fishes with me(former pro, aren't we all though? ) , dosent see anything wrong with my hooksets. I do like the feel of a lighter action rod though, the rod I am currently using(older, temporary though) feels alot better, and is more accurate. Seems logical, especially if I will be using it for texas rigged worms as well.

As for my distaste for spinning outfits and braided line: after using a baitcaster for so long now, a spinning reel just dosent feel right anymore(for lack of a better explanation). Just kinda light, and I dont have the sensitivity I do with the baitcaster. I have lost too many fish with braided, and I like having some stretch in it lol.

And as for line, I meant to ask if I should get mono or flouro. My friend told me BPS will spool a reel for you if you bring it with ya, maybe i'll try that until I find something I like the most?! Which would you choise if you were forced to shoreline/dock fish with only a 3/8 jig? And why??

Thanks again! Didnt want to go and ask all these ?'s at bass pro, almost as embarassing as stopping and asking for directions

[GripItRipIt]

^^And sorry for the long post/tons of questions ^^!

[Whets Lines]

I can't really comment on which brand of rod to get in your price point. Take the others' advice there. However, I would say you will be fine with a medium-heavy rod if that is what you want. Just remember, everyone's rods are different. For example, my medium-heavy Kistler Z-Bone rod is more like a heavy action when compared to my medium-heavy St. Croix Legend Xtreme. The terminology for each brand compares to other rods in the brand's lineup...not other brands. I would also suggest getting a 7' rod. Once you get used to it, you'll want all longer rods.

Now when it comes to line, do not have BPS spool up your reel for you. In my opinion, that is a big, expensive, rip off.

If you want some stretch in a good line, give Seaguar InvizX a shot. It is a quality fluorocarbon line with a bit more stretch than others I have used. It is very manageable and moderately priced. You could also look into the BPS XPS fluorocarbon line. I've been very pleased with it. Good luck and happy shopping.

Whets

[GripItRipIt]

Went with the Lightning Rod. The diff between this and what I was using is night and day! It feels twice as light, and twice as strong...cant wait to try her out early in the AM tomorrow! Couldnt afford the line I really wanted, so just got some Berkley 12lb test that was on sale. I'll get that on my next trip.

Thanks so much for the help, and good luck on the water!

[GripItRipIt]

**Update: Getting another one!**

Ok, if you guys want to help a newbie out AGAIN, it would be greatly appreciated!

I've decided to purchase another rod. I figure if I tell ya'll what baits I primarily use, you can help inform me of the type of rod to get.

Until today, it was a pretty easy decision: I just purchased a medium action rod, so next week I was gonna go get a MH. But today, while browsing some rods online, I came upon some casting rods, with a shorter handle. It was the Berkley Lightning, and it only comes in 6ft, MH. I remember this being the first type of quality rod that I purchased some time ago, when I first became really interested in bass fishing.

I'll try to get straight to it lol...what are these casting rods primarily used for? It seems like it would make shorter casts along docks and shoreline structure easier and more accurate. I use the following baits 99% of the time, in order of how often I use them: jig/pork, buzzbait, texas rig worm, swimbait. The plan is to use the rod I have now for the worm/swimbait, and to purchase a MH rod for the former.

Soooo, should I get another rod like I have now (trigger style, correct?), or should I go with a casting rod? I remember in the past, that I liked the feel of a shorter handle, but this was 15yrs ago. If not, what is a casting rod primarily used for then?

Also, it is $10 cheapet at Bass Pro, not that it makes a big difference or anything.

Thanks SO much for all the help, without you guys I would just be picking one at random!

Any help/comments are much appreciated!

[GripItRipIt]

Also, don't know if I need to add, but I don't NEED another rod, just would be alot easier....so if another Lightning medium action would make the most sense for my situation, then that is a definite possibility. But a MH seems to be the best option...

Thanks again!

[BASSclary]

If you like your lightning rod get it in MH. I'm pretty sure they make it MH. Also check out Gander Mountain and look at their clearance area. They have some decent store-brand ans name-brand rods at great prices.

[Grey Wolf]

Also, don't know if I need to add, but I don't NEED another rod, just would be alot easier....so if another Lightning medium action would make the most sense for my situation, then that is a definite possibility. But a MH seems to be the best option...

Thanks again!

You should learn the differance between power and action. The rods you are talking about are medium power and med heavy power not med action and med heavy action.

[GripItRipIt]

Argghhh....gotcha, stuff has got so confusing since i've picked up fishing again!

[BASSclary]

Don't worry about being confused at the beginning. Some manufacturers interchange the words power and action on their lower model rods. I really don't know why but it's just a common occurance.

[catchnm]

Actually many rod manufacturers state the "power" of their rods as "action"......moot point here tho.

If I were you I'd stay away from the pistol grip rod you're referring to in the 6' length. 6'6" is an all around length for the type fishing you're doing and there are many rods out there that fit your price range for this that have varying lengths of handles to choose from. If you have an Academy Sports and Outdoors store near you they are running some heck of a deals on rods this week. The Castaway CTX and the All Star Classics are always $49.99 at Academy though. I just handled one of the CTX 6'6" MH last week there. Amazingly light rod! If I hadn't been shopping for a 7' I probably would have bought it.

[GripItRipIt]

Thanks ppl! I'll just stick with what I was originally going to get, the Lightning MH 6'6"...then i'll be set! (lol, until my 4th, 5th, etc. rods, reels...)

Thanks again