Whets Lines Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 My favorite rod is the one in my hand with a fish on the end of the line. (Yep, that's the best smart-alec comment I could come up with.) Seriously, if any of you have read my posts, I'm always touting the virtues of St. Croix. I like their product and their company. I'm confident with a St. Croix in my hand. That's the main thing for me. I have recently branched out and bought a Dobyns Champion Series rod, a Kistler Z-Bone, and an Elk River Custom Rod. I like all of them. However, I firmly believe the warranty and trade-in policy of St. Croix is second-to-none. I think the Dobyns and Kistler are great looking rods built to high standards. I would get more if I needed more and had the right deal come along. These are always interesting threads to read. One other thing, I think too many people are putting way too much emphasis on how a rod balances while holding it in the store. While fishing, I don't really ever notice if a rod is tip heavy or handle heavy. I do notice the action and sensitivity though and the power needed to pull fish from the weeds or set the hook from a distance. Rods need to be fished... Just my $.02. Whets Quote
kbkindle Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 Only one rod needed St croix avid series nuf said Quote
Javelin200 Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 I'm not dedicated to any rod brand. I have a stable full of mutts. They all do the job they were designed to do (or I've adapted them to do). If I had to pick a favorite, it would be my Falcon Cara 5-167, paired with a Pflueger Supreme. It's a Senko slingin' machine gun. Quote
Mainebassin Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 Love my St Croix Avids......But the Dobyns is a very close 2nd Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted June 17, 2011 Super User Posted June 17, 2011 My kind of fishing does not require a very sensitive rod, although I think the line(braid) makes a world of difference. I need backbone as my fish rip the rod out of your hands and don't want to give it back, Hurricane Redbone. I use a light bone and med bone for my freshwater fishing, not much around here I can't with those guys. Quote
jj'sbassinforfun Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 Had to go other. My fav's are home built! Quote
Super User RoLo Posted June 17, 2011 Super User Posted June 17, 2011 I have a high regard for St Croix blanks (especially their saltwater line), but St Croix does not offer a freshwater spinning rod with the backbone I seek. As to "Best bang for the buck", you'd be hard pressed to beat Quantum or Shimano (my vote went to Quantum, but it's a toss up). Roger Quote
WdyCrankbait Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 Yeah, I had to vote Powell rods. Never owned or used a Dobyns, but Powell's have done well for me. Quote
jignfule Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 I like my St. Croix rod, I love my g.loomis rods a lot more. Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted June 18, 2011 Posted June 18, 2011 My favorite rod is the one in my hand with a fish on the end of the line. (Yep, that's the best smart-alec comment I could come up with.) Seriously, if any of you have read my posts, I'm always touting the virtues of St. Croix. I like their product and their company. I'm confident with a St. Croix in my hand. That's the main thing for me. I have recently branched out and bought a Dobyns Champion Series rod, a Kistler Z-Bone, and an Elk River Custom Rod. I like all of them. However, I firmly believe the warranty and trade-in policy of St. Croix is second-to-none. I think the Dobyns and Kistler are great looking rods built to high standards. I would get more if I needed more and had the right deal come along. These are always interesting threads to read. One other thing, I think too many people are putting way too much emphasis on how a rod balances while holding it in the store. While fishing, I don't really ever notice if a rod is tip heavy or handle heavy. I do notice the action and sensitivity though and the power needed to pull fish from the weeds or set the hook from a distance. Rods need to be fished... Just my $.02. Whets I've heard others mention the tip heavy or balance aspect also and in the store yeah I noticed those things about a particular rod. Out fishing them with lure, line and reel on the rod I have never thought about how it balanced when fighting a fish. Quote
Super User grimlin Posted June 18, 2011 Super User Posted June 18, 2011 Money is an issue....But I haven't found a better rod for $150+/-than Powell. IMO I baby my Powell rod. If money wasn't an issue I'd probably be looking at Megabass rods... Quote
stickum Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Hands down Kistler! l have Glommis, E21, Cumura's, Diawa, BPS, Abu's and nothing beats the LTA's... Quote
Super User BASSclary Posted June 21, 2011 Super User Posted June 21, 2011 I think the store branded rods are a great bang for your buck. When directly comparing a SHIMANO Cumara to a BPS Signature Series II, the signature series was on par sensitivity wise, and it balanced a bit better with the lighter reels. (Caronlite, Prolite.) Today I went out and picked up a Gander rod too. I got the GSX Tournament Titanium rod. Felt great! For a 7'2" H rod it balanced great. Right in front of the reel seat, and that's without a reel. The only sacrifice I see with the store brand rods is usually the guides. The 250$ will probably come with SiC's, and the 125$ will probably come with Alconites. But for ~$100 difference, I can live with Alconites. Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 21, 2011 Super User Posted June 21, 2011 In 2007 I bought a Shimano Crucial CRC-X610MH from Academy Sports & Outdoors; they have long since quit selling them and I had lost the receipt. Last month I broke the rod (totally my fault); I took it to a local tackle shop who replaced it for free. Shimano Crucial’s have a life time warranty; not all Shimano rods do. I’ve owned almost all of them so I can tell you the Crucial’s sensitivity will scare you! Quote
Dr. Watson Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 So far I own more St. croix rods than anything else and I love them, so I gotta go with the Croix. Some day I'll get a Loomis though then I'll have to go insane on which I like better. Quote
Mr Red Sox Posted June 27, 2011 Posted June 27, 2011 I really like the Shimano Crucial and Cumara rods and love my Cumulus. Quote
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