Help Choosing Spinning Rod

[pondassasin]

I'm looking for a medium/medium light spinning rod to use as an all around rod for throwing soft plastics, drop shot, senkos etc. I'll be pairing out with a shimano symetre 2500, and I'm looking to spend in between $100-150. Also, if anyone has a good used rod I might consider purchasing a gently used rod. Thanks!

[Marty]

I wouldn't go medium light for those kinds of lures, I'd go M or MH with some backbone and fast action.

[ChiCityBasser]

Take a look at the Cabelas XMLTi 6'9" M/F which is normally $200 but on sale for $120 right now. This is my soft plastics rod paired with a Quantum Catalyst pti-a20. The rod is very very light and sensitive. Some might not like the recoil guides with braid cause they are just a bit noisy but after trying it with both braid and flouro line I can except that bit of noise for caught fish. Ive been fishing it as mainly a senko and fat ika plastics rod and this is now my favorite combo. Quality components and great sensitivity.

[Bronzeback Scuttler]

Check out the Powell Max 683 spinning rod at Tackle Warehouse. It's on sale right now for $109.88. Nice rod with lifetime warranty and really well built. It will handle all your soft plastics needs.

[pondassasin]

Check out the Powell Max 683 spinning rod at Tackle Warehouse. It's on sale right now for $109.88. Nice rod with lifetime warranty and really well built. It will handle all your soft plastics needs.

I purchased the Powell rod. I have been using a 7' St Croix medium but I wasn't impressed with the sensitivity and I think I'm gonna be able to make more accurate cats with the shorter rod. Thanks for the heads up, after reading the reviews it seems as I'm getting a great rod at a great price.

[walleyejgr]

Phenix Recon 6'9' M/L/F

[deep]

I purchased the Powell rod. I have been using a 7' St Croix medium but I wasn't impressed with the sensitivity and I think I'm gonna be able to make more accurate cats with the shorter rod. Thanks for the heads up, after reading the reviews it seems as I'm getting a great rod at a great price.

I suspect you'll be very happy with that Powell you bought. It's a very sensitive rod at even it's full retail price point, and withstands a lot of abuse and still keeps going.

[pitchinthejig]

if you look around you can find a new Daiwa Cielo TDCEL 6101DSS for 130-150 and let me tell you this you cant touch another rod for any where close to that and it be even half the rod it is... Its the SAME blank as the Steez sticks are with SVF Graphite... When TW had them on sell a while ago I bought gift cards at 10% off and then bought them when they was 119.99 (marked down form the mid 300 range) and 15% more off that so I got them at 25% off 119.99 and bought 12 I believe.. I fish mostly SUPER high end JDM sticks but those sticks at that price are awesome and you will love one.. That model will do what you was asking about in spades! Check them out they have been sold out of most retailers/etailers for a good while now but you can find them for a great price on Ebay, In fact I just bought a new TDCEL 661DS casting rod just to have it a few days ago on ebay for 72.XX shipped from Simmons sporting goods. The ones I bought are mostly unused and bought them because of how nice a stick they are and the deal Ive only fished with two the TDCEL 701WJ casting stick and the TDCEL 6101DSS spinning rod and both fish just like my Steez sticks of similar size/action they are just a tick heavier but very sensitive and well built with great action/tapers.. Anyhow check them out I assure you if you get one it will go head to head with ANY stick in the 350.00ish range and can be had for great prices with just a little searching..

[SirSnookalot]

As far as brands, lots of good ones, I always look the deal.

I was using my freshwater rods but hoisting even a 5# fish from high banked canal or pulling a fish out of heavy weeds I needed more backbone than a medium freshwater rod. I started to use my inshore rod 7' 8/17( which handles 20 pound bonita) and heavy vegetation was no longer a problem. I bought another inshore rod and put a supreme 35 on it with 15# braid, it handles anything I encounter in freshwater, and I throw any kind of bait on it. A good all around outfit, but if I were open water or pond fishing I'd go with a little less rod.

[dude loves to fish]

Check out the Kistler Magnesium rods and I would go M or MH with your setup. These rods are super sensitive and plenty of backbone to handle what you catch. The Shimano 2500 is a great reel to be paired with this rod. I have a Abu Garcia reel on one of my magnesiums that I use for this application and it works great. Drop shotting and senkos I would go with the MH.

[pondassasin]

Kind of unrelated, but I purchased some Yozuri hybrid ultra soft 8lb test and was wondering what everyone thinks as to it being to light our heavy for that setup. I know the Yozuri has a higher breaking point than its rated so I'm not worried about that, more of how it will cast.

[ChiCityBasser]

Kind of unrelated, but I purchased some Yozuri hybrid ultra soft 8lb test and was wondering what everyone thinks as to it being to light our heavy for that setup. I know the Yozuri has a higher breaking point than its rated so I'm not worried about that, more of how it will cast.

I've used 8lb test and found it to have a bit too much memory for me and went down to 6lb test and it was fine on my spinning setup. Treat the line with kvd line conditioner and it should be fine.

[guitarkid]

Tackle Warehouse should have a medium action GL2 on sale for $99.88.

-gk

[ww2farmer]

St Croix Mojo 6'8" MXF, new for $99. Or get the same length/power/action in the Avid I have seen used ones go for $125 or so. You might get lucky and also find that rod used in the Legend Tournament line for less than $200 as well.

[Sam]

May I suggest a medium heavy rod?

Check out the specs on any rod you are considering and balance the data with your 2500 and the baits you will be throwing.

Good luck.

P.S. I stay away from suggesting brands and specific rods as everyone has their favorites and you can be confused with all the data.

[ChiCityBasser]

I purchased the Powell rod. I have been using a 7' St Croix medium but I wasn't impressed with the sensitivity and I think I'm gonna be able to make more accurate cats with the shorter rod. Thanks for the heads up, after reading the reviews it seems as I'm getting a great rod at a great price.

Sure you will be happy with your rod choice.

[deep]

8 lb is the heaviest test I'll put on a spinning reel. I like to use 6 lb though.

[SirSnookalot]

8 lb is the heaviest test I'll put on a spinning reel. I like to use 6 lb though.

All depends on the size of the reel, I have 12-17# for specific purposes.

[supreme]

I have a blue light special on a BRAND NEW DOBYNS SAVVY 6'9" ML in the flea market

[deep]

8 lb is the heaviest test I'll put on a spinning reel. I like to use 6 lb though.

Just to clarify; I meant 6 lb diameter line on a 2500 size spinning reel. When I use mono/ fluoro/ copoly, I put on 6 lb test; when braid, 30 lb test (30 lb samurai has the diameter of 6 lb mono).

[SirSnookalot]

For some larger spinning reels like an 8000 or higher I will use up to 17# mono, I've used 20# too. For a small spinner like a 2500 tops of 15# braid, I won't use mono for a light spinning oufit.

[ChiCityBasser]

Just to clarify; I meant 6 lb diameter line on a 2500 size spinning reel. When I use mono/ fluoro/ copoly, I put on 6 lb test; when braid, 30 lb test (30 lb samurai has the diameter of 6 lb mono).

I use 6lb mono/flouro/copoly on my 2000 size spinning reels. When I use braid I use mostly 30lb/8 diameter Power Pro on my spinning setups and have gone as heavy as 40lb/10 diameter.

[pondassasin]

After putting the 8 lb yozuri I think I'm gonna be happy with it. It really does seem to have very little memory as advertised. I can't wait to test it out.