High End Walleye Rod Help

[fishlakeman]

Hey all, It's time for me to upgrade my live-bait rigging rod, and I want to do it right. I've read all the other rod posts recently, and figured I'd post my own. Probably my favorite rod I've borrowed has been a Fenwick Techna AV 7ft Med-Lt. Very sensitive, yet solid back bone. I haven't been real impressed with GL2's and GL3's by Loomis for the $, and the IMX and GLX are more than what I want to spend. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck.

Here's my rod Parameters:

-7ft

-Med Lt

-Fast taper

-$100-$200

Here's what I have it narrowed down to:

1)Fenwick Elite Tech ($149)

2)St Croix Avid ($180)

3)St Croix Eyecon ($110)

4)Jason Mitchell Elite Series ($140)

5)Mr. Walleye Superpro (Gary Roach) ($179)

I'm looking for anyone who has any experience with these rods, and what sort of feedback they can give me. I have always had good luck with Fenwick's and St Croix's in the past with their HMX, and Premier series models. Now I'm looking for something lighter, and more sensitive. Thank you for the responses!

[BigSling]

Not exactly the same as your desired spec but one of my combos is a Fenwick Elite Tech 6'6" Med/Fast jigging rod. A great rod that's sensitive while jigging and has been very durable when the occasional pike decides to have a go. I may be a bit biased being a Fenwick guy so I can't comment on the others but I'm sure you'd be fine with any of those choices.

[hhguide]

You can always look at getting a rod built for you at that price... Just another idea. I know thorne Bros, or the carrs do them up in ottertail or a few other guys that can customize them right to those specs for you! I'm a big fan of fenwicks though!

[ottertailguy]

You should check out Shimano® Crucial spinning rods. I let the wife use mine and she caught more fish last year then she ever did. Good luck.

[PerchJerker]

Those are all good rods. Pick the one that feels the best to you. If you can't feel a difference or still can't decide, then pick the one that looks the coolest.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Setyr rods, although they are next to impossible to find. The last few rods I've bought have been Shimanos and I really like them, I agree with the post that you should look at the Crucial too.

[gardn184]

Bought two st croix avid series rods for walleye, 66 medium light fast and a 7 medium light fast and I'm not looking back, the fenwicks certainly aren't bad either, my old eagle gt caught more walleyes than any rod I've ever owned, and I'm sure the high end models are close to the st croixs

[fishlakeman]

Thanks for all the reply's so far. Great Advice! I'm definately throwing the Shimano into the mix, however I'm thinking that for my next bass rod. I think I'm probably down to the Fenwick, and St Croix's. Again, all addition experience, and thoughts is much appreciated. Might look into a custom with a Loomis blank as suggested too.

[stoney]

Got a Fenwick last year and I am really happy with it.

[Jim Almquist]

Bought two st croix avid series rods for walleye, 66 medium light fast and a 7 medium light fast and I'm not looking back, the fenwicks certainly aren't bad either, my old eagle gt caught more walleyes than any rod I've ever owned, and I'm sure the high end models are close to the st croixs

My 6'6" Avid was one of the best rods that I have ever used. The wife broke the tip and got it replaced with the same size Legend and I still think the Avid was a better rod.

[desert_bulls]

I have to agree with the St. Croix Avid. I bought mine last year and I love that rod. Great action and very nice sensitivty.

[HookEmHard84]

I'll second the Shimano Crucial. I'm sure the others offer this as well, but mine has the lifetime warranty. When I broke mine in the car door, i had a new one in a week.

[LMITOUT]

I had been running Fenwicks but then bought a handful of St. Croix Avids that I've been using the past couple of years and have to say that my next rod will be a Fenwick again. The St. Croix were fine, but I just prefer the Fenwick response and feel when setting the hook and playing the fish to the boat.

I'm kicking myself for not snatching up a few more Techna's when they were closing them out.

[CoorsCaptain]

I like Scheels Guide series rods. Mainly for their warranty. Break it, bring it in, new rod over the counter. No questions asked.

[JohnMickish]

Go with the Avid, besides being the best built rod in the group they have the best warranty. It's really hard to beat a lifetime warranty.

[Sportland_Bait]

We handle all of these rods. Out of your five choices I prefer the two St. Croix or the Elite Tech. The Fenwick will feel a little stiffer than the St. Croix in the MedLight rating. But I believe you will be happy with either one. They are all very nice rods. The Avid will feel the lightest when you pick it up, but not much. Send me an email if you are still shopping, I might be able to help you out.

Jason Erlandson

[waterwolff]

I probable have 15 GLoomis rods but I never leave home without my St Croix Premier PS70MLF I love this rod for either rigging or jigging.

[mike11]

how do the limit creek rods compare to ant of the one's that have been talked about so far

[croixeyes]

All rods mentioned above are good choices.For livebait rigging I like to go to a little bit longer rod,A 7.6 or 8ft rod may seem long to some but it allows you to go lighter line and gives a great hook set,just a thought.6.6 and 7s still do the job quite well.

[benhaag]

go croix, just not a triumph, stay with rods made in the USA if you plan on spending that kind of money. just my 2 cents

[fishlakeman]

Well, I ended up going with a Fenwick Elite Tech 7'2 last wknd. Reed's hooked me up at the Fargo Sportsman show. I liked how it was just a tad stiffer than the 7ft ml Avid. Both were extremely light and sensitive. Paired it with a Shimano Symmetre. Gander Mountain up here just put 25% off St Croix Avid's just now, so I might pick up a new jigging rod in the Avid for such a nice price. Thank you all for the help -Nick

[waterwolff]

The Shimano Symetre is a great reel. Which model did you go with.I have been eye balling the Strtadic C14 in either the 1000 or 2500 just haven't decided yet.

[goose89]

fishlakeman, do you know if they've got any 6'9" ML XF Avids?? 25% is a pretty good deal.

[LMITOUT]

Well, I ended up going with a Fenwick Elite Tech 7'2 last wknd. Reed's hooked me up at the Fargo Sportsman show. I liked how it was just a tad stiffer than the 7ft ml Avid. Both were extremely light and sensitive.

Congrats on the new rod.

People say the fast tip (such as you'll find on the Avid) is supposed to help keep fish hooked up when playing them to the boat, but I firmly believe that I've lost more fish using the St. Croix rods. It just happened far too often to call it a coincidence. Maybe it's something that I just have to adjust for, but you really lose confidence in a hurry when it happens that often. Last spring I had two rods rigged up with the same presentation, an older Berkley Series One and an almost new St. Croix Avid with a nicer reel but I grabbed the Series One and had a heckuva morning bringing fish INTO the boat and not just to the boat. Fool me once....

[fishlakeman]

Goose,

I'll check tomm and get back to you. I was looking at a 6ft med-lt fast, can't remember what else there was there.

As far as the Symetre, I went with the 2500, as I felt it balanced well with the 7' 2" rod quite well. I was tempted to go Stradic, but really have been more than satisfied with Symetre's in the past, and didn't feel it was a necessary upgrade. And from the money I saved, I think I'll pick up that St Croix, maybe try out a pflueger supreme for a change. Been running Shimano for pretty much ever, and they've never given me a reason to switch.

[goose89]

Thanks fishlake,

I'm an old stradic (white ones) guy myself, but since the significant price jumps, I've also gone with the symmetres, or the Saros. I'm very impressed with the Saros. Solid and smooth.

I've branched out a gonna try a Pflueger Arbor. Big spool (arbor) that should cast well, but feels a bit "loose" so far. Not loose in terms of handle or spools movement / play, rather, just too easy to spin the handle. I like to have to apply a gentle force to the reel.

thanks again, and good luck...