Limit Creek Smoothie vs Shimano Compre

[DLD24]

My plan was to buy a limit creek smoothie for eyes and a Shimano Compre Medium heavy rod for my bass fishing this year (my first nicer rods)...BUT the smoothie has been a pain to find they are out of stock now and not sure when they'll be in...I'm going to Vermillion for opener and was hoping to have it by then(in reality probably need the ice rods)...So my question are the Compre and Smoothie very similiar performance wise??If so I may just go and buy a ML Compre rod, instead of the smoothie...Thanks for any info

[maj330]

Not a fan of the Compre any more. New graphite is nice and light but the blank seems dead. Check to see if you can find the equivalent size in the Clarus. Or hold out for a Smoothie. Or a St. Croix Avid.

[B-man715]

Another option if you're not picky on brand......

Fenwick makes some great rods for the money.

Cabelas has them make an exclusive rod called the Silverhawk. At $100, its one step below the Elite Tech. Right now they are on sale for $60 online.

I've never fished that rod in particular, but it looks like they have it in the lengths and actions you are looking for. Both spinning and casting are on sale.

[Vitreus]

The compre is not a bad rod. I have a couple from a few years back, but it seems, according to previous posts, that they may have changed their construction. The good thing is that most big outfitters are going to guarantee the rod that you buy, and if it really isn't a good value, you can most likely return it. The smoothie is a great value, and is built like a more expensive rod. I would compare it to the avid. The chances of you finding a smoothie are very slim right now, though. I contacted all the vendors on their HSOforum about a month ago, and had to drive from St. Cloud to Stillwater to get one. The HSOforum said they would be available by the end of April, but now that date has been removed...

[Walleye Guy]

Rumor has it that the Smoothie rods will start showing up around May 20th.

[Mike Stark]

The "Smoothie" is a nice rod. I have heard they will be in mid-may. Some of the folks on Vermilion are thinking that the ice won't be completely out till next weekend.