I GOT THE GREEN LIGHT

[LoveToFish]

The wife gave me the green light on a new rod and reel this year. I am looking for a rod that will throw a small jerk bait a mile and still be able to fight the fish (BASS)of a lifetime. Stuff like 4 or 5 inch YUM or power baits, platics. I am set on a Calcutta reel, I absolutly love them. I hope to keep it around $150 or less. Thanks for your in put.

[gunflint]

Midwest Rod And Reel. These guys build custom rods and for some unknown reason fish bass. You won't find better service or knowledge on exactly what your looking for. They are a sponsor here so just look them up. You won't regret it.

[Captain B.R.K]

Picked up a 7'6" bait casting rod made by Shimano. I believe it is their Clarus series. Model number CSC 76MH 7 feet 6 inch rod Medium Heavy action with an Extra Fast tip Great rod- wonderful tip flex for sensitivity and excellent backbone for those large bucket mouths!

I'm able to throw heavier spinnerbaits and small to medium size raps with no problems.

[JP Z]

I second the Shimano Clarus's They are a great rod and have a great price.

[gotcatfish]

Check out St. Croix's preimer series they are a great rod and you can't beat the quality and price of these rods. I build alot of my own rods using thier blanks and component parts. They have alot of package deals, you get everything you need to build the rod. It is very satisfying to use something you made yourself. If this is out of your price range I would go with the Shimano's, they are a great rod also. You can find the St.Croix stuff on thier web page. Good luck and Good fishing.

[gspman]

For $150 you are in St. Croix Avid price range. Check those out.

[Deitz Dittrich]

i'll third the Clarus by shimano.... Its got a lifetime warrenty on it!.. cant beat that. gpsman, the avid would take up all his money, bi believe he is trying to buy a rod and reel.

[Bushwacker]

If he is planning on a Calcutta, that will eat up the $150 by itself. I am with GSP, I would be with a Avid series or a custom made SCIII rod, which is the same blank. I have a few of them and for the money they are top of the line. Also have lifetime warrenties.

[Sproguy]

Love to fish,

Both the shimano and the St. Croix are nice but to further confuse you check out the Falcons. They have a great rod named the Cara that is a little cheaper then the avid and I think nicer but that is only my opinion. They usually have a booth at the NW Show if you are attending. Otherwise there Lowriders are real nice also. Just my two cents.

[Granny]

Gotta give another vote for the Clarus. Lifetime warranty and I believe with most stores its over the counter no questions asked. Break it and you have a new one as soon as you get to the store. Not a bad price either usually $60-$80.

Granny

[ozzie]

I believe the St Croix has a lifetime warranty also no ?'s asked any reason it breaks just return it!!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

ozzie that is true of some of the st.croix line.. but you have to return it to the company.. its not an over the counter exchange... Dont ge me wrong Croix makes an AWESOME rod.. but it does not have the return policy of the shimano!

[LoveToFish]

I currently have a St. Croix rod, Medium Power, Fast Action, 6 foot 6 inches and I really like it. I just want to know if there is something that might cast farther and fight fish just as well. And yes I am willing to spend $150 on just the rod, and got to have my precious Calcutta reel. It seems like rods are getting so specialized it is hard to tell if it will do what you want. I know I want to be able to cast light lures well and I think it was Bass Pro or Bassmaster that has a rod specifically for that purpose, but they want $200 and I can’t quit justify that much. Seen as I can’t go test them all I thought I might check here to see what others use to cast light plastics.

Thanks

[Captain B.R.K]

Humm...you are asking to cast a lure farther than you can already (recommending a 7'0" rod or longer) yet you want to cast smaller lures for plastics (normally 7'0" rods come in medium-to medium heavy weights). MAN- I don't know FISH.

Sounds like you need a Shimano Clarus in your hands I think it's like 4 to 1 in here for em'. Great price, you don't throw quality out the window (excellent rods) and over the counter exchange policy you CAN NOT beat!!

[Northlander]

Call Bill or Al at MidWest Rods and they will hook you up with a top of the line rod at a great price. I have 5 of their rods and love every one of them. www.midwestrodandreel.com

[Deitz Dittrich]

Good point northlander.. I picked up a couple of the midwest rods for ice fishing... and I have been nothing but pleased with them for ice fishing! I'm sure they make a fine open water rod as well!

[LoveToFish]

Well, went to the Sports Show this weekend and check out all the rods at the show, many nice rods to choose from, but Capra’s offered me a deal I couldn’t resist. Dean Capra showed me what he like to use for this style of fishing. It was a G Loomis, it felt very nice, but after looking at the price I told him I would only have enough left for a snoopy reel if I bought this rod. He told me that if I bought both the rod and reel from him he would give me 25% off. My wife, to my amazement, jumped in and told me I should by them and that I was going to spend almost that much anyway and this rod was a G LOOMIS . So I did. I ended up with a MRB 843 C Medium Heavy with a fast action and a Calcutta 251 Reel.

Watch out smallies I comin and I’m bringin Loomis with me.

Thanks for all the input, it helped me be informed before I went to the show.

Good Fishin.