Expensive Rods? or not?

[Fishin4Life]

As from another post, I thought I would start a thread. Is it worth the money for the expensive rods like Lomis? I personally can't afford to spend lots of money on rods, and I find that the $30 - $50 rods work great for my applications. What are the benefits from buying a more expensive rod, instead of the generics like Gander sells, etc...

[SluggoMaster]

I find the higher end rods are lighter and more sensitive. However, the $59 & $69 Guide Series rods at Gander Mountain are a bargain and are very light. The high end Shimano rods ($150 - $170) are VERY nice, and compare to the St. Croix and Loomis rods in weight and sensitivity.

I have a little of everything, but you need to go "feel" them yourself.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I too believe the gander series gives you alot of bang for your buck. But then again Ive never fished a Loomis rod.

I mostly gone for 'cheaper' rods, guide series, shimano claurus, etc. In one's opinion do you really think having a $200+ rod really make you catch many more fish if any?

[Fishin4Life]

One thing I have found with the guide series rods is that the blue ones are a bit more sensative and a little stiffer compared to the exact action in the green. A guy at the store swears to me they are identical except for the color, but I don't think so. Any opinions here?

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Well I just got a job there so Ill figure out if it is some sort of conspiracy and get back to you

[blakjack23]

Don't forget the lifetime warranty you get with most high end rods. It has came in handy for me a few times.

[ikeslayer]

However does that lifetime warranty cover stupidity cause that is the reason for every rod that has broke of mine. IF it does i may be converted. I make my own rods and i usually make st.Croix because i know a guy who can get me factory seconds (or at least use to) I love them but i have heard good things about Guide series rods. I put all guide series spinning reels on my rods and they are premo only one time i had a problem where one just felt a little siff so i took it back without a box and no questions asked got a new one. Back to the topic though are the high dollar worth the bucks or are you buying the name??????? ike

[Dan Brelje]

FENWICK, FENWICK, FENWICK.. Here is why. They have rods at the lower end and the mid-hi end of the price scale. And all are good rods for the money. I have noticed a difference in my fishing while using a higher dollar rod but, once you go graphite its kind of hard not to get better.

Fenwick has series of rods. Eagle GT, HMX, HMG, and Techna AV. I use 3 of the 4 series of fenwicks and love every one of them. The Eagle GT's are the lower end $49-59 and are good graphite rods, nothing to brag about but they are sensative and get the job done. The HMX is the next level and they run for $69-79. My favorite rod is my HMX. IT is very sensitive and has a 5yr warranty. Next up is the HMG; these rods are a great buy for the $$. They run from $99-114. Very sensative, light weight, and a life time warranty. The Top of the line rod by fenwick is the Techna, i haven't fished one but i am sure they are great..

** But here is my deal with fenwick, the customer service is great. Between my father and I we have had 4-5 rods replaced. And believe me more than one of these rods were broke because of stupidity (tip broke of in screen door?)If your in the hunt for a nicer rod but don't want to shell out the $$ for a loomis, i would definately consider Fenwick.

JUST MY $.02..

[rangerforme]

Most high end rods don't care how you break them, I have both Loomis and Techna's and both you just send the in no questions asked and they send you a new one for the cost of shipping pretty much.

[Guest]

You know... I used to think that RODS and reels don't matter as long as it casts.. To some extent, thats true but I can honestly say I've landed more bass that ever before with the rods that I have now because I can feel the bites

Just to give you an idea. But the main thing is, go for the most expensive one within YOUR budget.

[blakjack23]

Yes, like Ranger said, I don't think it matters how you break them, they will get you a new one. I guess your style of fishing might say whether its worth it too. If you just fish spinnerbaits for pike, any rod will do. If you do finesse fishing for bass or walleye, then the more expensive rod is going to help you out.

[Fishin4Life]

I do have a 100% graphite rod made my Daiwa. I do notice the sensitivity difference with this rod compared to the composite guide series. Would a low end 100% graphite compare to a higher end 100% graphite? Or is there a substantial difference between the two, just curious.

[Bill L]

I got my first Loomis GLX rod through a promo at work. Never figured I could justify 300.00 rod out of my pocket. I got a 6'6" MH worming rod. I fished it one season. The next season I purchased the second one just like it out of my pocket. In my part of the country, we throw a lot of soft plastics during a good portion of the year. I have worm fished a lot in the 25 plus years I have bass fished. No other rod I have owned, Fenwick, All Star, Shimano, Berkley, Falcon, etc. can match the light weight and sensitivity of these rods. Fishing a Curado on one with 35 pound Spider Wire and a Texas rigged lizard allows me to tell if that brush I just came through is oak or cedar. There are lots of good rods out there. Most of them will get the job done. Just like a Yugo will take you back and forth to work, but the Cadillac will do it much more comfortably. If you have the means, then by all means give one a try.

[Muddog]

If you need a fast action rod, you will have to pay more. If you don't know what I mean by fast action, you don't need a high end rod.

It all depends on if your Wormin-Jiggin or Crankin-Trollin and let me add corkin.

[Mr. Pike1]

I have 10 or so of the Gander IM-8's they are great rods and good price. Combo that up with a shimano stradic, sahara, or sedona depending on your price range and you are set my friend. The new sahara's and sedona's are very smooth and great reals fo the price. I really like he stardic's but they are 119.00 and you can get close to the same quality for 59.99 on the sahara's

Oh one more thing about the Gander rods. You can consider them coming with a life time warrenty. I have broke eyelets and a few other minor issues and never a question. I bring in the bad one and get a new one of the shelf no receipt as it obviously a Gander product.

I personally like to keep my rod and real combos in the 150-200.00 range.

[turn_in_poachers]

I use to buy cheap rods. I would end up buying another rod next fishing season because they would break. This happened for a good 4 or 5 years. So I figured, with all that money, I could've gotten a really nice rod with a lifetime warranty. Ive stopped buying cheap rods and go for the best rods that are within my budget. There's a reason why these rods are $2-300. You get what you pay for.

[rod-man]

as a custom rod builder I can build on any blanks I want

for my personal use I use Loomis and ST.Croix

in the Loomis spend the extra money and get GLX

in the ST.Croix get the sc-v series these are the two best you can use

I'll put it simply more tournments are won using those two

rods than all the others combined

other than catfish pros I've never seen a bass or walleye pro sponserd by UGLY STICK lol

P.S.a good rod builder can take any blank and make it perform better and make it more sensitive than a factory rod

it's a hands on thing that we take pride in

[bronzeback01]

Buy what you feel the most compfortable with and what is within your budget. Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas,Gander Mountain, and just about every major sporting goods store chain has their own line of rods. They are all great for the money and they usually back their product. I know guys who have snapped Bass Pro rods off in their lockers and gotten replacements no questions asked.

However, as far as low end verses high end, there is a lot of difference. I started out with $12 Shakespere rods as a kid and have worked my way up through just about every brand you have heard of and I have finally ended up with all Kistlers. There are many great rod manufacturers out there who have rods in many price brackets. But like every thing else in life, you get what you pay for. I thought I had it made when I had a rack of Fenwick HMX's, I thought they were lightest most sensitive rods ever. I still think they are one of the best rods on the market for the money (usually about $70)But compared to a $250 Kistler the differences are emense. Sensitivity is unbelieveable and the rods weigh almost nothing, I think my Heliums and Magnesiums weigh on average about 4.5oz.

But like I said, you get what you pay for and you need to buy what feels the best to you and what is in your price range, and that will be the best rod for you.

P.S. If you have any questions about any rods in particular, I have used just about everything out there and the ones I haven't I know quite a bit about. I'm kind of a rod junkie.