Whats the best USA made rods for under $150 with decent customer service and warranties?
there's only one choice under 150 and that would be a st.croix premier.a hair over that would be a st.croix avid.
take your time and find a sale on avids
they may be the only ones who actually have blanks made here.
are they light rods?
Yes, raise your budget just a tad and the St. Croix Avid will be all that you ever wanted!!!!!!!!!!
Take a look at the lamiglas Excel rods. You will be pleasantly surprised AND save $50 off your upper limit.
Falcon Lowriders or Bucoo's...or spend a lil extra and get a T7 Falcon Cara...all nice rods.
Quotetake your time and find a sale on avids
+1
Citrus stick. Handmade in lebanon TN, the only component not american made is the guides. 155$ with a liftetime warranty and as far as I have seen, they are the lightest rods on the market in the 150$ range.
QuoteFalcon Lowriders or Bucoo's...or spend a lil extra and get a T7 Falcon Cara...all nice rods.
x2
There is an Avid for sale in our Flea Market
for $105 delivered:
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1268924616/11#11
8-)
B & R Outlaw rods are a nice stick in that price range.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the last time I picked up a StCroix Premier, the tiny label on the end cap read "Made in China" a friend has 2 of them, and remember him peeling off the sticker.
QuoteCorrect me if I'm wrong but the last time I picked up a StCroix Premier, the tiny label on the end cap read "Made in China" a friend has 2 of them, and remember him peeling off the sticker.
Most of their lower end rods are made overseas or in Mexico now. I believe that it starts @ the Avid they're made in the US. (As well, some of the lower end Glass rods are still US made to my understanding.)
Just walked over and checked my Premier Glass and it's made in the USA.
QuoteCorrect me if I'm wrong but the last time I picked up a StCroix Premier, the tiny label on the end cap read "Made in China" a friend has 2 of them, and remember him peeling off the sticker.
According to St Croix's website they are made in Park Falls, WI.
Mojos/Triumphs-Mexico
Premiers-USA
QuoteQuoteCorrect me if I'm wrong but the last time I picked up a StCroix Premier, the tiny label on the end cap read "Made in China" a friend has 2 of them, and remember him peeling off the sticker.Most of their lower end rods are made overseas or in Mexico now. I believe that it starts @ the Avid they're made in the US. (As well, some of the lower end Glass rods are still US made to my understanding.)
Just walked over and checked my Premier Glass and it's made in the USA.
That very well may be the difference, glass and graphite, I know he has the graphite. I own one StC rod, its a Premier, but is also easily 20yrs old, perhaps better. Its a lil UL rod I use to trout fish with.
QuoteFalcon Lowriders or Bucoo's...or spend a lil extra and get a T7 Falcon Cara...all nice rods.
x3
CASTAWAY out of Texas.
Premiers are made in the USA.
I own an Avid and a Falcon Lowrider. The Lowrider is new to me, only three fish so far, they were caught slow moving a craw tube on the bottom. The initial taps were very light but I picked them up easily. The jury is still out. After an entire season I'll have my opinion. A very well made rod IMO.
My present Avid is a replacement for one I broke last season. St. Croix replaced it no questions asked in spite of me admitting the rod broke at night, possibly because of braid wrapping around the tip. That alone got them another customer for life.
Finally, I have a St. Croix Triumph. It's obviously not an Avid, but I've caught many, many fish with it. A no BS sub - $100 stick. No complaints here.
QuotePremiers are made in the USA.
I stand corrected. Thought that it was odd that it would be just the glass, so it is the lower end IE: Triumph and Mojo that are made outside the US?
Before St Croix opened a plant up in Mexico, Triumphs were made in China that is probably where the confusion is from.
Lamiglas Excels... made in the USA and lifetime warranty, not to mention less expensive than the others and every bit as good.
Yeah i think im leaning towards the lamiglass.
I have a couple of Lamiglass salmon/steelhead rods, and they are great, very well made. 80% of my bass gear is St. Croix - Avids and LTBs - and I am very pleased with them.
Find a deal on a Avid, I bought 1 about 3 yrs ago, now I OWN 7 OF THEM! nothing i've fished even comes close! Not to mention St. Croix's AWESOME warranty program. Yes, the mojos are made in mexico now. DO NOT FORGET TO REGISTER YOUR NEW ROD ONLINE OR SEND IN THE WARRANTY CARD 8-)
I am in a process of fading out other brands in favor of St Croix Avid rods (my previous "darling" was Fenwick). I feel the Avids are the rods that will give me the "best bang for the buck", and they are made the way I like my rods to be (full cork handle,quality components,stealthy, no bling-bligs). Life time ,no questions , warranty. I too, try to spend my money on products made in USA.
I strongly recommand them.
Cabeles has from time to time an offer that will give you $20-30 off your purchase if it's over $150. Avids qualify for it. Or get a lightly used one from the flee market, ebay or other place.
Avids sound like a little too much money.
QuoteAvids sound like a little too much money.
Actually they perform as well and in some cases better than rods costing much more. That being said, these days there are plenty of rods in the $100 - $150 range that are excellent.
I agree with the avids.