Do you have a favorite "inexpensive" rod? 2025

Ballpark Frank reply :

Do any of you guys have a favorite inexpensive rod? I have my G.Loomis and St.Croix rods, but I have two inexpensive rods that I lstill like to use. My two are; 7' MH Lightning Rod and a 7' M Quantum Tour Pro IM7. Neither of these cost over $35 and still do their jobs well.

tennwalkinghorse reply :

I was out at BPS and they had rods on clearance I pick up a Graphite Series rod for 11 bucks I was shocked at how sensitive it is I all so have a St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Crucial and Compre at 10 times plus the price so I don't know if this rod is a freak or what. Think I'm going to buy other one just to see. Only I better not let my wife find out or I can say good by to my St. Croix's. But that was a sweet deal

fish-fighting-illini reply :

Lightning rod 6' ML

I've got a couple of them ( one gen back not the newest ones) and love them.

firefightn15 reply :

Lightning rod. 3 casting and one spinning. Can't go wrong for cheap rods.

Jake P reply :

6'6'' MH/F Bionic Blade. I wouldn't call it my favorite but i still use it from time to time.

ejtaylor822 reply :

I've got a Pflueger UL combo that I bought at Dick's. Think it was $59 and it was on sale $39. Used a discount and GC I had and think I ended up paying around $9 for it. I love that little set up.

hawgchaser reply :

Ive got an old Browning 5'6" pistol Grip crankin rod that I use when fishing jetties on the river. I only use it on the river but it is one of my favorites. It is probably 15-18 years old and I have no idea what I paid for it but it is worth every penny and then some.

thetr20one reply :

Two Quantum retroflex rods I use for cranks. They feel great and do exactly what I want them to do! I forget how much they cost.

SimonSays reply :

I have a quantum rod with moderate action that my friend lent to me...I love it for cranks

Jeff H reply :

I currently favor Shimano Convergence rods as the best "inexpensive" choice. I have an older 6' MH that I still have a lot of confidence in. I also have a slew of Berkley Lightning Rods from many years ago and still feel I could fish well with them if the need arose (but it's not going to ).

islandbass reply :

This is a great subject and will hopefully illustrate to the young ones and those not willing to spend for pricier combos that there are deals to be had if you look hard enough.

My Okuma Celilo UL Rod. It was less than $20 and it is mated to a 101a Cardinal. I love using this setup. It opened my eyes to the fun of UL fishing.

My Berkeley Cherrywood spinning rod. At $15, it is such great bang for the buck.

And after conversion from full to split grip, my casting berkely lightning rod. Did I mention is was on clearance at Wal Mart for $9.99? Unbelievable. Even I couldn't say no to that.

My daughter's 6' casting Daiwa Strike something rod. Great deal at $12.99. She puts old reliable greenie curado on it. She's now 8 but she learned to use a casting reel when she was 6 1/2.

sal669 reply :

This is a realy good post for the guys on a tight budget !!!

There are good inexpensive rods to be found but you have to have an open mind and be willing to at least look at them. Some guys wouldn't even consider a "cheep" rod as an option.

My "best find" is Daiwa Triforce Z. I own 2, 6-0 ML and 6-6ML spinning and Id like to buy more but they don't make them anymore. Cost me about $15 each (clearance at K-Mart)

Next would be the Mitchell Copperhead 7-0 M; got it at FFO for $17 was my favorite allaround spinning rod until this season when I started using the new Avid 6-8M/XF(clearance at Gander Mountain $87). The Copperhead still casts better and farther then the Avid but the Avid is more sensitive.

As baitcasters go, the BPS Graphite Series is a great value in sale/clearance( $ 19.99). It's my spinnerbait rod(6-6MH)

Tight lines, Alex

Davis reply :

Really really like my Shimano Clarus 6'6" medium power moderate fast action. IM7 graphite. Caught seven LM yesterday from 12"-16" and the rod just feels great when a fish is on. For 50 bucks this rod was a steal IMO.

Denea just picked one up and I hope he likes it as well as me.

Daniel My Brother reply :

There's a store in Dexter, Missouri that sells All-Star Classics, 3 for $100 (or $39 / each). No warranty, but still a great rod for the money.

I also have a Quantum Tour Edition IM8 that retails for about $25 that I still use often.

And I'll agree with others that Lightning Rods catch a lot of bass.

moby bass reply :

if you can find them, the Rapala Sportsman Classic.

21farms reply :

berkley lightning rods! i have some pretty expensive rods now but i still love my lightning rods, one in particular.

i have a 6' medium action trigger grip lightining rod paired with an inexpensive abu garcia black max and that combo casts amazingly far. i am not exaggerating: i can literally spool my reel on a cast (and i'm even using 30lb. braid). i've found that i actually prefer that rod for working ripbaits (e.g., lucky craft staysees) to my lamiglas XCF705R!

grimlin reply :

6'6'' abu garica super 7 MH rod $25 @ walmart....I abused the heck out of this rod when i started fishing again.It held it's own with all the abused it took.Now it's put aside and pretty much retired.

lubina reply :

E-21 for me

The Rooster reply :

Quantum Dance Class spinning rod, Bill Dance signature series, 6'6" long, medium power/fast tip. Sold originally for $50 at Wal-Mart but I acquired mine in a trade of one rod for another instead of buying it. I had a rod/reel combo that was only $30, made by Mitchell, but had the FLW logo on it from Wal-mart. The reel went bad after only a couple uses :. I didn't care for the rod so I never used it again. My buddy had that Quantum rod and didn't like how long the handle was on it. I told him I had one that was shorter and we swapped them. He was happy............AND SO WAS I!!!

I have a Pflueger President 6735 spinning reel on it, spooled with 8 pound mono and man what a cast that combo will make. With a 1/4 or 3/8 oz. bait on it, 70 feet would not be an exaggeration. Being that it's graphite, it's pretty sensitive (to me), but I don't really have a comparison on it to a more expensive rod cause up until now I have never been willing to pay more than $30 - $40 for a rod. Starting to open up to the possibilities of it now though.

Jeff H reply :

Quote
E-21 for me

LOL....uh, that is kinda pushing the upper limits of "inexpensive", don't you think?

Chad. reply :

Shimano compre

hjerk24 reply :

All of my Pfleuger President Spinning reels are on the Abu Garcia Conolon Primier. (spelled wrong) They sell at Walmart for $39.00. I just bought a 2 piece 7' medium light action. Have caught 4lbers. on them, and no problems. I have never had a any eyelet problems yet, but at $39.00...I can get a new one if there's a problem. I prefer the 1 piece, but got the 2 piece by mistake, but my first 7' spinning rod. Great rod---even greater price. I know it's no Kistler, but it works.

Peace-

Jamie

RiskKid. reply :

I became a fan of BPS Crankin Sticks this weekend....it caught my PB at 6 lbs 10 oz and another at 5 lbs and another at 3 1/2 lbs all in one day.

South FLA reply :

Berkley Bionix Pulse 6' love that little pole has eva foam grips and was way ahead of its time in the mid 90s still have it

Woodsman reply :

How about the Browning Medallion GT? Bought a 6' Med action last summer and it has worked great. Sensitive enough and powerful enough.

bass wrangler569 reply :

I have a few extreme rods that I use and they work okay especially for the price.

wickyman reply :

My shimano sojourn rods are pretty good, and at a meer 25 bucks a piece, have both exceeded my needs. I have 2 6'6 rod, one spinning, the other casting. I love the way they feel, especially when you have a fish on! They are tough! Broke the tip on my spinning and just popped on another, it's now a 6'4-1/4", but still just as sensitive, as before. Great rods, on the cheap!

clooney reply :

I agree the BPS Crankin Sticks are nice rods. You can find them on sale during the year for under $30. I own a handful for full time use and as back ups.

Gone_Phishin reply :

Another vote for the BPS Crankin' rod.

My second place vote goes to the 7', M powered BPS Extreme XPS spinning rod. I have this teamed with a Stradic 2500, and use it for casting jerks, cranks, and minnow baits to walleye (Ripsticks, Deep Little Rippers, Ripshads, Rogues, X-Raps, Grappler Shads, etc.).

FishTank reply :

I have a couple St. Croix Avid spinning rods that I picked up for $65 each. I have to find any rod in that price range that can compare to them. I can get that lucky again someday.

Sam reply :

Yes, both Shakespear and Ugly Stick.

Both are a lot of fun and I catch a lot of fish using them on ponds and when just fishing to have fun.

SpecialSause reply :

my favorite cheap rod is the ugly stick.. hands down.

second is the all star instinct.

Gannoli reply :

i just got a lighting rod, and i have to say i dont think it is as good as a i hear. i really dont like the guides, and it makes a funny noise when casting. i know these are a real big deal but i didnt really like it. im still looking for a rod around 40 bucks.

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Do you have a favorite "inexpensive" rod? 2025

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