"Favorite" Rods? 2024
Alec McMillan reply :
What are y'alls opinion on "Favorite USA Fishing" rods? I was thinking about picking up a lunkerstv rod, but I am still on the fence. I have heard mixed reviews about them. Some say they are the best rods they've ever had, others say they are garbage. A few of my buddies have the defender and white bird, and they seem to like it. I have always used st croix and Dobyns rods, so I am curious to see how the Favorite rods will compare.
Edited by Alec McMillanSome found it confusing because "Favorite" is actually a brand.
KentuckyBlueBass reply :
Favorite rods are not garbage, but they are also not great. If you are used to fishing Dobyns and St. Croix, definitely stick with them. Those 2 and G Loomis are the best rod companies on the market.
Bluebasser86 reply :
From what experience I have with their rods that I fished with, I think you can do a lot better for the price.
waymont reply :
I felt a few in a local store and they felt terrible to me, kind of clunky and unbalanced. They seem cheap to me.
I would steer clear.
A Dobyns Fury smokes any Favorite rod I've felt.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 3/17/2019 at 12:25 PM, Bluebasser86 said:From what experience I have with their rods that I fished with, I think you can do a lot better for the price.
Especially that Lunkers TV version. It is basically the Defender rod with a different color scheme and a price tag that is $25 more.
Diggy reply :
On 3/17/2019 at 10:41 AM, Alec McMillan said:What are y'alls opinion on Favorite Fishing rods? I was thinking about picking up a lunkerstv rod, but I am still on the fence. I have heard mixed reviews about them. Some say they are the best rods they've ever had, others say they are garbage. A few of my buddies have the defender and white bird, and they seem to like it. I have always used st croix and Dobyns rods, so I am curious to see how the Favorite rods will compare.
I would stick to your regular brands, especially if you're looking at those models that your friends fish with. My friend has a Big Sexy, it's a beautiful rod aesthetically in my opinion. He loves it, he's caught some really big fish in it with a tranx 200 fishing up to 2oz swimbaits. He also has the Andrew Flair extra-heavy frog rod that he loves as well.
I can't say anything negative about those rods from a fishing standpoint for his uses because he's been catching fish over five pounds every day on them and I'm not exaggerating. Recently he's put those rods down for a megabass valkyrie that does everything, but he still fishes them.
They carry Favorite Rods at my local Dick's Sporting Goods so if you have one near your area you might be able to check them out. They also carry Dobyns fury and champion series, as well as other rods like the AvidX and Tatula at my local Dick's Sporting Goods.
haggard reply :
I was a few posts in, wondering why nobody said "favorite rod is a subjective thing" yet, until I realized Favorite is a brand.
fishwizzard reply :
On 3/17/2019 at 8:16 PM, haggard said:I was a few posts in, wondering why nobody said "favorite rod is a subjective thing" yet, until I realized Favorite is a brand.
It’s a shockingly bad name from the standpoint of being an easily identifiable and searchable brand.
BaitFinesse reply :
I held a few a my local Cabelas. I couldn't put them down fast enough. They're horrible rods that are being shilled on YouTube. Stay away from any of the products YouTubers are selling as a rule of thumb. Its not all junk but a lot of it is.
NHBull reply :
Loomis then Alpha
FishTank reply :
The St. Croix Avid is my favorite best bang for the buck rod but the Dobyns Fury is a fine rod. As far as FAVORITE Rods go> I will pass. There are better offerings.
offsidewing reply :
Not sure of your budget, but having tried lots of rods in different categories, the St Croix Avid X is great for both casting and spinning applications. I can't say enough good things about their customer service.
LionHeart reply :
I will suggest that they have a specific target audience and leave it there. Will they catch fish? Sure
punch reply :
Scott Martin and B. Lat are winning a bunch of money on Favorite rods already this year.... and Mark Daniels Jr won an Elite event last year with Favorite rods. They can't ALL be junk haha.
B.Lat won his event flipping grass with a MH Big Sexy and a bug.
I've "store tested" a few of the rods and they definitely seem to be pretty basic components & random japanese blanks with some very fancy colors/handles. I think their branding is a bit confusing to be honest.. what's the key differences between a big sexy, a phantom, a rush and a defender? Beats me.
Favorite's niche is obviously the under 21yo market, which is fine. If my kid got amped up to go fishing and wanted a Lunkers or Rigged rod because thats what the youtube guys use.. I'd probably buy him one.
Favorite definitely found an uncharted marketing stream by pushing hard on youtube and scooping up the influencers into long term deals. The other rod brands really wiffed on that and i'm sure are kicking themselves.
Their sales must be great because they got a LOT of marketing dollars to throw around this year.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 4:21 AM, FishTank said:The St. Croix Avid is my favorite best bang for the buck rod but the Dobyns Fury is a fine rod. As far as FAVORITE Rods go> I will pass. There are better offerings.
Have you tried the new Megabass Levantes? I think it might be a contender for a new favorite
FishTank reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 11:07 AM, Joshua van Wyk said:Have you tried the new Megabass Levantes? I think it might be a contender for a new favorite
Not yet. I have yet to see one anywhere. By the looks of it, it maybe a really nice rod for the money, not big on foam grips though. I think if I were going to get a rod from Megabass, I would probably be looking at the Orochi XX or a Destroyer. I would need to see one of the Levantes in action before I would even think about it. I did see that Tackle Warehouse has the old ones clearance out for $119.40.
Yumeya reply :
I think they are trash, I also hate all the USA patriotic colors on a china made rod.
If your gonna tag it with USA colors then make it here.
Sorry, I can't really stand the garbage squad.
Also, the CEO of favorite fishing seems like a major ******
The Bassman reply :
Recently saw a Scott Martin episode where he was fishing with his dad. Roland couldn't turn around without having a Favorite logo displayed on something. Money talks and Roland Martin is exhibit A. Remember U.S. reels?
NYWayfarer reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 10:31 AM, punch said:I think their branding is a bit confusing to be honest.. what's the key differences between a big sexy, a phantom, a rush and a defender? Beats me.
To confuse you even more, Favorite has a second brand called "Select" It seems their rods that are $100 or less are in this brand.
You will notice it on rods like the Defender. It says Select in the reel seat and has the words "powered by Favorite" on the rod.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 11:30 AM, FishTank said:Not yet. I have yet to see one anywhere. By the looks of it, it maybe a really nice rod for the money, not big on foam grips though. I think if I were going to get a rod from Megabass, I would probably be looking at the Orochi XX or a Destroyer. I would need to see one of the Levantes in action before I would even think about it. I did see that Tackle Warehouse has the old ones clearance out for $119.40.
I haven't seen them anywhere either, I bought one of Ebay for $170 when they had the 15% off code running. It's now my new favorite rod, its beautifully crafted and by far the most sensitive rod I've fished. Although I cant compare it to the Avid x since I've never fished one before.
J Francho reply :
I was not impressed with the White Bird spinning rod I tested. It was labeled as a drop shot rod, though I would call it an all purpose rod. It was moderate fast, medium power. I felt that the solid tip made it less sensitive. It was not as crisp feeling as rods that cost twice as much. If you're on a budget, and need a spinning rod for pond hopping, then this might be a good rod.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 10:03 AM, LionHeart said:I will suggest that they have a specific target audience and leave it there. Will they catch fish? Sure
I agree with this. I would never buy them personally as I have my own preferences.
If I were you I'd get another stick from the brand you like. If you want to try one out and see if you like them, it's your money. Feel free to try a Favorite rod. You will only get other opinions of why they like'm or why they don't. In the end it is totally up to you on you like your fishing equipment performs for you.
fishballer06 reply :
On 3/17/2019 at 10:41 AM, Alec McMillan said:Some say they are the best rods they've ever had, others say they are garbage.
Something to keep in mind (particularly with this brand). Those that are saying they're the best rod they've ever owned, have probably never owned a $100+ rod. So in that theory, I'm sure they are the best rod they've ever owned. Those that are saying they are garbage, are probably gear snobby guys who own numerous $2-500 rods and know a decent rod from a gimmicky rod by just looking at the specs.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 5:06 PM, The Bassman said:Recently saw a Scott Martin episode where he was fishing with his dad. Roland couldn't turn around without having a Favorite logo displayed on something. Money talks and Roland Martin is exhibit A. Remember U.S. reels?
Yeah, it's pretty shameless. I can't watch Roland anymore.
DSTN reply :
Haven't had a chance to use them but out of curiosity checked the casting rods out when I saw them at a local F&S a couple weeks ago. The White Bird casting rod seemed like a decent rod for the price, especially if you found them on sale. The only other one that struck a chord was the Big Sexy. I picked up a few different lengths in MH and H and they all felt pretty good to me. Can't vouch for whether or not it's comparable with other $200 rods.
Alec McMillan reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 9:40 PM, Joshua van Wyk said:I haven't seen them anywhere either, I bought one of Ebay for $170 when they had the 15% off code running. It's now my new favorite rod, its beautifully crafted and by far the most sensitive rod I've fished. Although I cant compare it to the Avid x since I've never fished one before.
The Avid X is probably my favorite $200 rod. It is truly amazing, I would highly recommend buying one. Another great rod is the Dobyns Champion, but it is $260. I have never used Megabass rods, I see that the Levantes is about $200, I might try to find one in-store to hold.
fishwizzard reply :
I think a lot of the issue comes down to one's level of risk-tolerance.
There are rod companies who have been making quality rods for literal generations and while they all have the occasional miss-step, they have their reputations for a reason. There are valid reasons to not like their stuff, but it's hard to seriously argue that about the quality they put out in general.
Then we have the million rod companies that have come up in seeming the last 3-4 years. I am sure some of them are run by people who have a passion for quality and innovation and are really trying to build the next classic. But I am also sure that some of them are run by people who order prebuilt OEM rods by the container-load and just slap some stickers on them.
So it comes down to how willing one is to roll the dice with their money. Try something new that might be overpriced at best and garbage at worst, but might also be the next great new innovation in bass-annoying technology or stick with something safe but maybe less exciting?
webertime reply :
My buddy is sponsored by them. I've repaired 3 of them when he needed work done asap. I'd say they're not that different from a Veritas, Fenwick, Lews, BPS or rods like that.
As always with rods: light, strong, cheap... pick 2...
NYWayfarer reply :
On 3/19/2019 at 12:06 AM, lmbfisherman said:Yeah, it's pretty shameless. I can't watch Roland anymore.
LOL! Roland has been pimping fishing stuff for decades. Some of those products he was spot on about like GYBC Senkos and Megastrike
Oooo wee son! Still love the watching the Great American Fisherman, now on YouTube.
On 3/19/2019 at 12:06 AM, lmbfisherman said:Yeah, it's pretty shameless. I can't watch Roland anymore.
LOL! Roland has been pimping fishing stuff for decades. Some of those products he was spot on about like GYBC Senkos and Megastrike
Oooo wee son! Still love the watching the Great American Fisherman, now on YouTube.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/19/2019 at 8:30 PM, NYWayfarer said:LOL! Roland has been pimping fishing stuff for decades. Some of those products he was spot on about like GYBC Senkos and Megastrike
Oooo wee son! Still love the watching the Great American Fisherman, now on YouTube.
LOL! Roland has been pimping fishing stuff for decades. Some of those products he was spot on about like GYBC Senkos and Megastrike
Oooo wee son! Still love the watching the Great American Fisherman, now on YouTube.
It's got to stick on the wall some time. 
For some reason it gets on my nerves more lately. Probably getting old and cranky.
newyorktoiowa57 reply :
The favorite defender and big sexy LFG models have a $30 price premium for the name of a youtuber on it.
michaelsrex reply :
On 3/18/2019 at 11:30 AM, FishTank said:Not yet. I have yet to see one anywhere. By the looks of it, it maybe a really nice rod for the money, not big on foam grips though. I think if I were going to get a rod from Megabass, I would probably be looking at the Orochi XX or a Destroyer. I would need to see one of the Levantes in action before I would even think about it. I did see that Tackle Warehouse has the old ones clearance out for $119.40.
I just received a new levante Diablo and am blown away at the craftsmanship. It's also extremely light. I haven't had a chance to do much in the name of sensitivity
rosshilk reply :
I personally won't buy anything related in anyway to the Googan Squad. They're no more fishing professionals than I am. I would much rather buy products specifically designed by professional fishermen who are not Youtube stars.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 3/20/2019 at 11:53 PM, rosshilk said:I personally won't buy anything related in anyway to the Googan Squad. They're no more fishing professionals than I am. I would much rather buy products specifically designed by professional fishermen who are not Youtube stars.
Although I'm no fan of the Googan Squad, I also don't care much either if it's designed by a pro fisherman. I don't jump on the latest bandwagon lures, baits, rods, reels ..etc just because they say so.
J Francho reply :
On 3/20/2019 at 11:53 PM, rosshilk said:I personally won't buy anything related in anyway to the Googan Squad. They're no more fishing professionals than I am. I would much rather buy products specifically designed by professional fishermen who are not Youtube stars.
You're missing out on a TON of great baits. Just because some pro is sponsored by a company doesn't mean they had any input in the design process. Some of the best lures were designed by weekend warriors just looking to catch a fish.
MickD reply :
If you can make a rod in a showroom "wiggle" by shaking it, it's a pretty crumby rod. Avid blanks are a good value, attractive in price, very high performing, so I expect the Avid rods are too. I'm glad I got into rod building where I have thousands of blanks to choose from and can configure them any way I want. And don't have to worry about grip/reel seat failures that plague many OEM products. I can also get cork that has not been filled, so I can see its real quality. To exaggerate a little, not that much, It appears that if the filling of cork goes any further on OEM rods, the grip will be more filler than cork.
punch reply :
On 3/20/2019 at 11:53 PM, rosshilk said:I personally won't buy anything related in anyway to the Googan Squad. They're no more fishing professionals than I am. I would much rather buy products specifically designed by professional fishermen who are not Youtube stars.
Sorry, I want to deep dive on this for a sec. This is an very odd mindset because I'm sure that MANY of our favorite baits were designed by fishing amateurs. Professional fisherman don't make great inventors/designers... they are great at catching fish.
Average joe off the street who's an engineer/designer with a manufacturing background could easily design a bait that's way better than one made by a Bassmaster Elite angler.
Googans, much like pro anglers, partner up with a company and just test the baits that other (more qualified) people design through the R&D process. Then they give their input/notes, then when the final product is done they slap their name on it and cash a check.
Not like ANY of these, googans or pro's, guys are sitting in front of CAD software and designing molds.
To succeed in any retail market, you gotta be great at marketing and branding. Googans ability to brand and market is pretty astonishing for how young they are. When they have bigger lines for autographs & pictures at the BPT kickoff event than the pro anglers (true story).. you know they are kiling it.
At the kickoff BPT event there was pro anglers that WALKED PAST the Googans meet & greet line and nobody stopped them to talk or take a picture.
Largies4Life reply :
I'm not for or against the Googan Squad in any way, but when their products cost nearly the same as other big brand companies like SK Rage, I'm willing to at least give them a shot. Sure it's the same patent, but there's a lot that goes into making these baits outside of the Googan Squad. All I'm saying is, you can't judge their products just based off your personal opinion of Googan Squad guys themselves. Same goes for any other lure...It's like me saying "I'm not buying any Zman products because B. Lat is sponsored by them and I'm not a fan of him." (Not true, just using it as an example.)
sully420 reply :
Let's be honest most people select fishing gear based on cost and confidence. I like abu reels, Duckett rods, and strike king baits and rapala cranks. I would have no problem using googan baits or favorite rods ect. Very rarely have I seen a specific soft plastic out fish another. I mean is a Rodent going out fish a sweet beaver? The insight I value from bass resource users generally pertains to consumer service and value for the money assessments. Fish what you have confidence in and what you can afford the rest is just marketing and styling Imo.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 3/20/2019 at 11:53 PM, rosshilk said:I personally won't buy anything related in anyway to the Googan Squad. They're no more fishing professionals than I am. I would much rather buy products specifically designed by professional fishermen who are not Youtube stars.
What is the definition of a professional? “Engaged in a specific activity as ones main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.”
Fishing is The Googan Squads profession. Don’t count them out because they are YouTube stars. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Chillywomp reply :
I can’t afford some of the rods you richer folks can. That being said I own 2 favorite white birds a 7’2” mh and a 7’6” hvy and love them!! Also own a couple duckett silverados and love those too! If your on a budget they’re worth it! Customer service was great too!
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