Full Cork Option 2024
thebillsman reply :
Hey Guys,
I'm currently hunting for a 7'-7'3" MH/F jig rod that is fairly high quality and has a full cork grip. In searching and reading for days there seems to be a few options that have very few reviews up to this point. I was wondering if one could provide any insight.
The five I'm considering are
Daiwa DX 7'3" MH/F - This Rod might as well be a ghost. I have not found a single user review with the exception of TackleTour testing out a cranking rod and Ehler making a few vague videos. I like the look, but I'm not sure if this rod is worth $140 aside from the premium components.
Dobyns Sierra 733C - I'm aware it is an updated and modified Savvy, which is about the level of rod I would like to be around. However, there has been very little feedback since its arrival. Any input on this stick would be absolutely great.
Some others that have tons of reviews and are definitely contenders:
Shimano Crucial - I've never been a huge fan of skeleton reel seats but for a jig rod I can see the advantage. The new design is apparently phenomenal but I haven't actually held/fished one.
St Croix Avid - Obviously a very popular rod..
The Numerical brand that shall not be named - The most affordable rod of the bunch. I already have a M/F for light plastic duty and I really like it. I just don't know if a 7'3" MH could handle the abuse of hooksets and snags on the bottom. My first one really surprised me, but the rod just seemed so hit or miss for some consumers.
They're all in the same general price range and I'm having a hard time picking a rod that will pair up with a Curado 70hg. Anything you guys could provide on the rods mentioned above would be very helpful. If there are any other sticks that check all the boxes that I might've missed feel free to mention them.
Thanks
Logan S reply :
Of the ones you listed, I'd pick the Avid...But I have not used all of them to directly compare. IMO the 7' MH/F from St Croix is the perfect jig rod (non-flipping), you just need to pick the series that fits your budget. I use the Legend Elite, but have owned a 7' MH/F in every series from Premier to Extreme over the years.
I think any of those rods would be a good choice, but if it were my money I'd pick the Avid 
.
fishnkamp reply :
The Dobyns are really nice but you will need to move up to the Champion series for a full cork grip. The ST Croix is nice as well. G Loomis has a bunch in different graphite. Look at the IMX, and E6X. Another excellent option is to contact a friend of mine. Tom has been building excellent custom rods for very reasonable cost. You can spend some time with him and he will build it exactly the way you want it. Go to http://www.tomscustomrods.com/custom-rods-galley. He is located near Bel Air Md so you can reach him minutes outside of Aberdeen, off route 95.
Columbia Craw reply :
The Dobyns, as mentioned is split handle in the Sierra Line. The 733 will be under powered as a jig rod. The 734 is better suited in any Dobyns series. I should have my new XP744C jig rod tomorrow. That's full grip which I also prefer. Hope this helps.
thebillsman reply :
On 8/26/2016 at 10:16 PM, Columbia Craw said:The Dobyns, as mentioned is split handle in the Sierra Line. The 733 will be under powered as a jig rod. The 734 is better suited in any Dobyns series. I should have my new XP744C jig rod tomorrow. That's full grip which I also prefer. Hope this helps.
Ahh, you are correct sir!
timsford reply :
I'd definitely be looking at the avid out of what you mentioned. The daiwa rod is sold only through tackle warehouse is why you don't see much. It or the 13 rod would be my second choice.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
why don't you have a custom rod built with the exact grip material you exactly want
thebillsman reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 2:44 AM, Big Bait Fishing said:why don't you have a custom rod built with the exact grip material you exactly want
At what cost?
Hogsticker reply :
Full cork is getting hard to acquire off the shelf these days. One of the many reasons I went custom. You could probably have a rod built on a Rainshadow Revelation and it might be less expensive than you think. Plus that blank is likely better than any of the 5 sticks you listed. Wouldn't hurt to get in touch with DVT and get a price quote. Otherwise, I'd keep my eyes peeled on the sale forums for a used full handle Kistler klx or maybe an Orochi XX. You didn't mention how much money you're willing to spend. Falcon has a 7' heavy in the Lowrider 20 line.
fishnkamp reply :
Call Tom He will help you select a blank, and components and it will run somewhere around the cost of an Avid maybe less. He is located off I 95 near Bel Air MD. Give him a call he builds incredible rods Bo look through his galleries on his website. http://www.tomscustomrods.com/custom-rods-galley Then go look att the reviews on this website http://www.baybass.com/forum/index.php?board=2.0. There are at least 25 of us on this site from MD and Northern VA using his rods. I have known him to build rod from the 1980's to today. He works out of his home and what makes it great is if you meet with him he will help you pick what you want and put rods in your hand to feel the components before you decide. I have his phone number myself but he has a "contact us" drop down menu click on it and fill in the blanks on his contact form. Tom is first class all the way. Another neat thing is he makes themed rods for some that want it ,so it might be a sports themed rod or a friend had a rod made with the colors and logo from his military group. he custom designs and prints the work right there.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 3:48 AM, thebillsman said:At what cost?
Phenix Recon 2 7'4'' MHF blank - $100
guides, reel seat , handle material (full cork) , & hook keeper- $ 50 - $65
build cost - $100-125
total cost around $ 250 -$ 295
you'll get a rod that will be tailor made to your specifics and you'll absolutely love to fish it ......
once you start with a custom rod , you'll never buy an off the shelf rod !! i never will .......
Hogsticker reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 11:32 AM, Big Bait Fishing said:Phenix Recon 2 7'4'' MHF blank - $100
guides, reel seat , handle material (full cork) , & hook keeper- $ 50 - $65
build cost - $100-125
total cost around $ 250 -$ 295
you'll get a rod that will be tailor made to your specifics and you'll absolutely love to fish it ......
once you start with a custom rod , you'll never buy an off the shelf rod !! i never will .......
Plus shipping expenses. Materials to the builder, and then the rod to your door. A lesser expensive blank will help. An experienced builder will get you set with the perfect blank at any price range. Regardless to which blank you choose, should you go this route you'll be asking yourself why didn't I do this sooner.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 11:55 AM, Hogsticker said:Plus shipping expenses. Materials to the builder, and then the rod to your door. A lesser expensive blank will help. An experienced builder will get you set with the perfect blank at any price range. Regardless to which blank you choose, should you go this route you'll be asking yourself why didn't I do this sooner.
i was using that blank as an example , blanks range anywhere from $15 - $400 or more , for a jig rod where sensitivity and good backbone matters , i would choose a good blank over a cheap one , maybe look at some RodGeeks blanks ...
Logan S reply :
The most expensive rod in OP's list is the Avid at $200... While I fully admit to not having used a custom, I'm skeptical you could get the same performance in a $200 custom rod after paying the builder for his time, work, and shipping. I'm sure the craftsmanship and attention to detail would be better, but I would guess that you'd have to sacrifice on the quality of the blank and/or components to keep in the same price range.
Not looking to start a custom vs off-the-shelf debate, but the Avid and a few of the others he listed are good quality rods that check all the boxes he's looking for.
Catt reply :
I have matched pair of Crucial CRC-X610MHXF; one is dedicated Texas Rig & one is dedicated Jig-n-Craw.
I replaced a broken G. Loomis with a CRC-X610MH & haven't felt like I down graded any!
kickerfish1 reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 8:44 PM, Logan S said:The most expensive rod in OP's list is the Avid at $200... While I fully admit to not having used a custom, I'm skeptical you could get the same performance in a $200 custom rod after paying the builder for his time, work, and shipping. I'm sure the craftsmanship and attention to detail would be better, but I would guess that you'd have to sacrifice on the quality of the blank and/or components to keep in the same price range.
Not looking to start a custom vs off-the-shelf debate, but the Avid and a few of the others he listed are good quality rods that check all the boxes he's looking for.
You are exactly right despite what builders will tell you. You aren't getting much for under $200 unless the builder is doing you a favor or is a friend charging you very little for his time,
On average expect to pay at least $75-100 in rod labor - This is pretty much going to be the money the builder will be making for doing your build.
Shipping the finished rod to you - This will vary to some extent depending upon shipping company, distance, length of rod, and insurance but expect to pay at least $20-25.
MSC parts and supplies for the builder - Epoxy, glue, and whatever other small parts or products needed - $10-20
Cost of materials to the builders - There are not many if any rod building product suppliers that will ship for free. Some will offer free shipping over a certain $ amount but will hit you with a $10 charge for an oversized shipment for the blank.
Just for the above items above you can easily be starting at $120 and you haven't even picked out a blank, guides, or any components. If you picked out a $50 blank, a $20 set of guides, and handle grips, thread wrap material, and a reel seat, plus any needed small parts like a but cap or winding check and you can be at $200 right there.
So IMO, you would need at least $200 to have builder do a custom rod for you without giving you a huge break on labor. If you want something that will be pretty nice and start to separate itself in terms of performance you really need to be around $250-300.
Hogsticker reply :
Yeah, you will end up spending around 50 to 75 dollars more on a custom. Only the individual can decide if it's worth it. For me it is. The St Croix SC3 blanks are over priced imo. By the time a builder gets done with it, you'll wind up paying more than you would for the off the shelf version, though it will be a better build. Should be anyways. Both Mhx and Rainshadow make lesser expensive blanks that perform really nice. For an extra 60 bucks having a rod built to my exact specs, where I know the overall build is going to perform at full potential is a no brainer. Aside from the now hard to find full handle Kistler rods built with full handles on nfc blanks and the Megabass Orochi XX, I can't find any rods that that float my boat while utilizing the components I prefer. At any rate, I hope you find something that works for you.
fishnkamp reply :
One reason I suggested Tom is he lives within 1 hour of the OP. He is within a 1/4 tank of gas away. So there would be zero shipping cost and no worry of it getting damaged in transit, Tom is very fair on labor and you are correct on most of the cost of materials. He uses any blank a customer wants, but if you ask him for suggestions his favorites are the MHX, ST Croix, and the Batson Rain Shadows. As for a completed rod cost my suggestion was to contact him directly. Hogsticker most of the St Croix SCIII blanks cost between $95 and $120 on Mud Hole. Do you think that is overpriced?
Jeff H reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 10:03 PM, Catt said:I have matched pair of Crucial CRC-X610MHXF; one is dedicated Texas Rig & one is dedicated Jig-n-Craw.
I replaced a broken G. Loomis with a CRC-X610MH & haven't felt like I down graded any!
Those are Gen 1 Crucials, the X in the model number gives it away. Those Gen 1's were likely the best value the American rod market has ever seen (my opinion). I have a bunch of those in various models and consider them the equal of St. Croix's Avid in performance and components plus they were cheaper. At the time they also offered a better warranty, but they pulled that plug too. These are still very much desired on the used market today and you gotta be quick if you want one. I stop at every small tackle store I come across hoping to find any of these on the rod racks and buy them if I do. I haven't seen a new one available for the past 2 years though.
Hogsticker reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 12:36 AM, fishnkamp said:One reason I suggested Tom is he lives within 1 hour of the OP. He is within a 1/4 tank of gas away. So there would be zero shipping cost and no worry of it getting damaged in transit, Tom is very fair on labor and you are correct on most of the cost of materials. He uses any blank a customer wants, but if you ask him for suggestions his favorites are the MHX, ST Croix, and the Batson Rain Shadows. As for a completed rod cost my suggestion was to contact him directly. Hogsticker most of the St Croix SCIII blanks cost between $95 and $120 on Mud Hole. Do you think that is overpriced?
Personally, yes - for what you're getting. It's personal preference, but I feel there are equally as good blanks available for less money. Different strokes
crypt reply :
On 8/27/2016 at 11:32 AM, Big Bait Fishing said:Phenix Recon 2 7'4'' MHF blank - $100
guides, reel seat , handle material (full cork) , & hook keeper- $ 50 - $65
build cost - $100-125
total cost around $ 250 -$ 295
you'll get a rod that will be tailor made to your specifics and you'll absolutely love to fish it ......
once you start with a custom rod , you'll never buy an off the shelf rod !! i never will .......
you can always save money by building it yourself. one I started I can't stop. done 12 as of now with 2 more in the works. that's the only way to get exactly what you want with no compromise. literally get what you pay for and then some.plus catching fish on one will give you more pride than you can believe. try it.
Catt reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 1:04 AM, Jeff H said:Those are Gen 1 Crucials, the X in the model number gives it away. Those Gen 1's were likely the best value the American rod market has ever seen (my opinion). I have a bunch of those in various models and consider them the equal of St. Croix's Avid in performance and components plus they were cheaper. At the time they also offered a better warranty, but they pulled that plug too. These are still very much desired on the used market today and you gotta be quick if you want one. I stop at every small tackle store I come across hoping to find any of these on the rod racks and buy them if I do. I haven't seen a new one available for the past 2 years though.
Not exactly sure what the "X" stands for but even the new models have the "X".
The 6' 10" no longer come in "Extra Fast", you have to drop down to 6' 8" or move up to 7' 3".
Jeff H reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 5:55 AM, Catt said:Not exactly sure what the "X" stands for but even the new models have the "X".
The 6' 10" no longer come in "Extra Fast", you have to drop down to 6' 8" or move up to 7' 3".
The X in the model number indicates those rods with Xtra fast action. the 6'10" hasn't been available in X fast since the Gen 1 models....I think.
Catt reply :
There are two "X" s; CRC-X610MHXF
The 6' 10" med heavy xtra fast was changed to a "spinnerbait" designation when Shimano changed to EVA handles.
Jeff H reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 6:30 AM, Catt said:There are two "X" s; CRC-X610MHXF
The 6' 10" med heavy xtra fast was changed to a "spinnerbait" designation when Shimano changed to EVA handles.
Only 1 X in the model numbers. I have 9 XF Crucials and 1 XF Compre and all have only 1 X in the model number.
Thank you for clearing up that "spinnerbait" designation. I didn't know that is where it went. I did not care for those Gen 2 EVA grip models at all.
Catt reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 8:08 AM, Jeff H said:Only 1 X in the model numbers. I have 9 XF Crucials and 1 XF Compre and all have only 1 X in the model number.
Thank you for clearing up that "spinnerbait" designation. I didn't know that is where it went. I did not care for those Gen 2 EVA grip models at all.
I have 4 & the model number on all are CRC-X610MHXF
It is my understanding the CRC designates Crucial, don't know what the first X is, 610 is 6' 10", MH is medium heavy, & XF is extra fast.
The new models have only one X & SGX!
@thebillsman sorry for stilling you thread
Jeff H reply :
On 8/28/2016 at 10:48 AM, Catt said:@thebillsman sorry for stilling you thread
As a guilty party, I too apologize for the sidetracking.
Hulkster reply :
although I have not fished with one, Loomis has a whole lineup of E6X Jig and Worm casting rods that are full cork handles although they are split grip I believe.. I have fished with the MBR843c E6X and love it. just another option as I know its getting hard to find full cork out there. I am like yourself I hate EVA grips.
thebillsman reply :
Believe it or not I found a rod that was in my original post on Craigslist barely used for $65! While I cannot actually name the rod on this site, that should tell you all you need to know. For the price and the condition it's in I couldn't say no. My second go with this model, hopefully it stands up to the abuse.
Believe it or not we met at a Cabela's and I got sucked in there after we had finished. Held the E6X and it was very nice, really liked the taper on those rods. First time holding a crucial and the MH felt too heavy and reminded me that I am still no fan of skeleton reel seats.
One rod that really stuck out for me was the Avid. Easily the most comfortable of the bunch. I certainly need one in the future.
I have to find a way to get a hold of the Daiwa DX. I still think that rod has a lot of potential.
Thanks for all the help guys. Sidetrack as you please!
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