Mid to High end rod options (also what is difference in price ranges) 2024
cgolf reply :
This is the first year that I am able to retire some older cheaper rods because I have replaced them with newer rods. Last year I picked up a St Croix blemished Avid X and was amazed how sensitive it was, which got me to thinking. Since I pretty much set on tackle it is time to upgrade the sticks. Eventually I might do the same with reels, but most of those are pretty solid, and the benefits there would be less than what I would see with a more sensitive stick. This is going to be a multi year process for me, but just want to know what to start looking at.
So here is the question, if I am looking for mid to high end rods, what brands and models should I be looking at? Looking for 6 BCs, can give the full specs if anyone is interested and maybe 2 M action spinning rods. I am a little better off on spinning rods, have a St. Croix premier and eyecon, along with an IM8 cabelas spin I got with my president combo. While the spins aren't high end, they have served me well. The BC rods I am replacing are 3 cabelas prodigy rods, an ugly medium 5'6" for spinnerbaits, lastly would be the St. Croix Mojo Swimbait rod and cabelas fish eagle flippin sitck (these are last because I just got them and need to use them a bit).
Leaning towards St. Croix because I can get a great deal on the blemished rods and save a ton of cash, but do give up a huge chunk of the warranty. Price ceiling is around 400 and wouldn't go above 450, but am really open to anything.
Now the big question, what is the difference between say the Avid X, best stick I own and the same model legend elite? Is it really worth the extra 200 plus? I am mostly worried about sensitivity, if it is just lighter that is not a big deal to me since I still use uglys and one of the rods I won't be replacing is one of the wright mcgill clunn baby blue square bill rods that I just love the action for square bills and lipless (I know it was not a popular line with many).
Drew03cmc reply :
Man, I truly feel the point of diminishing return is just about $100 on casting rods, same on casting reels, maybe slightly higher, spinning reels I'm about $50 and spinning rods probably the same $100. I value quality, but by buying blems and last year models, you can save a BUNCH of moola.
Matt_3479 reply :
The legend elites are suppose to be amazing rods! I’ve never fished one but have heard nothing but great things. Honestly the avid X series are fantastic. I also have a spinning and my father has a baitcaster in the avid x series. Wouldn’t hesitate to buy another. The legend tournament bass was another one that’s suppose to be amazing but they feel a bit tip heavy.
G. Loomis is another company I’d highly recommend. I have e6x and imx pro and have been crazy happy with both! Definately will be shopping for more loomis Rods
cgolf reply :
On 6/4/2018 at 6:32 AM, Drew03cmc said:Man, I truly feel the point of diminishing return is just about $100 on casting rods, same on casting reels, maybe slightly higher, spinning reels I'm about $50 and spinning rods probably the same $100. I value quality, but by buying blems and last year models, you can save a BUNCH of moola.
I definitely believe there s a cutoff, but not sure where it’s at. The 200 buck Avid X (I got it for 100) is way better than the older 100 rods I have. It is possible that rods have advanced enough that newer rods in that price range are better than my 10 year old St Croix premier.
On 6/4/2018 at 7:01 AM, Matt_3479 said:The legend elites are suppose to be amazing rods! I’ve never fished one but have heard nothing but great things. Honestly the avid X series are fantastic. I also have a spinning and my father has a baitcaster in the avid x series. Wouldn’t hesitate to buy another. The legend tournament bass was another one that’s suppose to be amazing but they feel a bit tip heavy.
G. Loomis is another company I’d highly recommend. I have e6x and imx pro and have been crazy happy with both! Definately will be shopping for more loomis Rods
The only thing I don’t like about St Croix is most of their sticks are fast or extra fast. They do have a few moderates, my preferred action with braid. If you ever make it down to WI you can get some good deals on blems at the factory store, that was how I scored my Avid X.
I will look into Loomis sticks.
grub_man reply :
Stepping up from the rods built on SCII, standard modulus, or similar blanks (many rods in the $100 range fall into this category) to something in the SCIII, mid modulus, or similar blanks (many rods in the $150 - $200 range fall into this category) is worth it. The blanks and rods are significantly lighter and more sensitive. You will also notice a distinct difference in how they load and unload when working with them. Things just feel more crisp and efficient.
Moving up from there to the high modulus blanks (SCIV and SCV) or similar is where you start getting diminishing returns. Blanks may or may not be lighter, and they are more sensitive, but the jump is not as big as it is going form the standard modulus to mid modulus blanks. The difference in how these rods handle is much less noticeable.
I fish two high modulus rods. They are the rods that I built to fish techniques that are my confidence techniques and generally are light line feel related techniques. Spending more here was worth it to me. For techniques that use over 1/4 oz of lead and/or moving baits with a single hook, or techniques I don't use often, I use mid modulus blanks. I really don't give up much here. For moving lures with treble hooks, I generally reach for glass blanks.
Don't get stuck into the loop of just because it's more expensive or higher modulus, it's better. The right tool for the job is the rod with the right power and action for the technique you are using.
The rods you are using are all of pretty decent quality. As you upgrade, think about what you like and dislike about the rods you are using now. Do you have problems feeling what you lure is doing on the end of your line? At the point you are at, upgrades are expensive, and make sure that you get what you need and what you want. You are also reaching the point that the cost of building your own rods with similar components can be the same or cheaper. It's an addicting hobby, and it is surprisingly easy to build a rod that is better than what you can get off of the shelf.
anderb54 reply :
I've completely fallen off the wagon, and gone to high end setups for pretty much everything, but I'd say the most crucial setup to go high end with (if you can afford to) is a jig rod. Mid end rods will be good for covering the rest of your bases. I've never used the Legend Elite, but I have used a friends Legend Extreme, and it was a very nice rod. St. Croix also has a top notch warranty, although I'm not sure if the factory blemish rods have a different warranty or not.
Another rod series to look into at that price point is the Megabass Destroyers. For what it's worth, I've sold off a most of my Loomis and Dobyns rods to get more of the Destroyers; I like them that much. I've heard people complain about Megabass' warranty before, but when I had to warranty my Javelin, I had a new one at my door in less than a week.
grub_man reply :
On 6/4/2018 at 8:17 AM, cgolf said:It is possible that rods have advanced enough that newer rods in that price range are better than my 10 year old St Croix premier?
No! About the only thing that has changed is the resin systems used. They make blanks a little lighter and slightly more durable. St. Croix leads the way in blank technology and manufacturing, and most of the improvements in design go into making things more consistent with marginal improvements in weight.
I was given an old Lamiglas blank by a rod building friend that was new old stock from his father's supplies. It's a yellow fiberglass blank from the late 60's. The action and power is very similar to the top of the line glass cranking blanks made today. I've built it out and it fishes great.
A great blank is a great blank regardless of the date of manufacture. High quality blanks have been made with graphite since it was introduced as a rod building material, and the ones that were good in the early days are still good. The mid and high modulus materials have been around for over 20 years, and surprising little has changed. The aesthetics of modern bass rods with their split grip, no fore grip, and split reel seat designs can be traced back to Rich Forhan. The result is that rods have become lighter and more sensitive more to removing material that did not need to be there than they have been improved by any advances in blank technology.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the carbon fiber that rod blanks are made from comes from the aerospace industry. Fishing rods are small potatoes in the market for graphite prepreg materials.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I'm convinced that once you get above $100 you're paying for brand and marketing much more than quality. The expensive fiberglass crankbait rods are a good example of the high cost marketing. Why should a fiberglass rod cost $200? I recently bought one of the KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series rods for $93 and really like it. Probably my favorites are some original Lew's (before the company was sold) rods, some of which I bought on clearance in the early 1990s for $20 a piece. I have four rods that cost over $250, I like one of them, one is okay and I hate two of them. It's not that they aren't all good rods, it's just about feel, action and personal preference.
basseditor reply :
If it means anything, I have 71 Kistlers. Of course, there are different models so if you are looking for sensitive and light, you’ll want to look into the Zbone series. I’ll post when the newest models are launched. (Hopefully this month.)
cgolf reply :
On 6/4/2018 at 8:37 AM, anderb54 said:I've completely fallen off the wagon, and gone to high end setups for pretty much everything, but I'd say the most crucial setup to go high end with (if you can afford to) is a jig rod. Mid end rods will be good for covering the rest of your bases. I've never used the Legend Elite, but I have used a friends Legend Extreme, and it was a very nice rod. St. Croix also has a top notch warranty, although I'm not sure if the factory blemish rods have a different warranty or not.
Another rod series to look into at that price point is the Megabass Destroyers. For what it's worth, I've sold off a most of my Loomis and Dobyns rods to get more of the Destroyers; I like them that much. I've heard people complain about Megabass' warranty before, but when I had to warranty my Javelin, I had a new one at my door in less than a week.
The warranty on the blems is not that good, one year limited, but getting an Avid X for 100 offsets the warranty a good bit.
On 6/4/2018 at 8:24 AM, grub_man said:Stepping up from the rods built on SCII, standard modulus, or similar blanks (many rods in the $100 range fall into this category) to something in the SCIII, mid modulus, or similar blanks (many rods in the $150 - $200 range fall into this category) is worth it. The blanks and rods are significantly lighter and more sensitive. You will also notice a distinct difference in how they load and unload when working with them. Things just feel more crisp and efficient.
Moving up from there to the high modulus blanks (SCIV and SCV) or similar is where you start getting diminishing returns. Blanks may or may not be lighter, and they are more sensitive, but the jump is not as big as it is going form the standard modulus to mid modulus blanks. The difference in how these rods handle is much less noticeable.
I fish two high modulus rods. They are the rods that I built to fish techniques that are my confidence techniques and generally are light line feel related techniques. Spending more here was worth it to me. For techniques that use over 1/4 oz of lead and/or moving baits with a single hook, or techniques I don't use often, I use mid modulus blanks. I really don't give up much here. For moving lures with treble hooks, I generally reach for glass blanks.
Don't get stuck into the loop of just because it's more expensive or higher modulus, it's better. The right tool for the job is the rod with the right power and action for the technique you are using.
The rods you are using are all of pretty decent quality. As you upgrade, think about what you like and dislike about the rods you are using now. Do you have problems feeling what you lure is doing on the end of your line? At the point you are at, upgrades are expensive, and make sure that you get what you need and what you want. You are also reaching the point that the cost of building your own rods with similar components can be the same or cheaper. It's an addicting hobby, and it is surprisingly easy to build a rod that is better than what you can get off of the shelf.
So actually looking at the Avids and Avid Xs would be my best bet if I stick with St Croix. Did like that the Avids had some crankin rods with a moderate tip which suits my hookset style well and to be honest a more parabolic bend makes it easier to land fish in a 16 foot boat. High sticking a 7 foot rod with a fast tip could end badly. Just wish they made a 6 foot or shorter rod for around docs and spinnerbaits. Not a lot of us weekend and vacation bass guys have bass rigs and instead deal with high sides and worrying about hooking our wives as we cast with a longer stick.
Not sure what the blank material is on the prodigies, but I believe Daiwa made them for Cabelas. They have been good rods for me minus the micro guides on one I don’t like that much.
Honestly where I would get a high end rod is for walleye jigging where I have used 3/32 ounce jigs in 20 feet of water. Maybe for plastic fishing for bass where I mostly use slider jigs, but bass are pretty aggressive vs walleye, if one rod did both that would be perfect.
On 6/4/2018 at 9:03 AM, Tennessee Boy said:I'm convinced that once you get above $100 you're paying for brand and marketing much more than quality. The expensive fiberglass crankbait rods are a good example of the high cost marketing. Why should a fiberglass rod cost $200? I recently bought one of the KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series rods for $93 and really like it. Probably my favorites are some original Lew's (before the company was sold) rods, some of which I bought on clearance in the early 1990s for $20 a piece. I have four rods that cost over $250, I like one of them, one is okay and I hate two of them. It's not that they aren't all good rods, it's just about feel, action and personal preference.
I would have agreed until I got the Avid. With the same braid and reel as is on my prodigies, reeling through the weeds was a different experience. You could feel the difference in weed types as you pulled the baits through them. Like grub man above says I think going much over that is where brand, hype etc comes in. The 200 buck rod was noticeably better than my other sticks.
grub_man reply :
I hear ya. I fish out of a little 14' V-hull. Most of the time I'm solo, but when someone is in the back I have to pay attention. Normally I'll try to get both of us working off of my casting deck.
6' rods are far less common these days. There are still some out there, and a few companies that sell blanks to builders have held onto this niche market. Before Cabela's stopped selling rod building supplies I picked up a couple 5'8" ML XML blanks and built one as a casting rod for a buddy that likes to fish short rods and built the other as a spinning rod for myself. As a raw blank, I wasn't terribly impressed, but man, that thing fishes great! I love it when I'm working in close quarters. If it gets too nasty under the docks, I need to put it down.
Yes, the Avids should offer a sweet spot for you, and something that will serve you well without leaving you wishing for more.
When it comes to glass blanks, yeah $200 is a bit high, but it's not the material itself, it's what the blank designer does with the material. A well designed glass cranking rod is a far cry from a $15 big box store glass rod, in the same way that a well designed graphite rod is a far cry from a $30 big box store graphite rod.
NHBull reply :
i Have the x and representations from Loomis, MB, Shimano, and impulse......mostly top ends.
Can tell you I am becoming lesser of a fan of fast and x fast rods. The x is fast but soft.
you have to ask yourself if you are going technique specific of rods with a broader range.
That said, the x is not the same as a GLX MBR by a long shot.....
kickerfish1 reply :
If the budget per rod is $400(ish) and there is a need for 6 rods I would be looking for something like:
Loomis GLX MBR 844 - This rod can do a lot - Rep sample price - Around $360
Loomis GLX MBR 843 - Another extremely versatile rod - Rep sample price - Around $360
Loomis NRX 873 CRR - This is going to cover many of your jig and worm apps - Rep sample around $400
Loomis NRX 852 s - This spinning rod will do a lot of finesse work for you - Rep sample price around $390
For the last 2 rods I would say choose them based upon your specific needs and how you fish.
Either the MB Destroyer FMJ or the NRX 894 This will be for larger jigs, C-rigs, bigger texas rigs- A bit over $400
The last selection I would probably pick something shorter and ligter in power. Anything from the 893 or 853 NRX to the 802 if you throw some pretty light stuff. Price will be right around $400 again.
The Loomis GLX and NRX and MB Destroyer rods will all give you that top notch sensitivity. They will all be towards the top end of your budget but IMO will not leave you wanting more especially when there are not much better options above that. I am not a huge fan of the Loomis IMX or E6x rods so if you want the good stuff from Loomis stay GLX/NRX.
Now the Kistler ZBone and Phoenix K2 will be right up there with the others. Problem is you would need a great sale to bring that $500+ MSRP down to $400ish.
Oh, and I am sure someone will be along to tell you check into a custom. Yes, that is another option for sure. Just remember that you will need at least a pretty mid to higher end blank to get to the level of feel as the rods noted above. So lets take a blank that $150 to $200, then add in $100 for build labor and supplies, $60 for a solid set of guides, $40 for reel seat, handle grips, winding checks, thread wrap, but cap, and then another $25 to ship. By my math you are probably going to be in it for a minimum of $350 to $400 not to mention the wait time involved plus all of your own decisions as to what gets used. If time isn't a concern it would be worth a look. Just know there is a lot of things involved. I have 4 customs with another on the way.
Hope this helps...
Matt_3479 reply :
On 6/4/2018 at 11:43 AM, kickerfish1 said:If the budget per rod is $400(ish) and there is a need for 6 rods I would be looking for something like:
Loomis GLX MBR 844 - This rod can do a lot - Rep sample price - Around $360
Loomis GLX MBR 843 - Another extremely versatile rod - Rep sample price - Around $360
Loomis NRX 873 CRR - This is going to cover many of your jig and worm apps - Rep sample around $400
Loomis NRX 852 s - This spinning rod will do a lot of finesse work for you - Rep sample price around $390
For the last 2 rods I would say choose them based upon your specific needs and how you fish.
Either the MB Destroyer FMJ or the NRX 894 This will be for larger jigs, C-rigs, bigger texas rigs- A bit over $400
The last selection I would probably pick something shorter and ligter in power. Anything from the 893 or 853 NRX to the 802 if you throw some pretty light stuff. Price will be right around $400 again.
The Loomis GLX and NRX and MB Destroyer rods will all give you that top notch sensitivity. They will all be towards the top end of your budget but IMO will not leave you wanting more especially when there are not much better options above that. I am not a huge fan of the Loomis IMX or E6x rods so if you want the good stuff from Loomis stay GLX/NRX.
Now the Kistler ZBone and Phoenix K2 will be right up there with the others. Problem is you would need a great sale to bring that $500+ MSRP down to $400ish.
Oh, and I am sure someone will be along to tell you check into a custom. Yes, that is another option for sure. Just remember that you will need at least a pretty mid to higher end blank to get to the level of feel as the rods noted above. So lets take a blank that $150 to $200, then add in $100 for build labor and supplies, $60 for a solid set of guides, $40 for reel seat, handle grips, winding checks, thread wrap, but cap, and then another $25 to ship. By my math you are probably going to be in it for a minimum of $350 to $400 not to mention the wait time involved plus all of your own decisions as to what gets used. If time isn't a concern it would be worth a look. Just know there is a lot of things involved. I have 4 customs with another on the way.
Hope this helps...
What about the e6x and more specifically imx pro don’t you like? I’m debating on stepping up to try a glx or nrx just cause I love my imx pro. Just want to know why you feel they aren’t good or worth the money. Where I live I can get the imx pro for 370 when regular is 440, glx is 595 and nrx is 695-720. So the imx pro just seems to be amazing for 370 compared too 600-700
Tim Kelly reply :
The avid series are a significant step up from the premiers. The Mojo bass rods are built on the same, or very similar blanks to the avid, so there are options if you like the avid blanks. The Avid x use smaller guides, which make the rod feel better than the standard sized guides. If you compared a standard Avid spinning rod with an Avid X of the same spec, the difference in sensitivity would be obvious. The SCV (legend) blanks are a real step up from the Avids, but at a significant price increase. Personally, I think it's worth spending the extra on spinning rods, or rods you use for finesse applications as that's where the extra sensitivity has most benefit, For casting rods that are fishing moving baits or heavier baits I think it's less worthwhile. I'm not a fan of the Loomis rods I've used, but many are, so you'll need to get an overview from them. I dislike the way most factory spinning rods are built, so prefer to make my own, but the casting rod builds are fine in any of the ranges, so choose the built you prefer.
cgolf reply :
On 6/4/2018 at 11:43 AM, kickerfish1 said:If the budget per rod is $400(ish) and there is a need for 6 rods I would be looking for something like:
Loomis GLX MBR 844 - This rod can do a lot - Rep sample price - Around $360
Loomis GLX MBR 843 - Another extremely versatile rod - Rep sample price - Around $360
Loomis NRX 873 CRR - This is going to cover many of your jig and worm apps - Rep sample around $400
Loomis NRX 852 s - This spinning rod will do a lot of finesse work for you - Rep sample price around $390
For the last 2 rods I would say choose them based upon your specific needs and how you fish.
Either the MB Destroyer FMJ or the NRX 894 This will be for larger jigs, C-rigs, bigger texas rigs- A bit over $400
The last selection I would probably pick something shorter and ligter in power. Anything from the 893 or 853 NRX to the 802 if you throw some pretty light stuff. Price will be right around $400 again.
The Loomis GLX and NRX and MB Destroyer rods will all give you that top notch sensitivity. They will all be towards the top end of your budget but IMO will not leave you wanting more especially when there are not much better options above that. I am not a huge fan of the Loomis IMX or E6x rods so if you want the good stuff from Loomis stay GLX/NRX.
Now the Kistler ZBone and Phoenix K2 will be right up there with the others. Problem is you would need a great sale to bring that $500+ MSRP down to $400ish.
Oh, and I am sure someone will be along to tell you check into a custom. Yes, that is another option for sure. Just remember that you will need at least a pretty mid to higher end blank to get to the level of feel as the rods noted above. So lets take a blank that $150 to $200, then add in $100 for build labor and supplies, $60 for a solid set of guides, $40 for reel seat, handle grips, winding checks, thread wrap, but cap, and then another $25 to ship. By my math you are probably going to be in it for a minimum of $350 to $400 not to mention the wait time involved plus all of your own decisions as to what gets used. If time isn't a concern it would be worth a look. Just know there is a lot of things involved. I have 4 customs with another on the way.
Hope this helps...
The goal isn't to spend 400 per to spend unless I needed to. I do like the idea of going with a rod in the Avid quality and price range for baitcasters, and the pricier blanks for the spinning rod which will get double duty for Bass and Walleye where I will take all the sensitivity I can get.
Not sure if I am surprised by the answers, because I knew there was going to be a point of diminishing with rods, I just had no clue where it was. As far as Loomis goes, I have always though that their rods and their parent companies gear were overpriced, probably good, but overpriced (bike components are ridiculous too but really good quality). If my memory serves me though from reading old Bass Pro catalogs Loomis was the first high end rod out there.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Whether the investment is worth it or not onlybyou can answer. At the price point you're looking at seriously consider going custom. You can get Exactly what you want without compromise.
kickerfish1 reply :
On 6/4/2018 at 8:24 PM, cgolf said:The goal isn't to spend 400 per to spend unless I needed to. I do like the idea of going with a rod in the Avid quality and price range for baitcasters, and the pricier blanks for the spinning rod which will get double duty for Bass and Walleye where I will take all the sensitivity I can get.
Not sure if I am surprised by the answers, because I knew there was going to be a point of diminishing with rods, I just had no clue where it was. As far as Loomis goes, I have always though that their rods and their parent companies gear were overpriced, probably good, but overpriced (bike components are ridiculous too but really good quality). If my memory serves me though from reading old Bass Pro catalogs Loomis was the first high end rod out there.
Best bet would be to buy the Avids. Not sure why you mentioned a ceiling of $400 - $450 and want upper echelon sensitivity. Like anything else in life 9/10, you get what you pay for. If you think you are going to get high end feel from a $200 rod go for it.
On 6/4/2018 at 5:56 PM, Matt_3479 said:What about the e6x and more specifically imx pro don’t you like? I’m debating on stepping up to try a glx or nrx just cause I love my imx pro. Just want to know why you feel they aren’t good or worth the money. Where I live I can get the imx pro for 370 when regular is 440, glx is 595 and nrx is 695-720. So the imx pro just seems to be amazing for 370 compared too 600-700
I ended up selling it off because I felt for bottom contact baits it was not in the same class as the GLX or NRX. When you are used to that level of feel when you use something that isn't on that level for feel techniques it leaves a little to be desired. Got a good deal on one locally but I didn't see the need to keep it. Plus the E6X to me just looks ugly and the rods are bit heavy. I agree with you of those two the IMX Pro is the better choice and a step up over the prior IMX. If you are satisfied with the IMX Pro given the price point in Canada you can probably get by just fine with them.
Those price points in Canada are pretty steep. Is that from a local shop or could you find more of bargain somewhere in the US and have it shipped to Canada? I don't know if you have inquired from the guys at the Tackle Trap about shipping up that way but I would give them a call and see what they say. They offer rep samples on many GLX/NRX rods and you still get full warranty too.
Matt_3479 reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 6:44 AM, kickerfish1 said:Best bet would be to buy the Avids. Not sure why you mentioned a ceiling of $400 - $450 and want upper echelon sensitivity. Like anything else in life 9/10, you get what you pay for. If you think you are going to get high end feel from a $200 rod go for it.
I ended up selling it off because I felt for bottom contact baits it was not in the same class as the GLX or NRX. When you are used to that level of feel when you use something that isn't on that level for feel techniques it leaves a little to be desired. Got a good deal on one locally but I didn't see the need to keep it. Plus the E6X to me just looks ugly and the rods are bit heavy. I agree with you of those two the IMX Pro is the better choice and a step up over the prior IMX. If you are satisfied with the IMX Pro given the price point in Canada you can probably get by just fine with them.
Those price points in Canada are pretty steep. Is that from a local shop or could you find more of bargain somewhere in the US and have it shipped to Canada? I don't know if you have inquired from the guys at the Tackle Trap about shipping up that way but I would give them a call and see what they say. They offer rep samples on many GLX/NRX rods and you still get full warranty too.
Okay thank you for the information I’m just curious as to why you don’t hear much about them, either of them really. I can see why the e6x isn’t too popular that being said I absolutely love my 6’6 medium fast walleye spinning rod paired with the ci4+. Super light and plenty sensitive but not to interested in there other models.
but the imx pro feels great to me but I’ve never fished the other two like I mentioned. I looked into that but for example the imx pro from tackle trap is 325-350 (convert over to Canadian currency 420-452 which is what they go for here not to mention shipping. And the nrx for example in the 894C is 575 then Canadian currency puts me at 743.00. So it’s the same price as what I’d pay here without any hassle. But I got a source on the imx pro’s for 350 Canadian on the high side which is 200-250 cheaper then the glx and 300-350 cheaper then the nrx.
At 250-350 for the imx that’s cheaper then the legend tournament bass, same price as an avid, cheaper then some of the e6x’s, some of the Zodias and way way cheaper then stuff like elites. Just seemed like a no brainer but it makes me worried that they aren’t even worth that much and that I should be looking else where instead of imx pro’s. If I were paying 450 like they should be then I’d probably look at legend elites instead or megabass rods
cgolf reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 6:44 AM, kickerfish1 said:Best bet would be to buy the Avids. Not sure why you mentioned a ceiling of $400 - $450 and want upper echelon sensitivity. Like anything else in life 9/10, you get what you pay for. If you think you are going to get high end feel from a $200 rod go for it.
You lost me on this one, are you saying my price ceiling is too low? This would also imply that St Croix doesn’t have a top end rod?
All I am looking for is to upgrade my sticks after finding out how much better the Avid X was compared to the other rods I had. I have never fished with a better rod than that, so don’t even know how good they can get. The 400 to 450 cap is what I could swallow spending once a year over a few years to build up my collection. For my fishing talents mid range rods probably are good enough for me, except in the spinning rods where I do my finesse bass fishing and deep water walleye jigging. Not looking for best, just better:)
When I look at TW I really only know the St Croix line, the other brands are a mystery to me, which is why I am trying to learn my options and branch out. Loomis I will look at, but always stayed away in the past for better or worse. I think Gary Loomis went to work for TFO after they were bought out?
grub_man reply :
Gary licensed his name to TFO for a line of blanks, and I'm sure he had some input on their design.
Gary's new company after his no-compete with Shimano expired is North Fork Composites. The rod company associated with North Fork Composites is called Edge rods.
A little reading on some rod building forums will show that NFC made an abrupt change this spring to a factory direct business model chopping the MSRP, but struggling mightily to meet demand. I don't know how to interpret the abrupt change. It may be a legitimate attempt to cut costs to the end user by reducing the number of middlemen, but given Gary's long term price structure, he has no shame in charging for brand recognition. So, it may just as likely be a serious effort to generate capital in a company that is struggling. Time will tell.
kickerfish1 reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 9:15 AM, cgolf said:You lost me on this one, are you saying my price ceiling is too low? This would also imply that St Croix doesn’t have a top end rod?
All I am looking for is to upgrade my sticks after finding out how much better the Avid X was compared to the other rods I had. I have never fished with a better rod than that, so don’t even know how good they can get. The 400 to 450 cap is what I could swallow spending once a year over a few years to build up my collection. For my fishing talents mid range rods probably are good enough for me, except in the spinning rods where I do my finesse bass fishing and deep water walleye jigging. Not looking for best, just better:)
When I look at TW I really only know the St Croix line, the other brands are a mystery to me, which is why I am trying to learn my options and branch out. Loomis I will look at, but always stayed away in the past for better or worse. I think Gary Loomis went to work for TFO after they were bought out?
It is not difficult to follow. You mention you want the "best" yet don't want to spend that kind of money unless you have to? Kind of like saying you want a Ferrari but would rather prefer something cheaper if possible. Which is it. Sort of hard to have the ultimate anything when you ideally want to spend less. That is why I said buy some Avids and be done with it. There is no doubt that the avid line offers plenty of feel for any angler. However if you want to push past that level you have to pay more. It is simple as that. I get that not everyone has used every rod or every rod line. I am in the same camp.
On 6/5/2018 at 8:23 AM, Matt_3479 said:Okay thank you for the information I’m just curious as to why you don’t hear much about them, either of them really. I can see why the e6x isn’t too popular that being said I absolutely love my 6’6 medium fast walleye spinning rod paired with the ci4+. Super light and plenty sensitive but not to interested in there other models.
but the imx pro feels great to me but I’ve never fished the other two like I mentioned. I looked into that but for example the imx pro from tackle trap is 325-350 (convert over to Canadian currency 420-452 which is what they go for here not to mention shipping. And the nrx for example in the 894C is 575 then Canadian currency puts me at 743.00. So it’s the same price as what I’d pay here without any hassle. But I got a source on the imx pro’s for 350 Canadian on the high side which is 200-250 cheaper then the glx and 300-350 cheaper then the nrx.
At 250-350 for the imx that’s cheaper then the legend tournament bass, same price as an avid, cheaper then some of the e6x’s, some of the Zodias and way way cheaper then stuff like elites. Just seemed like a no brainer but it makes me worried that they aren’t even worth that much and that I should be looking else where instead of imx pro’s. If I were paying 450 like they should be then I’d probably look at legend elites instead or megabass rods
Sure thing. My guess is that many of the old school Loomis guys/tournament guys that grew up with classic IMX and GLX lines (These were the days prior to the NRX/Conquest rod lines) are used to what Loomis offered in their upper tier rods. Meaning the GL2/GL3 and Mossyback lines really didn't cut it. Hence the reason why many feel like Loomis rods start at the GLX and above. Basically saying for that top tier performance you are best sticking to those rod lines but if your budget doesn't allow then you would be better served to get a rod from another manufacturer that offers a little more performance for the money or you are pretty much paying for the name. For example the Old GL2 and GL3 rods were a bit over $200 MSRP give or take. For that kind of money there were other options that offered higher performance. These rods were not all that sensitive and very heavy overall.
I think for what you are noting for the prices of the rods you listed you are spot on with the IMX pro.
cgolf reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 11:59 AM, kickerfish1 said:It is not difficult to follow. You mention you want the "best" yet don't want to spend that kind of money unless you have to? Kind of like saying you want a Ferrari but would rather prefer something cheaper if possible. Which is it. Sort of hard to have the ultimate anything when you ideally want to spend less. That is why I said buy some Avids and be done with it. There is no doubt that the avid line offers plenty of feel for any angler. However if you want to push past that level you have to pay more. It is simple as that. I get that not everyone has used every rod or every rod line. I am in the same camp.
Please do me a favor and quote where I said I want the best, I didn’t. You are reading into what I wrote, I have a budget I have to live with, so yeh 400ish is my max and a slightly uncomfortable max.
Just taking in the advice given, which may mean I get a mix of 200 buck rods and some 400 buck rods. The post you quoted says it, finesse rods high end sticks, Crankbait etc rods 200 dollar sticks. Trust me I know the difference money buys you in sticks I have a Sage fly rod my cheap fly rods can’t touch. This thread has given me a lot of good info on where to spend my money and where I can save some.
kickerfish1 reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 12:18 PM, cgolf said:Please do me a favor and quote where I said I want the best, I didn’t. You are reading into what I wrote, I have a budget I have to live with, so yeh 400ish is my max and a slightly uncomfortable max.
Just taking in the advice given, which may mean I get a mix of 200 buck rods and some 400 buck rods. The post you quoted says it, finesse rods high end sticks, Crankbait etc rods 200 dollar sticks. Trust me I know the difference money buys you in sticks I have a Sage fly rod my cheap fly rods can’t touch. This thread has given me a lot of good info on where to spend my money and where I can save some.
Look no further than your first post. Mid to high end rods and your ultimate concern was sensitivity. Loomis and MB will have rods that top out at $500+. With that said if you look at the Tackle Traps website they offer the GLX and NRX rods in rep sample models that are right around 25% off but with full warranty. That to me would fit your description of: 1. Sensitivity being of high importance 2. Mid to high end rod. 3. Under or around $400. Some rods will be $350 and some a bit over $400.
For what it is worth I have a Sage Fly rod as well. Heck I have an Orvis one too!
PatrickKnight reply :
Honestly once you start getting near $400 just go custom. For me my most expensive rods would be my jig rod and my spinning rods. St. Croix makes good sticks but when you go truly top end imo they don't compete with Megabass, Loomis NRX and Conquest, or even the Phenix K2. The Avid is likely the best bang for the buck rod out there but I can't stand the super fast actions St Croix likes to use.
cgolf reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 12:31 PM, kickerfish1 said:Look no further than your first post. Mid to high end rods and your ultimate concern was sensitivity. Loomis and MB will have rods that top out at $500+. With that said if you look at the Tackle Traps website they offer the GLX and NRX rods in rep sample models that are right around 25% off but with full warranty. That to me would fit your description of: 1. Sensitivity being of high importance 2. Mid to high end rod. 3. Under or around $400. Some rods will be $350 and some a bit over $400.
For what it is worth I have a Sage Fly rod as well. Heck I have an Orvis one too!
I will put what I meant there a different way.
I started with 30 dollar glass rods and very low end graphite rods and whatever uglys are and fished those for years. When I upgraded to the st. croix premier and the prodigies I felt a big difference in sensitivity, especially in the spinning rod (premier). Last year I tried the Avid X and saw a big difference in sensitivity between the prodigies and the Avid X.
The question I was wondering if say I stuck with St. Croix would I see the same % difference I saw in sensitivity between the prodigies and the avid when I jumped from the avid to the legend elite or legend extreme. Or will I see other benefits, better guides, better build, lighter stick, and say a smaller % gain in sensitivity than I saw between my other jumps in rod quality. Of the things I just listed, sensitivity is what I value most, I don't want to pay more for lighter, better build, guides etc. Hope this helps clarify what I am looking for. To me spending an extra 200 bucks is not worth say a 10 to 15% gain in sensitivity, I probably am not a good enough angler to take advantage of it.
cgolf reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 6:19 PM, PatrickKnight said:Honestly once you start getting near $400 just go custom. For me my most expensive rods would be my jig rod and my spinning rods. St. Croix makes good sticks but when you go truly top end imo they don't compete with Megabass, Loomis NRX and Conquest, or even the Phenix K2. The Avid is likely the best bang for the buck rod out there but I can't stand the super fast actions St Croix likes to use.
Same here, the eyecon spinning rod I have is extra fast and I lose casting distance and a bit of accuracy with it. Perfect world, your right custom might be a good way to go, since I could just give them the prodigies and say replicate these in a better blank. From my years of fishing glass and lower end rods, my hookset style and how I fight a fish suits a more moderate action. That might be why I like that clunn rod so much too. St. Croixs only moderate action rods I could find were in the Avid series.
It was interesting though that I was just reading an article on fly rods and how they are starting to slow them down a bit too. I think they got caught up in the faster is better too with the graphite fly rods, wonder if the same happened at St Croix thinking faster is better?
Boomstick reply :
I think the sweet spot for rods is around $130-150 (in retail pricing) with a few exceptions that are slightly more expensive, and the same rods can be had for much less as well. More than that, you're spending a lot more money for a only slightly better rod.
That said, I have an Avid X spinning rod for finesse and it's the most expensive rod that I own. It's a good rod, but I will note that if you're on a budget, the Mojo Bass has the same blank and retails for $130 -- nice and light rods as well. The Avid X is made in the US though 
So if you are looking for some high end rods, maybe check out the St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass or perhaps the new Legend X rods, or perhaps the G Loomis NRX or GLX series, or a Daiwa Steez or the like, but I doubt you will find any of them to be $200+ difference over your Premier.
Tim Kelly reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 8:13 PM, cgolf said:Of the things I just listed, sensitivity is what I value most, I don't want to pay more for lighter, better build, guides etc. Hope this helps clarify what I am looking for. To me spending an extra 200 bucks is not worth say a 10 to 15% gain in sensitivity, I probably am not a good enough angler to take advantage of it.
Sensitivity is a blend of a good blank and a good build. You can have a fantastic blank and ruin it's advantages with too heavy a guide train.
blckshirt98 reply :
Look into the Phenix Feather line of rods. Bang for the buck is arguably the best on the market right now.
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