Opinions: The Most UNDER / OVER rated Rods & Reels 2024
Dangerfield reply :
We get a lot of best rod/reel under $100, $200 etc. threads, they pop up all the time. Just thought it would be interesting to get opinions from the community on hyped rods/reels that disappointed, or a rod/reel you rolled the dice on and blew you away.
I found a lot of our pinned/sticky'd posts are starting to get outdated and this could help some of our new members or new-to-fishing members... GO!
jbsoonerfan reply :
It will still be the same things said, just in a different way. You will get the Tatula, SLX, Lew's TMB guys that say those reels are worth every penny and the guys with $400 reels will say they are worth every penny.
new2BC4bass reply :
I've seen this thread elsewhere. My reply isn't going to help anyone looking for either that can be purchased new today...unless there are some hidden away somewhere.
For reels: You won't see much of anything written about the Okuma Helios Air or Pinnacle Primmus Xi HS. Both blew me away on the first cast and have continued to impress.
For rods: Harder for me to be blown away. I was disappointed in a Gen 1 Villain 7'6" MHF casting rod. A 7'7" Ballistic cranking rod is the worst rod I've ever held. A 7' MHF Rainshadow RX7 has impressed me as has a 7' ML Hurricane. I've got a couple older Quantum Tour Edition PT casting rods that I really like.
I'm thinking anything else I could write would fit under a best rod/reel thread.
Oh yeah. An original Concept A felt great in hand the first time I mounted it on a rod. I seldom notice something like that, but this reel was an exception to the rule. Not blown away otherwise by it. Took a little longer than normal to dial in.
dodgeguy reply :
Most under rated rod is a BPS Patriot rod.Its just as good as rods costing $500. I would put all Falcon rods as next most underrated rods.
Most under rated reel is a Lews Tournament Pro. It's just as good as reels twice the price if not better IMHO.
Most over rated products I don't get into because there are a lot and I don't want to start arguments.
kayaking_kev reply :
The Lew's Hank Parker Speed Stick for $40 at Wal-Mart. I actually ordered the J&W version, but got the Crankbait version instead and just decided to keep it. And, then I found out it is a terrible crankbait rod, it's way too stiff, I almost wonder if I actually got the J&W version and it was just mislabeled. But, after I started fishing bottom baits with it I was blown away by the sensitivity of it. I got the 6'10" Medium/Fast, but it fishes more like a Extra Fast. It's IM-8 and it's super light. The only knock about it is that it's pretty brittle, but that's why it's so sensitive. I ended up catching some of my biggest LM this past season with it, a few over 4 lbs., before and after I broke the tip while transporting with a lure tied on and not using the hook keeper like a idiot. Anyway, I repaired the tip and it's a little shorter now, but I still caught some good fish on it after that.
One could have a nice cheap one, two punch with one of those for bottom baits paired with a Abu Garcia Pro Max, along with an Ugly Stik GX2 paired with a Abu Garcia Black Max for treble hook baits.
Another stick I'm liking is the 13 Fishing Defy Black Crankbait Rod, it's made of composite, and has excellent balance and weight. I have the 7'3 Heavy and the balance is on the locking nut with a reel on it.
Dangerfield reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 12:53 AM, jbsoonerfan said:It will still be the same things said, just in a different way. You will get the Tatula, SLX, Lew's TMB guys that say those reels are worth every penny and the guys with $400 reels will say they are worth every penny.
Perfect! that's exactly what I'm looking for.
The Okuma & Pinnacle reels seldomly get mentioned around here and there's already input. While, I agree some might be repetitive, I think we might find some gems among the community.
J._Bricker reply :
I’ll chime in on the rod side of things by saying Okuma rods. Specially, the Reflections series is the one I’ve had experience using. I bought them as a recommendation from my boat shop at around $60, I figured at the time they’d work for chucking and winding. And these Okuma rods do that well and are a bargain for young anglers and the budget conscious.
By the way, my avatar shows my PB caught on one of those very rods...
Jermination reply :
all star. best finesse rod ive ever used. i just do not miss fish on this rod and it keeps em buttoned up on the ned etc. I pick this rod up over several more expensive finesse outfits laying on deck, probably 70 bucks at academy
Randy Price reply :
For reels the Daiwa Revros and Shimano Sahara are GREAT for the money. As far as rods the St. Croix MOJO line is really best bang for the buck IMO.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 2:57 AM, kayaking_kev said:The Lew's Hank Parker Speed Stick for $40 at Wal-Mart. I actually ordered the J&W version, but got the Crankbait version instead and just decided to keep it. And, then I found out it is a terrible crankbait rod, it's way too stiff, I almost wonder if I actually got the J&W version and it was just mislabeled. But, after I started fishing bottom baits with it I was blown away by the sensitivity of it. I got the 6'10" Medium/Fast, but it fishes more like a Extra Fast. It's IM-8 and it's super light. The only knock about it is that it's pretty brittle, but that's why it's so sensitive. I ended up catching some of my biggest LM this past season with it, a few over 4 lbs., before and after I broke the tip while transporting with a lure tied on and not using the hook keeper like a idiot. Anyway, I repaired the tip and it's a little shorter now, but I still caught some good fish on it after that.
One could have a nice cheap one, two punch with one of those for bottom baits paired with a Abu Garcia Pro Max, along with an Ugly Stik GX2 paired with a Abu Garcia Black Max for treble hook baits.
Another stick I'm liking is the 13 Fishing Defy Black Crankbait Rod, it's made of composite, and has excellent balance and weight. I have the 7'3 Heavy and the balance is on the locking nut with a reel on it.
The Lew's Hank Parker speed stick is absolutely a star of the under rated category!
Another under rated rod is the Lew's SG1 speed stick for $49.99 I have been replacing any old or damaged rods with this series.
A-Jay reply :
I haven't tried them ALL,
so I can't really say.
But I'm working on it though.
A-Jay
Mobasser reply :
I think Berkley rods are under rated by many. I've owned a couple over the years that were very good.
kayaking_kev reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:25 AM, Randy Price said:For reels the Daiwa Revros and Shimano Sahara are GREAT for the money. As far as rods the St. Croix MOJO line is really best bang for the buck IMO.
I agree on the Revros LT, it's very nice, and I love the looks of it. You could probably say the same about the other LT versions also, like the Legalis and Regal. I haven't tried a Sahara, but I got a Shimano Sienna not long ago and it's very nice too, not nearly as light as the Revros though.
Dangerfield reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:31 AM, A-Jay said:I haven't tried them ALL,
so I can't really say.
But I'm working on it though.
A-Jay
From my research, you've handle a fair share of St. Croix rods, how do they compare to the Tatula Elites that you use?
kayaking_kev reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:32 AM, Mobasser said:I think Berkley rods are under rated by many. I've owned a couple over the years that were very good.
I tried a friends Cherrywood not long ago and it had a nice soft tip, I would definitely crank with one. He has a Quantum Smoke rod as his most expensive rod, but he prefers the Cherrywood.
Bird reply :
My wallet may not be as fat as some but my frugal ways must count for something. Lol
Best for the money across the board:
#1 Lews
#2. Kastking
Is it coincidence that I fish both ?
Jcj90 reply :
Shimano sienna spinning reel
On 1/18/2020 at 3:39 AM, kayaking_kev said:I agree on the Revros LT, it's very nice, and I love the looks of it. You could probably say the same about the other LT versions also, like the Legalis and Regal. I haven't tried a Sahara, but I got a Shimano Sienna not long ago and it's very nice too, not nearly as light as the Revros though.
I have the regal LT. Fishes it 3 times so far and love it. Great drag and smooth
A-Jay reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:41 AM, Dangerfield said:From my research, you've handle a fair share of St. Croix rods, how do they compare to the Tatula Elites that you use?
When comparing the LTB (the older & the newer - have both) and the Tatula Elites AGS:
Both are clean and high quality builds, both are super comfortable in the hand, and both are worth the price IMO.
However as a human who's fished a few sticks (starting when Lyndon B. Johnson was running this show) - the LTB sticks feel & remind me of the older type blanks that are a bit more stout but actually bend when casting & fighting a fish.
The AGS rods are lighter, definitely faster and though I haven't blown one up yet (something I'm somewhat prone to doing) I can see it happening if I'm not careful.
This is not a KNOCK on these sticks just that the highest modular wands seem a little more - let's say brittle.
Been fishing the St Croix rods for years and the AGS rods for only a couple of seasons.
I like them both a lot and have no intentions of replacing them any time soon.
Please remember these are MY opinions and not fact.
YMMV
A-Jay
Dangerfield reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:58 AM, A-Jay said:Please remember these are MY opinions and not fact.
YMMV
A-Jay
Thanks A-Jay - this is awesome feedback.
I follow your annual ice out / best of season posts, and respect your opinion.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 4:07 AM, Dangerfield said:Thanks A-Jay - this is awesome feedback.
I follow your annual ice out / best of season posts, and respect your opinion.
You're Welcome and Thank You for the kind words and the support.
I certainly appreciate it.
A-Jay
MAN reply :
Under Rated --> H20 Xpress
garroyo130 reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:19 AM, Jermination said:all star. best finesse rod ive ever used. i just do not miss fish on this rod and it keeps em buttoned up on the ned etc. I pick this rod up over several more expensive finesse outfits laying on deck, probably 70 bucks at academy
$25 ... last I checked they were in the clearance cage
Not sure how cheap were trying to go but for a low end light crank rod, the Lightning rod (not shock) in medium-moderate is excellent!
fishwizzard reply :
It doesn’t get mentioned a lot, but the iRod “Magic Stick” is an incredible frog/GP heavy rod. It’s on the Mod side of Fast and Has a really well-balanced power/taper.
Jermination reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 5:13 AM, garroyo130 said:$25 ... last I checked they were in the clearance cage
Not sure how cheap were trying to go but for a low end light crank rod, the Lightning rod (not shock) in medium-moderate is excellent!
nice. when i got it a couple years ago it was either 69 or 79--havent had to buy a new one because its been so good. I have a medium/fast i use for neddin
Boomstick reply :
I don't think I have enough experience with oddball brand gear to say what's underrated. I would gather many of the Irod rods are underrated, as I hardly hear anything about them but whenever I do it's the most glowing review possible.
As far as being overrated, reels like the Daiwa Tatula or Shimano Curado series or the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ are prime candidates just because so many people have them, although I don't think any of them are bad reels or have any reason to really be considered overrated.
stratoliner92 reply :
Big Disappointments - Abu Garcia RevoSX and OrraSX spinning reels, I've got 2 of each model and one of each model has had issues.
Nice suprises - Abu IKE Finesse Series spinning rods, 6'10" med/light is a fantastic dropshot rod. I've got 3 now????. Also the 2018 Diawa Tatula 7' med/mod (graphite) cranking topwater rod, great action for 1/2oz treble baits
Columbia Craw reply :
It's no secret what my rods of choice are but I am always looking at other product. I love the "stuff" I guess. Two models I've been been looking at and playing with surprise me at their price points. They are the Fenwick HMG and the Diawa Aird. I'll add the Diawa Tatula as well but primarily the spinning models. I still hold to the Dobyns Fury being the best value rod out there.
As far as reels go, Okuma makes some very good spinning reels. There are so many great options in casting reels right now it's crazy. See the Lews Tournament MB selling for 79 bucks was a shocker. I have one and it's one fine do a lot reel. If I could have had access to the product now thirty years ago, things would have been very interesting.
moguy1973 reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:32 AM, Mobasser said:I think Berkley rods are under rated by many. I've owned a couple over the years that were very good.
I will agree with this. I have had a couple Berkley Amp spinning rods in the past and they were really sensitive and a nice rod for how cheap they are. I currently use a couple Berkley Lightning rods that work well for my kind of fishing also.
On 1/18/2020 at 7:14 AM, stratoliner92 said:Big Disappointments - Abu Garcia RevoSX and OrraSX spinning reels, I've got 2 of each model and one of each model has had issues.
Nice suprises - Abu IKE Finesse Series spinning rods, 6'10" med/light is a fantastic dropshot rod. I've got 3 now????. Also the 2018 Diawa Tatula 7' med/mod (graphite) cranking topwater rod, great action for 1/2oz treble baits
I'll agree with Abu reels being disappointments also. I have a Revo S that had bearings go out after about 5 fishing trips. Abu rods are a different story as one of my favorite rods is a 2nd gen Veritas.
Chief250 reply :
I haven't fished my new Expride 7'3 XH yet but as someone who has rods that cost twice as much I was blown away by how it feels. I can't believe it's capable for 2oz, it's weighs nothing.
Only disappointment I'd say would be the new revo rocket. For the msrp price point I expected a much more refined reel.
Jaybert reply :
I have 2 6’6” shimano compre spinning rods a ml and a m. Probably 12 years old plus both of them. $100 or less rods back in the day. Underrated rods I think. I have newer Loomis rods today that are awesome but those compres still get certain jobs done well every year. Pretty light and sensitive I saw little difference between them and a 1st gen E6x I bought at nearly triple the cost.
NathanDLTH reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:32 AM, Mobasser said:I think Berkley rods are under rated by many. I've owned a couple over the years that were very good.
Had an E-motion and it was a great rod, guides were the only downfall there, but a great rod for the value.
kayaking_kev reply :
Shimano FX cost about $15 and if you want a good cheap glass rod for cranking, I would recommend it. I even hooked a couple 10 lb+ catfish while panfishing on it and it held up great, lots of parabolic bend to them.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Most underrated rated rod and reel is a 25$ abu garcia from the bay along with a 25$ original uglystik from the bay ...
Shimano_1 reply :
I think most lews reels are the most underrated. Specifically the tournament pro lfs. Also the okuma helios reels are fantastic and never get much love. Rods, most store brands. Basspro carbonlite, cabelas tournament zx rods are wonderful sticks for the money. Honestly over rated to me, shimano slx reels, daiwa tatula sv. Neither of these reels did much for me. Just shows people's opinions vary because most of what I've said certainly isnt the popular opinion. Oh and Loomis rods have always seemed highly over rated in my opinion.
.ghoti. reply :
My most underrated pieces of gear are an Okuma Helios rod and reel. The combo is a very nice, light weight pleasure to use.
My most overrated pieces are three Daiwa Steez rods. I got all three for less than half list price. And, it the prices paid, I am very happy with them. Had I paid full price, I would be very disappointed with all three.
dodgeguy reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 9:39 PM, Shimano_1 said:I think most lews reels are the most underrated. Specifically the tournament pro lfs. Also the okuma helios reels are fantastic and never get much love. Rods, most store brands. Basspro carbonlite, cabelas tournament zx rods are wonderful sticks for the money. Honestly over rated to me, shimano slx reels, daiwa tatula sv. Neither of these reels did much for me. Just shows people's opinions vary because most of what I've said certainly isnt the popular opinion. Oh and Loomis rods have always seemed highly over rated in my opinion.
Yeah I had a buddy who fished glx Loomis with powerpro and constantly grooved guides. My Bass Pro Rods never had that issue.
Rook reply :
If my 50 and 65 year old garcia conolon rods and Mitchell reels ever wear out I might buy something else to compare them to. But it looks like they're gonna out last me so I'll probably never know which is the most over and under rated rods and reels.
FishTank reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 11:45 PM, dodgeguy said:Yeah I had a buddy who fished glx Loomis with powerpro and constantly grooved guides. My Bass Pro Rods never had that issue.
Not to get dragged into another discussion about this but I have 4 GLX rods, 1 IMX, and 1 crankbait rod (844C x2, 803C, 783C, CBR785) . All are 12 years old or older. I have used braid (either power pro or suffix) on all at one point in time. The 844C IMX has had braid used on it for 14 years. With exception of the original 803C with recoil guides, which I broke and Loomis sent me the newer version (the new one was a let down by the way), all the guides are like new. The the second to the top recoil guide did grove after 5 years of use.
As far as under rated reels and rods...... Fenwick, Okuma and some of Abu Garcia's... Reels.... In the bass fishing world....Okuma and Penn
Over rated reels.... I think there are two ways to look at this. One, the reel under performs and is over hyped. Two, the reel costs way more than what you can actually get in return. Both of these are open to the user's interpretation. So under perform and over hyped, KastKing maybe (or whoever is over marketed this year). Expensive and little return, Shimano Stella. Love the different ones I have tried but I don't see myself dropping $700+ on a spinning reel. Also, maybe the Revo MGX line but when on sale, different story.
Over rated rods.... This is a tough one. If the rod communicates to you and it does its job, then how is it over rated....so I guess any rod that snaps like a twig, the company doesn't back it up, and it costs a small fortune. In this day and age, rods and the company warranties have come a long way, both the expensive and cheap.
kayaking_kev reply :
My personal favorite rod all time and the rod I have caught the most fish on is a Ugly Stik Gx2, and a 6'0 Medium 2 piece at that. Whether throwing a whopper plopper for smallies or T-Rigs for LM, it's been good to me. Most of my 500+ bass this past season were caught on one. I had *** mile river trip where I caught 41 bass on a plastic worm, in current nonetheless, all recorded on video, and plenty of videos of 20+ catches throwing a whopper plopper with it. I paid full price for the first one I bought, but then found the same exact ones on clearance for $9 and bought all 3 they had.
This past Black Friday I bought 12 new rods, including 2 Dobyns Xtasys, and a Extreme, and I'm sure I will like them better, but until I'm able to fish with them, the Gx2 is still my favorite. I still didn't find a rod out those 12 new ones, that match the action of the Gx2, so now I'm looking to get a Dobyns 704cb Glass.
PhishLI reply :
I like my Curado K, but I don't love it. I'm surprised whenever someone on these boards inquires about "which reel as a good all-arounder" or " first baitcaster" and people recommend the K. It's not a good lighter bait reel, IMO, so how is it a good all around reel? Its unpredictable at about 3/8 ounce and can be tough to dial in there with less than aerodynamic lures, and worse below that weight. The external adjustment dial stinks in every way and I don't like the thumb bar height, especially compared to the Chronarch. That said I enjoy using it when I'm throwing 1/2oz baits. It's a nice reel there and above. Very smooth and long casting. I'm keeping it but I should've just gotten another Chronarch. No complaints at all with that one. It does everything very well. So yeah, I think the K is over rated/hyped.
BassCats reply :
Most underrated reels: Quantum
FryDog62 reply :
Most underrated/best value rods are:
•Abu Garcia Vengeance and Daiwa AirdX. $50 rods that are a great stick and value for the price point.
Most overrated rod:
•Any Medium/Heavy or Heavy action St. Croix rod. I fished them with absolute loyalty for 25 years and accepted them as the best. And they are a good quality rod, with a good warranty. But when I finally/reluctantly picked up other manufacturers rods I learned how heavy, thick, cumbersome, tip-heavy and poorly balanced the heavier SC rods are. I still have a few mediums, but I totally bought into the heavy stuff for years. Had a cabin in Wisconsin (not far from SC factory) for 27 years and every bait shop carried them, and I bought them (A LOT of them). However, once I ate the forbidden fruit and picked up a similarly priced Tatula, Loomis, Megabass, Kistler, ALX, Phenix, etc... it was a whole different league of equally powerful rods that were also light and balanced.
•Most underrated reel:
On the spinning side, a Pflueger President is well-regarded already, but is best value I’ve found.
•Most overrated reel is the Daiwa Zillion SV TW. It’s a good reel, but the Tatula SV TW is $100 less and almost every bit as good.
chubaka reply :
Most overrated reel: Shimano Antares DC. Just did not perform to my expectations. Very underwhelming. Sold it for a Daiwa Tatula SV :)
PhishLI reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 8:25 AM, FryDog62 said:Daiwa AirdX
I picked up a 7' MH 2pc and a 7'3" MH on sale at a local B&T to have as knock around rigs that I could chuck in the truck and not be so worried about them. I'm really careful with my "good" stuff. But once I fished with them I came to appreciate how good they really are. A steal at the asking price. Caught tons of fish on them. Both wear rod socks now.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
The original Quantum Smoke rod is my most underrated rod also Okuma Helios rods.
Overrated my LTB rod Cumara rod and for sure Kistler rod, Fenwick elite tech bass rod was a disappointment as well.
Pinnacle Deadbolt Classic baitcaster reel and Daiwa RG-AB spinning reel feel those were underrated.
Stradic FI FK and CI4 and CI4+ spinning reels overrated.
Daiwa SV105 and Tatula SV overrated baitcasting reels.
humbleangler reply :
I would say anything solid NOT made by Shimano, Daiwa, Megabass, or St. Croix, is underrated, lol...I own products from 3 of the 4 and they are all awesome, but it would be hard to argue any brand has the vocal following these have. Full disclaimer, when I'm looking for something "high end," I typically lean toward these brands along with a few others myself.
In all seriousness, on the low end, Berkley Cherrywood rods are very underrated...sure, the components are value driven and super basic, but they are rock solid and the rods are surprisingly well balanced and responsive for $25...seriously, $25...If your budget is tight, there really isn't an equivalent option in my opinion.
Okuma in general is underrated...I'm sure there are some stinkers in their lineup, but I haven't come across one yet. The Celilo rod (discontinued?) is one of my all time favorite light/ultra-light panfish/trout rods. The Epixor XT (I have the 40 size) blew me away for $50. Hell, even their big box store brand stuff like the Stratus V (I believe exclusive to Dick's) has impressed me at the price point. I picked one up on "sale" (although they never seemed to come OFF sale) for $25? $30? just to throw on an old pond hopper backup rod that needed a reel and I found myself reaching for that setup way more often than I imagined.
Pflueger...My favorite reel in my entire arsenal is the Patriarch XT baitcaster (I own 3 now). I love everything about it. It weighs nothing yet somehow manages to take abuse in stride, casts a mile, handles light(ish) lures well, brakes are phenomenal, and on and on...Pflueger does have their following, but most seem focused on their President spinning line. I admit the $250 price tag is steep, but you can find deals often and although I'll probably get heat for this, the honest truth is that I would STILL take the XT over a similarly priced Curado, Revo, or Tatula SV.
I find lower end Lew's (anything below the Tournament MB) to be overrated. There are plenty of Shimano/Daiwa guys that scoff at Lew's in general, which I strongly disagree with as I think the MB is one of the best all around reels on the market today under $200. They have plenty other rod and reel offerings above that $120ish price point that are also very good...However, I have been thoroughly unimpressed with anything below that level...I'd take a $70 Abu Black Max combo over the Mach 1 (rod AND reel).
St. Croix is overrated in my opinion...they make great products and remain an industry leader for a reason...very strong, very sensitive rods...however, I just don't find they balance as well as some other brands that get much less attention. I've only ever owned a Premier and I like it, but find myself reaching for other offerings more often. Mojo's seemed very heavy when handling in the store and although the Avids felt nice in hand, I just didn't think they were worth the price tag...maybe I would have felt differently fishing them.
My 2 cents...
On 1/19/2020 at 12:22 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:The original Quantum Smoke rod is my most underrated rod also Okuma Helios rods.
Overrated my LTB rod Cumara rod and for sure Kistler rod, Fenwick elite tech bass rod was a disappointment as well.
Pinnacle Deadbolt Classic baitcaster reel and Daiwa RG-AB spinning reel feel those were underrated.
Stradic FI FK and CI4 and CI4+ spinning reels overrated.
Daiwa SV105 and Tatula SV overrated baitcasting reels.
Completely agree with the Daiwa RG-AB...love mine.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Underrated; Okuma rods and reels you never seem to hear about, but they're excellent from top to bottom. I've got reels down to a cheap little Stratus? (white spinning reel bought on clearance for $20), that I use a ton for walking ponds and creeks and the thing has been really impressive. Then my normal starting lineup with my TCS rods and reels, all the way up to the Helios SX casting reel.
Overrated; Any rod or reel that cost as much as a car payment.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
I have a Pflueger President, great reel. Didnt know anybody else knew about it ????
I figured since it wasnt a revered Shimano or Diawa it wasnt worth mentioning on this site. ????
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 8:25 AM, FryDog62 said:Daiwa AirdX. $50 rods that are a great stick and value for the price point.
I've got 4 Aird-X rods and I've been pleasantly surprised by them.
On 1/19/2020 at 1:41 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:I have a Pflueger President, great reel. Didnt know anybody else knew about it ????
My best of last year was caught on my President BC...my UL spinning reel is a President-25. Diawa and Pflueger are my reels of choice.
islandbass reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 3:50 AM, Bird said:My wallet may not be as fat as some but my frugal ways must count for something. Lol
Best for the money across the board:
#1 Lews
#2. Kastking
Is it coincidence that I fish both ?
Nothing wrong with that, bird. Fish don’t know what we’re fishing with anyway.
To the topic, I can second Okuma rods. I have used the celilo series for my UL and heavy salmon fishing and the value is just incredible.
Lamiglas. Loomis schloomis, lol. Their high end stuff is as expensive as the high end brands we know so I’m being specific to the lowest class of bass rods. Again, excellent value, bang for the buck. It also seems stores sell them for less than the MSRP which helps.
Catt reply :
Underrated reel
Abu Garcia Black Max; my has one he got for free, it's about 8 yrs & still performs flawlessly.
Underrated rods
Castaway, All Star, & H2O XPRESS Ethos
PourMyOwn reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 6:19 PM, kayaking_kev said:Shimano FX cost about $15 and if you want a good cheap glass rod for cranking, I would recommend it. I even hooked a couple 10 lb+ catfish while panfishing on it and it held up great, lots of parabolic bend to them.
Just bought 2 for 40 dollars shipped. I'll be using them to throw squarebills and spinnerbaits. The 2 piece will be perfect for the trunk of my car.
Thanks!
BMOE-RN reply :
Rods: Diawa airdx. Light and pretty sensitive.
NOC 1 reply :
Most under-rated reel...I'd have to say the Daiwa Laguna. Under $50. Sure it's a Carbon frame and not the Mag-Z brakes, but it actually feels like a good reel and have proven themselves to be tough. I was looking to put together a couple of cheap rigs that I could hand over to my grand kids, nieces, nephews, my brother and other people who are not really fishermen. I just can't see handing over a nice Megabass rod and Steez combo to folks who don't really fish.
I tried 4 different Kastking reels based on the hype and thought they all felt pretty cheap and unpredictable. As a result, they get a nod for being way over-rated.
Also the Plfueger reels, both BC and spinning are punching well above their price.
As for under-rated rods?...I'll go with the crowd on the Berekly Cherrywood and add the Fenwick Eagle to the mix. Both are very nice rods for the money. (and they go great with those Cheap Laguna reels). I think that the ABU Villain series is overlooked as well.
Over-rated rods? Loomis for starters. I know everyone owes Gary Loomis a thanks for the modern fishing rod, but at this point the Loomis rods are way over priced. The same could be said of a lot of the Megabass stuff too, but at least with the Megabass rods you get a very nice looking rod. Both make great rods, but all Loomis and some Megabass are way overpriced.
NOC 1 reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 1:16 PM, humbleangler said:St. Croix is overrated in my opinion...they make great products and remain an industry leader for a reason...very strong, very sensitive rods...however, I just don't find they balance as well as some other brands that get much less attention. I've only ever owned a Premier and I like it, but find myself reaching for other offerings more often. Mojo's seemed very heavy when handling in the store and although the Avids felt nice in hand, I just didn't think they were worth the price tag...maybe I would have felt differently fishing them.
I really like my St. Croix rods...now. At first I bought a couple of LTB rods, 7'1" medium F, and a (I think) 7' MH MF.
I was very disappointed with the way they felt out in the yard. So much so that I avoided even trying them out for real until my sons and I organized a trip where we would all meet at Norfork Lake in Arkansas. I bought them along thinking maybe I would trade them for something. Along the way I decided to at least give them a shot...I was shocked at how much I actually liked them when I actually fished them. They were sensitive and felt alive and handled fish better than any other rods I have.
They still feel tip heavy and clumsy when I pull them off the rack at home, but out on the boat where it counts, they are some of my favorites now...
Lesson learned, flopping a rod around the living room or at the store really has nothing to show me about how well a rod fishes.
Finessegenics reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 1:41 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:I have a Pflueger President, great reel. Didnt know anybody else knew about it ????
I figured since it wasnt a revered Shimano or Diawa it wasnt worth mentioning on this site. ????
I’m surprised to hear you say that. I own a president myself and it’s a great reel but it gets mentioned every single time on any “suggestion for spinning reel” thread. I find that pflueger is quite popular with the members on here
Mobasser reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 9:42 PM, Catt said:Underrated reel
Abu Garcia Black Max; my has one he got for free, it's about 8 yrs & still performs flawlessly.
Underrated rods
Castaway, All Star, & H2O XPRESS Ethos
Catt, another under rated reel: the H20 Mettle baitcast reel from Academy. My grandson has one. I think I gave 40 bucks for it. Works great
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Underrated reel...Shimano siennas..30$ can be found cheaper though tough little reels i have 5 or 6 ..Underated rod uglystik intercoastals fuji reel seats and guides all for 40$
swhit140 reply :
Just my personal experience/review.
Underrated Reel: Daiwa Fuego CT, now I have 5 of them
Overrated Rod: St Croix Bass X, Tip heavy rod/returned it
Hammer 4 reply :
Rods:...Diawa Tatula XT's..Well built, Light, and sensitive..I have 3 of em.
Reels, BC: Diawa Fuego CT..I use mine for froggin, very smooth out of the box, great value.
Reels: Spinning, again the Diawa Fuego, great reel, cept for some cases of line lay, super easy fix, these are very smooth out of the box, and at this price point still have the reverse switch.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/20/2020 at 2:30 PM, swhit140 said:Just my personal experience/review.
Underrated Reel: Daiwa Fuego CT, now I have 5 of them
On 1/20/2020 at 2:41 PM, Hammer 4 said:Reels, BC: Diawa Fuego CT..I use mine for froggin, very smooth out of the box, great value.
I enjoyed using my Fuego CT-XS for pitching/flipping/frogging so much that when I decided to set up a dedicated crankbait rig - I went with the Fuego CT-H.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
On 1/20/2020 at 2:19 AM, Finessegenics said:I’m surprised to hear you say that. I own a president myself and it’s a great reel but it gets mentioned every single time on any “suggestion for spinning reel” thread. I find that pflueger is quite popular with the members on here
I dont frequent the spinning reel discussions since I have virtually nil experience using them. So the opinions are best left to the experienced ????
I do enjoy fishing them though and trying to keep one in my hand more often. ????
Chief250 reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 7:01 AM, PhishLI said:I like my Curado K, but I don't love it. I'm surprised whenever someone on these boards inquires about "which reel as a good all-arounder" or " first baitcaster" and people recommend the K. It's not a good lighter bait reel, IMO, so how is it a good all around reel? Its unpredictable at about 3/8 ounce and can be tough to dial in there with less than aerodynamic lures, and worse below that weight. The external adjustment dial stinks in every way and I don't like the thumb bar height, especially compared to the Chronarch. That said I enjoy using it when I'm throwing 1/2oz baits. It's a nice reel there and above. Very smooth and long casting. I'm keeping it but I should've just gotten another Chronarch. No complaints at all with that one. It does everything very well. So yeah, I think the K is over rated/hyped.
I agree with the curado K. I too see all the love but when compared to the rest of the mgl reels it just feels clunky, always needing you to adjust.
MAN reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 1:16 PM, humbleangler said:In all seriousness, on the low end, Berkley Cherrywood rods are very underrated...sure, the components are value driven and super basic, but they are rock solid and the rods are surprisingly well balanced and responsive for $25...seriously, $25...If your budget is tight, there really isn't an equivalent option in my opinion.
I totally agree with this ^^^
greentrout reply :
underrated baitcaster ... bps ... pro qualifier ...
underrated rod ... bps ... bionic blade ...
good fishing ...
OCdockskipper reply :
On 1/21/2020 at 10:13 AM, greentrout said:underrated baitcaster ... bps ... pro qualifier ...
underrated rod ... bps ... bionic blade ...
good fishing ...
This makes me smile because one of my setups is a Pro qualifier on a Bionic Blade rod. I wanted a shorter rod with a pistol grip and a the time, the Bionic Blade was the best rod with that grip. I have been happy with the performance of both.
redmeansdistortion reply :
Under rated rods: Okuma, I love their Celilo and SST rods.
Over rated rods: Loomis, they're at least triple the cost of the Okuma SST and Lamiglas X11 but not much lighter or sensitive.
Under rated reel: Penn Fierce III. Same price as the equivalent sized President but with all metal construction, carbon fiber drag, and much easier to self service.
Over rated reel: Daiwa Tatula. I love how it performs, but the T-Wing can be troublesome when passing through a heavier leader. I like the Fuego CT much more.
waymont reply :
Most under rated reel:
Daiwa Tatula 150
Most under rated rod and dissed disproportionately on BR:
G Loomis E6x
Over rated rods:
St Croix LTB casting rods.
both I had were very tip heavy. Very well put together and beautiful but I could never fish them comfortably.
Quarry Man reply :
Underrated-
Berkley Lightning Rod - great cheap rod, good blank and grip and guides for the price. I dislike the reel seat.
Abu Garcia Black Max - Great reel for budget anglers. I went backwards. First casting reel was $300, most recent was the Black Max. Am I disappointed in the money I spent, no, but I am blown away by this reel. Probably won't hold up, but for an almost free combo, not bad.
Cabela's Arachnid Casting Reel - discontinued Daiwa made for Cabala's reel, upgraded tattle type r. reason you can't find em is because I buy em all. sucks that they don't make them anymore.
Shimano Stradic FA - well respected reel, but I love it more than the new ones, love the look and handle and drag sound.
Cousin's rods - no longer in business, good components, made in use, great rods overall
Falcon rods - imo most underrated company in the industry. not the most flashy company but man they produce some great rods.
13 fishing customer service - warranty is important when buying rods, I have gone through them time and time again. I love their rods, but I rest assured they are safe if they break.
Overrated
Shimano Curado 70 - just didn't perform to my standards. Good reel? yes. but not worth 200$ buy a tattle sv imo. also the handle cap fell off after one day of use.
St croix avid x - stiff rod, not very sensitive or light compared to my cheaper rods. very well built and good components more being durable than it is based on performance
Carrot Stix customer service - had a broken rod sent to me, I was upset, contacted customer service, 59$ for a new rod. now im sitting on a brand new broken rod, have to pay another 59$ for a new one, which isn't even in stock for anther couple months, what a joke
Bigassbass reply :
St Croix overrated, all of them, underrated Japanese make rods any of them.
CapeCodSox reply :
Falcon New Low Rider series rods Can be found for $100 on Ebay .. Incredible Rods ! WOW
There is NO rod out there for $100 that is as sensitive , light and powerful !
Diawa Fuego spinning Best spinning reel for the $ guaranteed. $70.00 … AGAIN Incredible !
On 1/22/2020 at 1:48 PM, Quarry Man said:Underrated-
Berkley Lightning Rod - great cheap rod, good blank and grip and guides for the price. I dislike the reel seat.
Abu Garcia Black Max - Great reel for budget anglers. I went backwards. First casting reel was $300, most recent was the Black Max. Am I disappointed in the money I spent, no, but I am blown away by this reel. Probably won't hold up, but for an almost free combo, not bad.
Cabela's Arachnid Casting Reel - discontinued Daiwa made for Cabala's reel, upgraded tattle type r. reason you can't find em is because I buy em all. sucks that they don't make them anymore.
Shimano Stradic FA - well respected reel, but I love it more than the new ones, love the look and handle and drag sound.
Cousin's rods - no longer in business, good components, made in use, great rods overall
Falcon rods - imo most underrated company in the industry. not the most flashy company but man they produce some great rods.
13 fishing customer service - warranty is important when buying rods, I have gone through them time and time again. I love their rods, but I rest assured they are safe if they break.
Overrated
Shimano Curado 70 - just didn't perform to my standards. Good reel? yes. but not worth 200$ buy a tattle sv imo. also the handle cap fell off after one day of use.
St croix avid x - stiff rod, not very sensitive or light compared to my cheaper rods. very well built and good components more being durable than it is based on performance
Carrot Stix customer service - had a broken rod sent to me, I was upset, contacted customer service, 59$ for a new rod. now im sitting on a brand new broken rod, have to pay another 59$ for a new one, which isn't even in stock for anther couple months, what a joke
Totally agree on Falcon rods … The new Low Rider can be found online for $100
Just a home run ! Super sensitive .. light and Strong !
Spankey reply :
Over rated, under rated I guess that’s all in the eyes and hands of the beholder.
I like the St. Croix sticks I use. I fish the Premiere series spinning rods and Premiere Crankbait Rods. My Avid Spinning Rods I fish all plastics on them. Don’t own a St Croix that is a grade higher than them. No need for me to really. They could be over rated. I wish they were a bit cheaper in price. I don’t know. I like my results with them and I like their warranty. Over all the years I’ve used it twice but they took care of me. No $$$$ out of my pocket. Had to pay shipping one way but that was easy. Rod went back, I got a new rod. Register your stuff, save the headache later.
Abu Garcia Rods. Have been fishing a few of them. “Veritas” series. I am way More over pleased as to how that is going. I like them. I like what they put out as a Moderate action rod.
Shimano. I’ll always be a Shimano guy. Have always been able to get a partS if I needed it or just wanted to replace something. I somewhat recently had a issue with a 3000 NASCI. Just did not feel right after short usage. Called them, boxed it and sent it to the person they told me to. Few weeks later a new 3000 NASCI is on my doorstep.
Daiwa I feel just about the same way. I’m still using a Tournament SS from the 80’s. I rebuilt it. Big deal. At least it was made with the ability to rebuild. Still use it on the river fishing grubs for Smallies. The higher end Daiwa spinning stuff is good.
You couldn’t give me a Quantum reel. I’d give it away or sell it for cents on a dollar. Their Customer Service sucks. Parts source is terrible. Had A simple issues with a reel that I really did like. Their answer was to send it back with what ever the $$$ amount was and they would sent me what was an upgraded reel. I wasn’t going that direction. I machined a part and fixed it myself. I’d just never go the Quantum direction again.
PourMyOwn reply :
On 1/21/2020 at 10:13 AM, greentrout said:underrated baitcaster ... bps ... pro qualifier ...
underrated rod ... bps ... bionic blade ...
good fishing ...
I like my Pro Qualifier a lot more than my Shimano SLX, and just a little less than my Fuegos. When they're on sale in the spring, hard to pass them up.
Nathan.bass.canada reply :
As far as over rated, I think any big hype, big sale products. Stuff that is "on sale" when its been reduced to a price that is actually what the company wants. Every product from the Favorite brand seems to be made out of pure advertising and hype. Duckett products are all expensive for chinese rebrands. Shimano's high end products are amazing, but ridiculously priced. I have owned many stradics all the way up to a stella and dont notice a difference. Abu garcia reels are a joke, all made by doyo and I destroyed a brand new ambassadeur c4 last year by doing absolutly nothing wrong. Abu's low end tho is amazing for beginners. St-croix rods, depending on the series, get heavy and not so sensitive on their bigger rods. G-loomis rods are way overpriced, but sadly worth it.
Under rated, most solid lower end reels from many companies are actually great, okuma ceymars, abu black max, shimano caenan, daiwa revros, pflueger reels etc. As far as rods go, okuma rods are really nice for the price, to bad the reels dont follow... fenwick HMGs and HMXs are not uber expensive and are a real nice rod. I find daiwa tatulas xt are also cheap and reliable good rods nobody talks about. But as a go anywhere cheap rod to me the most under rated rods are the okuma ceymar, abu garcia vengeance, fenwick eagle, shimano slx.
Spankey reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 8:08 AM, moguy1973 said:I will agree with this. I have had a couple Berkley Amp spinning rods in the past and they were really sensitive and a nice rod for how cheap they are. I currently use a couple Berkley Lightning rods that work well for my kind of fishing also.
I'll agree with Abu reels being disappointments also. I have a Revo S that had bearings go out after about 5 fishing trips. Abu rods are a different story as one of my favorite rods is a 2nd gen Veritas.
I have to agree with you on the Abu Veritas gen 2 rods. The ones I have are great. No regrets on buying those
rods.
I’ve been using a REVO “Winch” Reel with the lower gear ratio and been loving that also.
That “Winch” rod and reel set up was one of the best purchases I’ve made. Made for crankbait fishing and that’s all I use it for. Didn’t break the bank either. TW sale days made it too good to pass on.
Hard to believe some of the negative Veritas reviews but what do I know. I’m not having issues now. Who know what tomorrow will bring.
alexabrown252 reply :
I realized that fishing reels must be expensive. My cheap ones fail quickly. As for me, I'm new to this forum and fishing. It took me time and personal experience to understand fishing gear. Nowadays, there are a lot of types of reels, so try to choose the right one. Sometimes the advice of other fishermen does not suit me, so I have to personally try to use everything in a row to find the right one. However, the gear searching and the fishing process gives me great pleasure. It's worth it.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 5:25 PM, alexabrown252 said:I realized that fishing reels must be expensive. My cheap ones fail quickly.
Inexpensive and cheap aren't equivalent. You just have to get the right inexpensive reels. There are a number of spinners under $100 that have proven themselves over time as well as a number of baitcasters under $150. Ask here about the affordable ones that will last. I know I have a few that would be considered 'budget' reels that have served me well.
ike8120 reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 5:25 PM, alexabrown252 said:I realized that fishing reels must be expensive. My cheap ones fail quickly.
Expensive reels also fail,
redmeansdistortion reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 7:42 PM, MN Fisher said:Inexpensive and cheap aren't equivalent. You just have to get the right inexpensive reels. There are a number of spinners under $100 that have proven themselves over time as well as a number of baitcasters under $150. Ask here about the affordable ones that will last. I know I have a few that would be considered 'budget' reels that have served me well.
The longest lived reel I've ever owned was a 30 size Shakespeare I got as part of a combo with a 6' M rod sometime in the early 90s. I think the combo ran something like $40 at the time. That was my main fishing rig for a good 5 years then I started making my own money and went higher up the food chain. That combo went overboard while fishing a canal in Lake St Clair about 20 years back.
snake95 reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 9:42 PM, Catt said:Underrated reel
Abu Garcia Black Max; my has one he got for free, it's about 8 yrs & still performs flawlessly
@Catt do you mean the round 3600 from a while back or the more recent low profile?
new2BC4bass reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 1:48 PM, Quarry Man said:Underrated-
Berkley Lightning Rod - great cheap rod, good blank and grip and guides for the price. I dislike the reel seat.
Cabela's Arachnid Casting Reel - discontinued Daiwa made for Cabala's reel, upgraded tattle type r. reason you can't find em is because I buy em all. sucks that they don't make them anymore.
Falcon rods - imo most underrated company in the industry. not the most flashy company but man they produce some great rods.
I have a Lightning spinning rod that is over 45 years old. I did quit fishing for 23 years. This is the only rod I kept of my old ones. It and the Penn 430SS make a fine combo.
On 1/19/2020 at 12:22 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:The original Quantum Smoke rod is my most underrated rod also Okuma Helios rods.
I have one older Smoke. Light. But handle is very short. Nice otherwise. Liked my Medium Helios enough to go buy a second.
On 1/19/2020 at 1:16 PM, humbleangler said:Pflueger...My favorite reel in my entire arsenal is the Patriarch XT baitcaster (I own 3 now). I love everything about it. It weighs nothing yet somehow manages to take abuse in stride, casts a mile, handles light(ish) lures well, brakes are phenomenal, and on and on...Pflueger does have their following, but most seem focused on their President spinning line. I admit the $250 price tag is steep, but you can find deals often and although I'll probably get heat for this, the honest truth is that I would STILL take the XT over a similarly priced Curado, Revo, or Tatula SV.
I find lower end Lew's (anything below the Tournament MB) to be overrated. There are plenty of Shimano/Daiwa guys that scoff at Lew's in general, which I strongly disagree with as I think the MB is one of the best all around reels on the market today under $200.
Completely agree with the Daiwa RG-AB...love mine.
I have 3 of the older blue XTs. Last one cost $65 in very good condition. First one's brakes are probably set lower than any other reel I own. Set up with braid for use in slop. Currently 2 are on reserve. I like my MB.
Brother-in-law is still using the RG-AB I bought him a few years ago as a birthday gift.
I missed the quote about Falcon rods being very under rated. I especially like the older Experts.
Tizi reply :
Under-rated reels: Daiwa Fuego CT and LT
Under-rated rods: Daiwa Tatula XT
Under-rated combo: Shimano SLX (for $129.99 this is the best deal going in my opinion)
I stick to medium level gear for the most part. Most expensive reels I own are Tatula SV TWS and rods are the Tatula line.
redmeansdistortion reply :
On 2/1/2020 at 5:16 AM, Tizi said:Under-rated reels: Daiwa Fuego CT
I'd say the Fuego CT is rated perfectly. Not over, not under, just right. What a bargain for what you get, especially when you can find them on eBay and Amazon for $75-ish.
swhit140 reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 11:00 PM, Spankey said:Over rated, under rated I guess that’s all in the eyes and hands of the beholder.
I like the St. Croix sticks I use. I fish the Premiere series spinning rods and Premiere Crankbait Rods. My Avid Spinning Rods I fish all plastics on them. Don’t own a St Croix that is a grade higher than them. No need for me to really. They could be over rated. I wish they were a bit cheaper in price. I don’t know. I like my results with them and I like their warranty. Over all the years I’ve used it twice but they took care of me. No $$$$ out of my pocket. Had to pay shipping one way but that was easy. Rod went back, I got a new rod. Register your stuff, save the headache later.
Abu Garcia Rods. Have been fishing a few of them. “Veritas” series. I am way More over pleased as to how that is going. I like them. I like what they put out as a Moderate action rod.
Shimano. I’ll always be a Shimano guy. Have always been able to get a partS if I needed it or just wanted to replace something. I somewhat recently had a issue with a 3000 NASCI. Just did not feel right after short usage. Called them, boxed it and sent it to the person they told me to. Few weeks later a new 3000 NASCI is on my doorstep.
Daiwa I feel just about the same way. I’m still using a Tournament SS from the 80’s. I rebuilt it. Big deal. At least it was made with the ability to rebuild. Still use it on the river fishing grubs for Smallies. The higher end Daiwa spinning stuff is good.
You couldn’t give me a Quantum reel. I’d give it away or sell it for cents on a dollar. Their Customer Service sucks. Parts source is terrible. Had A simple issues with a reel that I really did like. Their answer was to send it back with what ever the $$$ amount was and they would sent me what was an upgraded reel. I wasn’t going that direction. I machined a part and fixed it myself. I’d just never go the Quantum direction again.
I had 1 Quantum reel, it didn't last a season. Never buying another Quantum reel. I have a Diawa that probably has 15 years of use still going strong.
Bankbeater reply :
I have to go with BPS rods being underrated. Especially the older ones like the extremes. You can't beat them for moving baits.
Manly Studson reply :
On 2/1/2020 at 9:54 PM, Bankbeater said:I have to go with BPS rods being underrated. Especially the older ones like the extremes. You can't beat them for moving baits.
I agree. I’ve had positive experiences with BPS rods. Even when I’ve broken them (smash with a car door) the return was hassle free.
PhishLI reply :
On 2/1/2020 at 5:51 AM, redmeansdistortion said:What a bargain for what you get, especially when you can find them on eBay and Amazon for $75-ish.
I wade fish tree lined lakes at night alot and like to carry 4 setups when the terrain allows for it It's never pitch black out, so it's not like I'm blindly reaching for different rigs, therefore I'm not claiming I'm pseudo blind testing anything. While this could probably be said of a number of $100 dollar reels, I sure don't feel a $200 difference when I'm switching from the Fuego to a $300 reel and back down the line. BTW, $300 has been my self imposed limit, for the moment anyway...My buddy got an Aldebaran the other day. I held it. The monkey is whispering. That said, I certainly appreciate the nuances of my more expensive reels, but the real world gap in performance is not striking, IMO.
It took me time and some frustration, but once I adjusted my casting mechanics to the point that I can run the spool loose and the brakes very low, between 4-6, I really came to appreciate this reel. It does so much well from throwing light to heavy baits with lower effort. If the wind turns on, just a few clicks up on the dial and everything's peachy. Very valuable at night. My two samples are still remarkably smooth on the retrieve after two seasons. Like you said "a bargain". I'd add "super bargain" to that.
Cityangler7 reply :
On 2/1/2020 at 9:54 PM, Bankbeater said:I have to go with BPS rods being underrated. Especially the older ones like the extremes. You can't beat them for moving baits.
I have the older green BPS extremes, picked them up on sale for $60 bucks when they were getting discontinued, they are light , sensitive and hold up well.
newyorktoiowa57 reply :
Underrated: Diawa Legalis LT, BPS Bionic Blade
Overated: Any expensive rod for moving baits
gilkeybr reply :
Overrated: The DC braking system. Its a fine braking system. But its not significantly better than a traditional system in my experience.
PourMyOwn reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 10:15 PM, snake95 said:@Catt do you mean the round 3600 from a while back or the more recent low profile?
That round reel was the first baitcaster I had that I liked using with braid. Early braids didn't always lay on the spool well, but that 3600 was different. Wish I still had mine.
Steve S reply :
On 1/19/2020 at 5:05 AM, kayaking_kev said:My personal favorite rod all time and the rod I have caught the most fish on is a Ugly Stik Gx2, and a 6'0 Medium 2 piece at that. Whether throwing a whopper plopper for smallies or T-Rigs for LM, it's been good to me. Most of my 500+ bass this past season were caught on one. I had *** mile river trip where I caught 41 bass on a plastic worm, in current nonetheless, all recorded on video, and plenty of videos of 20+ catches throwing a whopper plopper with it. I paid full price for the first one I bought, but then found the same exact ones on clearance for $9 and bought all 3 they had.
This past Black Friday I bought 12 new rods, including 2 Dobyns Xtasys, and a Extreme, and I'm sure I will like them better, but until I'm able to fish with them, the Gx2 is still my favorite. I still didn't find a rod out those 12 new ones, that match the action of the Gx2, so now I'm looking to get a Dobyns 704cb Glass.
6’ light power ugly stick was my first and still my most used rod. Love it for pond fishing with Ned rigs
Mobasser reply :
Under rated reels? Any older Japanese made Shimanos.
Bdnoble84 reply :
On 1/18/2020 at 5:13 AM, garroyo130 said:$25 ... last I checked they were in the clearance cage
Not sure how cheap were trying to go but for a low end light crank rod, the Lightning rod (not shock) in medium-moderate is excellent!
Along those same criteria lines, I have an ugly stick lite casting rod in medium action that is super forgiving and gets a crank attached regularly. Not sure how the new elites compare.
for 10$ more I’ll pick up a fenwick eagle. Or look at the cabelas line.
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