Best fresh water rods

[FLATHEAD]

I have found the ultimate fishing rods. Last spring I bought a quarrow rod. Made in the USA. They have been around for a couple years now. These rods are great. nice blanks, fuji guides,premium cork,fuji reel seat, wrappings are beautifull. For between 120$ and 170$ you get a top shelf rod. I have had the loomis rods and these quarrows are just as good if not better quality at half the price. I think you might start seeing a lot of these around. check one out if you get a chance. I know I sound like a salesman but these rods are a great value for the buck and I though I would share.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Best fresh water rods

i have heard the 'name'..<br /><br />it's worth the money for somethin' that 'just-feels-right'... quailty is a beautiful thing.. <br /><br />i know it's 'bout impossiable to spend good money on a rod 'un-seen/felt'.. just a picture in a catalog.. <br /><br />but a few years ago i brokedown an got a 'end-of-year' bass pro quailafier rod.. <br /><br />i've got three more since... it's all i use... i luv 'em...

 

[NathanY]

Re: Best fresh water rods

I dont fish like most of the people here, I only fish for crappie, big bream, and white bass. I have 4 Quantum Rods that I bought at WalMart for 23.00 each, and 1 Uglystick Lite, all outfitted with Mitchell Reels, and I would not trade them for anything. I caught a 16lb channel cat last year on one of my Quantum Ultra Lite's and fought the fish for 45 minutes before he snapped my rod right in the middle of the backbone. I literally cried. Not about the fish either. Like you said, it is about the feel. But I did get him in with the help of another nearby fisherman with a gaff!!!

 

[horndog]

Re: Best fresh water rods

hmm, my definition of the "best rod" is the one that feels good in my hands and my wallet. Some swear by a St.Croix rods, but I wouldn't even look at them since they start at $120.00. Too rich for my blood when a BPS tourney rod for $39.99 does the trick for me.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Best fresh water rods

if'n you take care of your stuff.. a good rod can last a lifetime... <br /><br />$120.oo divided by lifetime = pitince... <br /><br />an you spent your whole life with good stuff...

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Best fresh water rods

Crab I hear ya. Many times I been fishin with guys that said I was nuts for holding 350$ worth of rod and reel in my hand and that they would not trade thier wall mart rods and reels for anything. That is till I let them fish one of my rigs thens its not long till they go get a good setup themselfs. There really is a difference.<br /><br />There is no substitute for quality. It just makes the whole fishing experiance that much more enjoyable.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Best fresh water rods

I have a nice St. Croix that I use for jigging walleyes and crappies. Great feel and sensitivity, you can feel the the fish breathing on your bait. Great hand made in the USA rods. I use $30-$40 rods for trolling, cranking, and bobbers. (Quantum-BPS) <br /><br />All my old Diawa-Berkley-Shimano-Mitchell-Garcia-Shakespeare have been donated to local fishing club for kids.

 

[miloman]

Re: Best fresh water rods

hers my feelings on rods I have at last count over 45 rods fenwick gloomis st croix shimano sage the list goes on and on and on. Funny enough when Im in a pinch to catch a fish and Im on a drift sock jigging I usually reach for a $35 shimano that I won a few years back You are right it is about the feel. in my case not the fight but how it reacts with stump weed bottom etc... the light tap of a fish that missed the lure Now to pick 1 up my passion for flyfishing so a 91/2 5 weight sage that I bought the blank and had the guides done my favorite

 

[Barlow]

Re: Best fresh water rods

I will admit that I'm a quality conscious 'snob' at times but I picked up a new set of these Gander Mountain rods (mfg by Fenwick) that were on sale and was impressed. $40-$60ea.<br />I'm hard on my equipment but in the same light I require it to perform. Things just happen too fast for me to spend over $100 on a thin piece of graphite anymore. Heck I'd love to own more G-Loomis rods but the fact remains I end up fencing with something everytime out and can't relax enough when I'm using 'em (I've broke one via the livewell door and one fell victim to a chewing puppy) So the others get used by my wife...she's a bit more careful and it's always fun to joke about her having better rods than I do.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Best fresh water rods

I don't know if they're the best, but I've got a boat full of Fenwicks. They've all caught fish.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Best fresh water rods

Hey Flathead, I spent some time on the Quarrow site. For their freshwater rods they have msrprices of $50 to $119. Have you been buying the saltwater stuff, or has your retailer been pumping up the prices?<br /><br />They have a couple dealers near some of my haunts so I will check them out.<br /><br />Oh, if anyone is interested, the best way to get a St.Croix at a bargain price is to buy the blank and build it yourself. Some fishing clubs have rod building clinics. They walk you thru the process and even help with bulk purchase of components. My nephew has a real beauty made up with the Marquette University colors and logo. His dorm mates want to know where they can buy one. They can't.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Best fresh water rods

for trollin Rhino's, for jiggin like eagle claws<br />and ugly sticks. guess I'm somewhere in the middle

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Best fresh water rods

Roscoe, No I havent been buying saltwater rods lol. I dont think my retailer is pumping up the prices. I just bought a seven foot ML3 for 114$ thats five less than the manufatures suggested price. The Dream catcher line of rods by quarrow run a little higher in price. If ya get a chance check one out I am glad I did. Skinnywater I like my Fenwick rods alot too.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Best fresh water rods

Flathead, sorry, but I found a section on their site for saltwater rods, that matched up with your $120 to $170 in the original post.<br /><br />I'll give em a look see, and shake it too.

 

[bonitaboy]

Re: Best fresh water rods

If you can spend the money its Cape Fear rods hands down in my opinion but you must have very deep pockets.

 

[Big Al1]

Re: Best fresh water rods

Just bought a $50 Berkley Bionix rod from Wal-Mart. This is my second Berkley Bionix rod and I must say this is definitely the best rod for the money. Most sensitive rod I have ever used. I had a Bionix baitcasting 6 footer that I broke and I replaced it with a $130 St. Croix SCIII graphite rod and I'm not sure which one is better. All I know is that the Bionix rods are the lightest, most sensitive rod I've seen for under $150. Plenty of backbone too. My brand new 7ft Bionix worked great last weekend fighting a 32 inch redfish for 15 minutes. I babied the fish all the way to the net.