CTFishTalk.com: Higher end Fishing Rods? - Connecticut Bait, Tackle, Rods and Reels etc… ( CT Bait, Tackle, Rods and Reels etc… ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

sevnseat · Site Admin Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 602

Getting really amped to start fishing for the year, which usually means a rather nasty Amex bill.... But I thought I would ask before I took the plunge:

Anybody here have experience with GLoomis or St. Croix Rods? I have one St. Croix that I picked up on sale that I really love, but its a little long and a little too lite for the fishing that I do. I'm looking at the Gloomis Bronzeback rods or similar from St. Croix, but I mean, plunking down 2-3 benjamins on a rod almost seems a little silly. I'm not fly fishing here.

So, lets hear from you guys who use these rods. I Applaud St. Croix rods for being Made in the USA, and I do like the one I have, but like I said, I picked it up for 50-60 bucks...
_________________
Golf Bravo Romeo - Where there's always a crosswind, but nobody will tell you.

chuckc · Forum Police Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 1384

You can't go wrong with Shimano or G loomis for spinning rods. They are made by the same company and the warranty blows everyone else out of the water! For casting I like team daiwa but alot of guys are throwing kistler these days.

SkeeterJim · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 2221 Location: Newington, CT

Ditto what Chuck said. The ones Chuck mentioned are good rods but I'm a Team Daiwa man also. Just luv those green sticks, right Chuck!
_________________
Eat, Sleep, Fish......I Love my SKEETER ZX225!!!
If I didn't have to work for a living....I'd be fishing.
If I'm not in my Skeeter then I'm in my Hobie!

Pappy · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 125 Location: Derby, CT

I was a St. Croix Tournament Series guy until I tried the Shimano Crucial at the encouragement of Mike Kane down at Tournament Force Tackle in Guilford. I love 'em. There about $80 cheaper, better backbone and offer a lifetime unconditional warranty.

My son broke the tip off one last summer after only a couple of months of use and Mike replaced it no questions asked. My son-in-law at the end of the season broke the tip off my St. Croix TBS Tube Rod and it cost me $50 to get it replaced and $20 in shipping. That rod costs $220 today. The Shimano counterpart at Tournament Force $149.

I've bought Shimano from then on both spinning and baitcasting. I don't think you'll find a better rod for the money and for $149 will get the job done!

Walt

Justin · Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Farmington, CT

I think all around the Shimano Crucial are the best for the price. The Loomis are awesome rods, but the price is way high for many people. I've had many different brands, from All-Star, St. Croix, Quantum Tour Edition PT, to Castaway and each have their pros and cons. The Quantums are about the same price as the Shimano Crucial, but the Quantums have way too many defects...handles/cork, guides and reel seats breaking for no reason. Once I need to replace the rods, I'm going with Shimano.

sevnseat · Site Admin Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 602

Hmm the shimanos do seem like a good choice. I just can't justify spending the money on the loomis rods... yet.
_________________
Golf Bravo Romeo - Where there's always a crosswind, but nobody will tell you.

Rookie · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 438 Location: Milford Ct

I got rid of all my other rods that werent shimano clarus and bought all new ones. I even got rid of the shimano convergence, even though, to a weekend warrior, they are good rods, and have lifetime over the counter also.

Now all i have is shimano clarus. Granted, clarus is the lower end rod, they are very nice rods for the money. Specialy when you get deals on them.

Just picked up the last 2 today at tournament force. Now i have all ten im gonna need Smile

Im sure, and ive felt them at TF, the higher end shimano's would be nice rods too, but i cant justify the price increase for the same weekend warrior stuff i do.

Any way you go about it, anything in shimano is gonna be a nice setup
_________________
Thar aint NO fish in here !!!!!!!!

Pappy · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 125 Location: Derby, CT

Rookie makes a good point about the cost and the warranty. It's available on a number of the lower priced models. I just bought the lowest price model with the warranty to get my 15 year old started in baitcasting. I think it was a Clarus. I know it was around $40. (He breaks a lot of tips Rolling Eyes

). The lower priced models are not quite as stiff as the higher priced, generally a little lighter than the rating on backbone (a MH is more like a M on the higher priced rods). But where can you find a rod in that price range with a lifetime unconditional warranty? Tournament Force has the whole line in stock. Mike's in Guilford on the Post Road (exit 57 of I95 coming from NH). If you get a chance go down and check them out. You should call first though (203) 453-2200 because he's finishing up his shows for the next two weeks so the shop is a mess and only open the first couple days usually. By first week in March he should be back to normal and restocking all his inventory.

Walt

SkeeterJim · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 2221 Location: Newington, CT

Walt, I think you meant exit 57 off of I-95 not 91. Wink

_________________
Eat, Sleep, Fish......I Love my SKEETER ZX225!!!
If I didn't have to work for a living....I'd be fishing.
If I'm not in my Skeeter then I'm in my Hobie!

Pappy · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 125 Location: Derby, CT

Ouch!

Indeed!

I'm not even sure there is a exit 57 on I91. I know Bradley is exit 40.

I changed the post as well.

Thanks for the heads up.

sevnseat · Site Admin Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 602

I'd love to get down to tournament force, but it's a huge hike for me, I'm in the far NW corner of the state. My Father has a small sporting goods store, I'll see if I can have him order me one.

What you spoke of on the backbone and the stiffness is really what I'm looking for. I need something with a very sensitive at the the tip but with a lot of backbone. I tried to fish for smallies last year with a M Fenwick rod, and found I couldn't really feel the bites I was getting on the senkos, but I sure loved having the authority to haul on them when I knew they had it.
_________________
Golf Bravo Romeo - Where there's always a crosswind, but nobody will tell you.

Just4fun · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 1318 Location: Saybrook

Another vote for Crucials! IMO,..when you factor everything in, including the warranty,..I believe they are the best bang for the buck in that mid-price region for rods!

ps: They are also available at Cabelas,..and I know D i c k s used to have them too,..not sure about now though!
_________________
"If people concentrated more on the really important things in life there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
Mark

Pappy · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 125 Location: Derby, CT

Sevnseat,

If you would be wililng to hold off your purchase until the first Saturday in April, I'd be happy to take you out on Lake Housatonic and let you fish with my Shimano rods to get a feel for them. I'll even bring the Clarus with me I bought my son. If your concerned about the backbone, I think the Crucial would be a better choice. I might get out on the lower river before that depending upon what my schedule looks like and what the weather is. If you'd be interested in either send me a PM with your contact info.

If your dad can't get one, you could order it from Mike, pre-pay for it and I'd be happy to pick it up for you. I can't see Cabela's providing the same type of service he does, if you should need it. I live in Derby, which should cut your trip in half. I'm out a Mike's quite a bit as I work in NH and it's only about a 15 minute ride for me.

Walt

ctfishtalk · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

This site has a great group of guys! Its nice to see these days!

I'm real proud to be on this site.

Marc
_________________
~ Marc

Just one more cast...

sevnseat · Site Admin Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 602