Does anybody use off brand or lower end tackle because it works better? By that I mean it would be like a secondary mfg. For instance Berkley and Shakespear, or Rapala. I know they are good, but not like Quantum or Abu. Yes, I do know that some of them are owned by Pure or Zebco. What I’m getting at is that I got a 2pc rod from GM that’s about 60 bucks. It’s a 7’ MH baitcasting. What I like about it is that it is a true MH that’s balanced and has some tip flex. I could use it for chatterbaits, buzzbaits, and lipless cranks. It would seem a shame to take the cheaper rod and leave a St. Croix at home. Every once in a while you come across something that works that is actually cheaper.
My stuff is all main brand, with Abu reels & various rod manufacturers. If you’re talking lures, then I’d have a big list of using cheaper stuff, since I’ve been unimpressed with a lot of my higher end lures that I don’t think produce any better than their cheaper counterparts. In some cases I think perform worse, Rapala Clackin’ Raps, I’m looking at you with my spooky eyes on.
The Berkley Frenzy is a good example of a low end crankbait and jerkbait that was discontinued. It took a few years for guys to realize that despite the cheap construction and lacking paint job, that the bait actually does a great job catching fish.
As far as rods and reels go, I have 4 or 5 combos at the house that are still perfectly fine to use. Some of them are even new. But I leave them on the rod stand and load up my newer gear.
I’ve got a Berkley Lightning Rod paired with that Abu SilverMax reel. It came as a combo from Dick’s Sporting Goods. I love it. Very light and handled a 5 lb bass very well. I stay away from 2 piece rods ever since I broke a 2 piece Ugly Stik setting the hook on a fish. All my other rods are 1 piece Ugly Stiks. Love them even though they are on the heavy side. JMHO.
All the cheaper rods I had are now all broke, except a quantum Bill Dance spinning rod thats probally 10 years old. I dont even remember buying it. I caught alot of fish on it.
i have several tech specs and love them. a couple skeet poles and just got a mojo for my birthday. All my reels are either quantums, abu garcia or bass pro. love what i use or i wouldnt use it. dont care about the cost as long as it works the way i want.
i have several tech specs and love them. a couple skeet poles and just got a mojo for my birthday. All my reels are either quantums, abu garcia or bass pro. love what i use or i wouldnt use it. dont care about the cost as long as it works the way i want.
Riverrat-I have two spinning rods that are the Guide Series rods from Gander Mtn. No complaints here, actually they are my only spinning rods and right now, dont see a need to replace them or buy higher end ones. they work very well for me and when I was in Canada, dragging a light jig across the rocks or working a YUM dinger, I had great feel with them and was able to feel the light bites as the bite slowed down in an area. (they would hammer the bait at first and as we continued to catch them, you could tell they were less and less aggressive and subtly taking the bait). For the money, its a good rod. I was going to buy some baitcasting rods from them but I can get KVD signature series rods for $30 more so there was no need.
the only name brand rods i have are the quantums i bought off of Flyman. All my other rods and all my reels except one are NOT the top name brands. i actually like my 7’ MH fast tip pro guide rods i bought from Cabelas more than any other ones i have or have tried. They are not as stiff and have a more flexible tip. Any bait over 1/2 oz is to much for them but i rarely throw anything over 1/2 oz. All my other mh rods are heavy as far as i am concerned. The PRO Guide 2 piece rods from Cabelas go for $40. I’d like to have 10 more, i can throw damn near everything on them. they were strong enough to haul in the 9 lber from last year. Doubt if i ever catch any bass bigger than that.
Most of my rods are Cabelas brand as well MagTouch,Prodigy,XML and XMLTi with some Cabelas brand Prodigy baitcast reels as well. Majority of my reels are Quantum on both the spinning and casting side of things. I do have a Dicks Tec Spec 7’ MH Rig & Jig rod that has been a great surprise and is very sensitive when used for the specific techniques but find myself using it as a topwater rod as well and it handles that duty with no problems. One reel I have and purchased years ago off ebay is a Rainbow BM 1000 and it has been through years of service and just starting to get a little rough on the retreive. It’s a great reel for $20 I paid for it and has paid for itself many times over.
