Kevin Van Dam Forums

i like the composite rods, like the Ugly Stik Lite series. not as stiff as a full graphite and better feel that a full glass rod. plus i don’t worry about breaking them and if i do it’s only 40 bucks. I will be using these rods a lot this year, for cranks, lipless, spinnerbait/chatterbaits, swimjig, swimbaits. i use the heavier stuff for froggin and wormin.

CincySid - 06 February 2012 08:20 AM

i like the composite rods, like the Ugly Stik Lite series. not as stiff as a full graphite and better feel that a full glass rod. plus i don’t worry about breaking them and if i do it’s only 40 bucks. I will be using these rods a lot this year, for cranks, lipless, spinnerbait/chatterbaits, swimjig, swimbaits. i use the heavier stuff for froggin and wormin.

Those make excellent budget cranking rods.  A buddy I recommended an ugly stik too upgraded to a BPS cranking stick last year.  I gotta a chance to fish with it and I say if you ever want a higher performance crankbait rod than the ugly stick check out the Crankin stick.  I’m really impressed by that rod and they go on sale at least once a year for $60.

This past year I’ve gotten into the Alstar ASR rods. Nice rod for the money. BH

TorqueConverter - 06 February 2012 01:24 AM

twitch - 05 February 2012 11:05 AM

Like anything else, there is a learning curve involved. Composite rods arent for eveyone. But if you take the time to get familiar with one, you’ll see their advantages over graphite. Its all a matter of keeping one in your hand long enough.

I think composite rods are fairly easy to use.  The KVD tour cranking rod is not composite but a full glass rod from tip to butt.  I’m really liking glass a lot.  I fished with a few composites before, but full glass does definitely have some advantages over composite.

The KVD E-Glass rods are a mixture of glass and graphite…...or a composite.
Big difference over a full glass rod like the David Fritts rod AR offers. I had these at first because Fritts is the OG in deep cranking. But I wasnt happy with them…or at least the first series he put out.

http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/1918/Tour-KVD.aspx

twitch - 07 February 2012 02:50 AM

TorqueConverter - 06 February 2012 01:24 AM

twitch - 05 February 2012 11:05 AM

Like anything else, there is a learning curve involved. Composite rods arent for eveyone. But if you take the time to get familiar with one, you’ll see their advantages over graphite. Its all a matter of keeping one in your hand long enough.

I think composite rods are fairly easy to use.  The KVD tour cranking rod is not composite but a full glass rod from tip to butt.  I’m really liking glass a lot.  I fished with a few composites before, but full glass does definitely have some advantages over composite.

The KVD E-Glass rods are a mixture of glass and graphite…...or a composite.
Big difference over a full glass rod like the David Fritts rod AR offers. I had these at first because Fritts is the OG in deep cranking. But I wasnt happy with them…or at least the first series he put out.

http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/1918/Tour-KVD.aspx

You are correct, however if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck it is…... e-glass!  The KVD is an e-glass rod.  The glass is composite, not the rod itself.  It is not a high modulus graphite blank with a glass tip like what you would see in a conventional glass/graphite composite rod.  Its a glass rod with the glass itself being technically a composite material.  This means the KVD fishes just like a traditional glass rod but is slightly more sensitive than other glass rods that are not e-glass.  It is a far cry form the high modulus graphite with glass tip section rods that we commonly call composite rods.  It’s fancy glass, and that is both damning and redeeming at the same time. 

If you love full glass rods you will love the KVD.  If you hate them then you hate the KVD.  To be be quite frank, composite rod my ass.

TorqueConverter - 06 February 2012 08:43 AM

CincySid - 06 February 2012 08:20 AM

i like the composite rods, like the Ugly Stik Lite series. not as stiff as a full graphite and better feel that a full glass rod. plus i don’t worry about breaking them and if i do it’s only 40 bucks. I will be using these rods a lot this year, for cranks, lipless, spinnerbait/chatterbaits, swimjig, swimbaits. i use the heavier stuff for froggin and wormin.

Those make excellent budget cranking rods.  A buddy I recommended an ugly stik too upgraded to a BPS cranking stick last year.  I gotta a chance to fish with it and I say if you ever want a higher performance crankbait rod than the ugly stick check out the Crankin stick.  I’m really impressed by that rod and they go on sale at least once a year for $60.

I don’t do a lot of cranking when and where I fish, although, i plan on cranking more, so it’s not worth it to me to buy a techique specific rod.

those Ugly Stik Lites i have bought recently i can use for several different techniques. If i had a boat and the money i would have several of every technique specific rod but since i don’t and never will, i buy rods that i can use effectively for many different techniques.

so when i start to break what i have now i got several more i can substitute for the broken one and sooner or later if i live long enough i will have only Ugly Stik rods left. thanks for your suggestion.

RiverRat - 03 February 2012 07:01 PM

Next time your at Wally’s check out a Berkley cherry rod.  They have good mid-flex.  I do have 2 Skeets, but I’m getting used to the feel of the rods.

I agree with RiverRat.  Walmart carries the Cherrywood by Berkeley as well as both rods you are deciding between.  For the money you save by choosing the Cherrywood you can fill a tacklebox and will still be happy with the performance of your rod.