BPS Bionic Blade 6'6" ML/F spinning rod

[Seth]

I see that BPS has the cork handled Bionic Blades on sale for $50, but they are on back order. I'm thinking about ordering a 6'6" ML/F 1 piece. It's main use will be for fishing 1/8oz marabou jigs for trout on Taneycomo, shooting 1/16oz jigs for crappie on LoZ and finesse fishing with tubes, NED's and grubs for bass on Ozarks streams. Does anybody else have experience with this rod and if so, how did you like it?

I couldn't find the newer EVA handle Bionic Blades in the same action or length. They have the same rod in the Carbonlite model, but it is $100. Is there much difference between the Bionic Blade and Carbonlite rods?

[Ham]

IMO, kinda a lot to ask one rod to do all those different jobs. You're either going to be too heavy for trout and crappie or too light on the bass end of things.

[Seth]

I've used a 7' light action BPS Microlite for trout/crappie and a 7'2" medium fast 13 fishing omen green for the bass duties for several years. For the duties that I mentioned in my original post, I'm always wishing I had something that fell in between both of these rods. The light action rod is great for casting 1/32-3/32oz jigs and the medium fast is perfect for trick worms and shakey heads though.

[Ham]

I really, really like the Browning Air Stream 7 foot "UL" rod. It fishes a lot more like a "L" to me. Very sensitive. Slings 1/16 and 1/8 oz jigs very well. It would do a Ned, but ion the light side. I like a little slower rod for a grub, but it could do it.I think the larger hook of a tube might be an issue, but who knows.

[cbass12]

I have that rod in the old full cork model (before they upgraded to the newer cork model) and it's a fantastic, and versatile rod. I use it for all the things you've listed and it performs very well. I will say it's probably a little light for tubes though.

[Seth]

Is the newer cork model not nearly as good? What you said about the old cork model is identical to what many others seem to be sayinig as I scour other fishing forums on the internet.

I think you guys are probably right on the tube stuff. I'm not one that fishes finesse tubes on a jighead very often anyways. That type of fishing usually saved for float trips. Tube fishing to me usually consists of a texas rigged 4" tube pitched to cover on a 7' mh baitcaster with 17# fluorocarbon.

[Smalliebigs]

I think the blade is a serviceable trout rod but, they don't have the back bone for bass......dang!!!! I was gonna send you this link to an Ebay listing for a Duckett 6'6" med Micro Pro spinning rod for  $80 but, it's gone Seth.......dang it I shoulda just bought the darn thing and sold it to someone who needed it.....I have one and I really love what it can do for stream bass.....a tad heavy for crappie though