Rod suggestions (on a budget)

[riverhyker]

I am no expert at all...been fishing for over 50 years...the argument will always go on as to what is the best equipment, but I don't see paying the kind of money that most companies are charging any more for rods and lures...even to the point that I am going to make my own lures, and no, I will not pay big money for a rod.  That is my opinion.  We will always argue these points.  

My way of looking at it is this...If I have a chance to make a 6 figure salary....I am buying top gear.  If I am being sponsored by companies that give me gear.  I am being given these 18.00 lures/400.00 rods/and a 75,000,000 boat, but I ain't buying it...then if this is now my profession, different story.  

The ever increasing costs....If you can afford to buy these high dollar lures/rods/boats (upwards of half of a house)...go for it.  Believe me, I am happy for you and the prosperity that you have probably truly worked for...Most don't know the stress that it takes to be a semi-pro/pro, or just to get where you are...whether you are a guide, or are lucky enough to make enough money to get there.  Much respect from me.

but....if you are where most are, we are not making 6 figure salaries...we fish to fish.  I have went from fishing MO waters to salt water fishing using the same brand of rods (budget class).  I have out-fished my son in Oregon ocean fishing with an Ugly Stick, watched him break a High Dollar rod, my Ugly Stick hung in there even on bigger fish.  (I raised my son on MO waters and Woods....lost my best partner, because he needed more...ha, ha, ha, there is always a price).  I remember my Cherrywood and fiberglass poles...broke one...(maybe I wasn't catching big enough fish?  25 lb cat and 30 lb carp..caught on my grandfathers fiberglass.)  Who's selling who?

[Champ188]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Dakota. It was definitely enough to turn me off of them. Frankly, there are a lot of decent rods out there in the $100 to $175 range. I used the Shimanos simply because of the fantastic warranty. I've been moving over to Duckett for several years now.

[DADAKOTA]

I'm going to have to find a new stick for that NIB Curado CU-201 I found on my shelf.  Maybe a new stickbait rod.  Any suggestions?

[Ham]

12 minutes ago, DADAKOTA said:

I'm going to have to find a new stick for that NIB Curado CU-201 I found on my shelf.  Maybe a new stickbait rod.  Any suggestions?

Dang, I'm going to have to check the shelves in my house closer. Maybe their is a NIB Curado laying around my house somewhere.

I've been really happy with the Falcon Cara Jerk bait rod I bought from Mr Babbler. It does other things well also so it can get used for other things when the jerk bait bite isn't the best thing going.

[DADAKOTA]

Now if I could just find that giant spool of 10# fluoro I think I bought last year.  Can't recall.

[dtrs5kprs]

6 hours ago, Ham said:

Dang, I'm going to have to check the shelves in my house closer. Maybe their is a NIB Curado laying around my house somewhere.

I've been really happy with the Falcon Cara Jerk bait rod I bought from Mr Babbler. It does other things well also so it can get used for other things when the jerk bait bite isn't the best thing going.

I could walk to one right now. Couple actually. Put them away against need. 200's and the little 100 super free.

[Ham]

3 minutes ago, dtrs5kprs said:

I could walk to one right now. Couple actually. Put them away against need. 200's and the little 100 super free.

I could be a little mad about that, but I have no right to be. I have lots of wonderful fishing gear. Gear is not holding me back. Finding time to go is what's holding me back.

[Quillback]

23 hours ago, Smalliebigs said:

hahaha.....thanks I just picked up a Tatula type R 7.3:1 from Sportsmen outfitters for  $120 free shipping.....thanks for the heads up.....I have an extra Cara with it's name on it

I got the regular Tatula a few weeks ago, so far it has really impressed me for a reel in it's price range.

Don't know if you know this, but I believe you can get a Huk hoodie for $5 if you kept your receipt and the UPC code off the box.  You can get the form to send in from Tackle Warehouse, just look up the Tatula on their site and you should see the link to click for the form.

[abkeenan]

6 minutes ago, Quillback said:

I got the regular Tatula a few weeks ago, so far it has really impressed me for a reel in it's price range.

Don't know if you know this, but I believe you can get a Huk hoodie for $5 if you kept your receipt and the UPC code off the box.  You can get the form to send in from Tackle Warehouse, just look up the Tatula on their site and you should see the link to click for the form.

Yep. I bought mine before that promo deal dang it. I bought some HUK Kryptek gear and I really like it.

Link for freebie hoodie:

http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/PDF/DAIHUK.pdf#zoom=100

[abkeenan]

8 minutes ago, Quillback said:

I got the regular Tatula a few weeks ago, so far it has really impressed me for a reel in it's price range.

Don't know if you know this, but I believe you can get a Huk hoodie for $5 if you kept your receipt and the UPC code off the box.  You can get the form to send in from Tackle Warehouse, just look up the Tatula on their site and you should see the link to click for the form.

Also, the Type R is pretty much identical to the stardard Tatula. Only difference is in the color scheme and .3oz weight difference in the Type R which is negligible. No need to spend the extra $ on the Type R unless you want to look of the Type R cosmetically.