New Spinning Rod

[kbbgood]

I've been looking to get a new spinning rod for fishing out of my canoe, pontoon boat on the river or the lake with my buddy in his boat. We go out for crappie, smallmouth, largemouth, trout. I have a bunch of light or ultralite tackle but want a med lite or med 6' or 6 1\2' rod. Which might be the best?  6' or 6 1\2'? Never had a 6 1\2' before.

[rps]

What price range? How long time frame? Serious questions, as I have suggestions.

BTW 6 foot works better in a canoe. 6.5 foot fits the pontoon better. Which is your choice.

[kbbgood]

$100 or less.

Been looking at the Berkley Lighting rod.  Just don't know.

[jdmidwest]

I love my 6'6" med light Lightening rod.  Love it trolling shad raps and flicker shads for smallies.

The long butt section does get in the way casting from a kayak or canoe.  But it gives the rod alot of backbone fighting bigger fish than its designed for.  You can brace it along your forearm to fight the fish with it well.

[rps]

The Falcon Bucoo line falls within your range, and I have always liked Falcon rods. I owned 7 or 8 in the last thirty years. I still have one I use for trout and pan fish.

For $105 you can get a St Croix Triump medium light at Bass Pro that would be a 20 year rod.

Abu Garcia has a line called Vendetta with a $90 offering that fits your description.

The reason I propose these is that I once owned, briefly, a Lightning rod. It was heavy and fell apart. It may have been an exception, but I rarely give second chances.

These are merely suggestions. I hope you find what you seek for as little money as you intend.

 

[trouty mouth]

I recommend you to avoid Berkley Lightning rods. I grabbed one as a cheapo replacement for another rod. $35 seemed like a good deal. 

It was a 6'6" and rated for 8 to 12lb line. Tip was very flimsy in the top 1/4 and then the mid and butt section were harder than rebar. 

Guess where it broke? Right where the rod started to get stiff. About 8 inches above the ferrule. I was running 6lb Trilene mono (regular label) and got myself hooked on a bush while I was downstream in a kayak. My drag was pulling out while I was giving it a tug and the rod just snapped. 

I did repair the rod and fished it for about another year before it broke again crappie fishing & pulling up a branch out of a lake. Same reel and same 6lb mono. 

I wish I would have spent my cheap monies on an ugly stick. 

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, trouty mouth said:

I recommend you to avoid Berkley Lightning rods. I grabbed one as a cheapo replacement for another rod. $35 seemed like a good deal. 

It was a 6'6" and rated for 8 to 12lb line. Tip was very flimsy in the top 1/4 and then the mid and butt section were harder than rebar.

Who sells a 6'6" 2pc. Berkley Lightning Rod ?    I've only seen/owned 1pc. models.   

[MOPanfisher]

I bought a one pie e 5 1/2 LA Berkley lightning for a throw away grab and go rod for my truck.  I really like it, have caught a ton of crappie and white bass on it.  Probably mostly because it is always there close by.  It is not equal.to my old St. Croix crappie rod but it does work well.

[Terrierman]

I have 6'6" St. Croix Premier in LF and MLF.  The MLF is a big step up from the LF.  It's at its best with 10 lb. Line.  I'd save a few bucks on something else and put it towards a lot better rod.

[Ketchup]

Are you in the Springfield area?