DB,
I know this is outside your target budget, but I too
am EXTREMELY satisfied with a Curado strapped to a
St. Croix Avid. I prefer the fast medium action versions
in the 6’6″ to 7′ range for most bait casting usage. If
I need more power, I use Power Pro braid, and if I need
stealth, or abrasion resistance, I use fluorcarbon line.
I have seen many instances of where people have
grown out of those mid range rods, like Cabelas,
Bass Pro Shops, Shimano, etc, and into next level
rods of St. Croix, Loomis, Falcon, etc. So if you
can at all find a way to scrape together the extra
cash, for a $150 to $200 rod, you might want to
go out an test a few, before paying about half of
that, on a rod that might feel like a club, to you,
in a couple of years. In the long run, buying a rod
that you can grow into, rather than grow out of, really
is cheaper. I know I have sold many $50 to $80 rods,
at my wife’s rummage sale for about 25% of the original
cost.
One way to save some money on St. Croix rods, if you are
ever in Northern Wisconsin, is to visit their factory
store, in Park Falls. You will find Avids on the rack
for 50% to 80% of the store price. They have a reduced
warranty, but that is about all the difference I have
seen. They say there are some minor cosmetic differences,
or some kind of blank irregularity, found at raw blank
manufacturing time. I have filled in a couple of “fun”
rods, like a 6’9″ MLXF Avid, that is a blast to fun
fish plastics with, with these seconds rods, and have
had ZERO problems with them, and they seem to have every
bit of the feel, and performance, of the first quality
Avids. For my tournament fishing, all of my rods used,
are first quality rods, that I have purchased, and
abuse. I have had several, “my fault” problems with
them, and St. Croix, has fixed them FAST, and no questions
asked. So depending what you want out of them, you
can save some money, and be kind to them, or you can
pay full price, abuse them, and get a life time warranty,
that really is a good warranty. But anyway I cut it, St.
Croix has the sweetest feel for me.
But if a Cabelas FIsh Eagle, or a Shimano, or one of the
other very good mid priced rods feels great to you,
and you haven’t experienced “growing out of rods”, then
save your money, and get one of these rods. Not everyone
develops that kind of touch. It doesn’t mean you are
any less of a fisherman if you don’t, either. I have
a friend that has these big pork sausage fingers, that
isn’t ever really sure what is in his hand(grin), and he
can flat wear me out some days, with rods that are
one step above a Snoopy rod. Picking a rod really
is about what feels good to you, and what you believe
will feel good down the road. The trick I am speaking
of is the down the road part. For me, I has had an
expensive lesson learning to buy rods that I could
grow into, rather than grow out of.
Big Bass Bane
