Best spinning rod around 50 dollars?

Its tax season which means one thing, time to buy a new fishing rod! Looking for a trunk pole/ multi-purpose as possible(trout, lake trout, walleye and bass). By trunk pole I mean something tough, has to be a two piece and not crazy expensive. Decided I want to put a Mitchell 300 pro reel on whatever I get(seems like a good balance of price, strength and quality).
Looking for the following specs:
Length: 6′-6″ or 7′ (leaning toward 7′)
Must be two Piece(have a one piece)
Looking for a medium weight

Looked at and considering the following rods: Abu Garcia Vengeance, Berkley Lightning shock, Shimano Convergence and No. 8 tackle hellbent spinning rod(13 fishing brand that makes rods a little easier on the wallet, couldn’t find much on them).
Leaning toward the Vengeance but not sure yet.

Let me know what ya think.
Any experience is greatly appreciated as well.

I’m usually the one annoyed by guys recommending rods over a budget, but the Shimano Sellus is a great rod for around $65. I pick that over some of my rods that cost 2-3x as much. Handle is supercomfy unlike some of those others you mentioned. Worth checking out.

I was actually in store and had the convergence, compre, and sellus all in hand and chose the Sellus. I went in to buy the Compre.

I vote the ugly stick. I haven’t broken one yet and they are also some of the most sensitive rods.

I’m not sure about the price, but Gander Mountain’s Guide Series rods, IMO are good value. Their IM8 model is one of my favorites, I couldn’t tell you for sure what I paid for it, but it’s a ML action 7 footer and it’s a 2 piece. Which I agree, is very nice to have if you travel at all or fish out of someone else’s boat.

Grouse

I’m looking for a multi-purpose rod close to that price range also (maybe a few $ more); thinking a 6’6″-7′ in medium-light or medium. I have been pretty interested in a Fenwick Eagle ($65-70) but also curious what others suggest.
I may have to check out that Shimano Sellus.

My vote for that price range is the Ugly Stick Light tough rod and does a great job. I use 2 of them for trolling wingdams it will handle any fish we have around here and yet light enough to make panfish fun.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

I’m not sure about the price, but Gander Mountain’s Guide Series rods, IMO are good value. Their IM8 model is one of my favorites, I couldn’t tell you for sure what I paid for it, but it’s a ML action 7 footer and it’s a 2 piece. Which I agree, is very nice to have if you travel at all or fish out of someone else’s boat.

Grouse

Does anyone know who manufactures the gander rods? I bought two of them a while back. I broke one, my own dumb fault, and the other is still in my arsenal and I like it for the most part. It’s a 6’6 Mf.

I just bought a 6’6″ MF shimano conververgence for my fiance to use. Got it for the price point of $60. Well I fished with it for one day and decided that I like it more than my $100 medium action rod I usually use!

I agree with hamm, the handles are super comfy and sensitive on the shimano rods.

I’ve had good luck with cabelas tourney trail rods. Significantly more sensitive than ugly sticks and they run them on sale quite often for about 30 bucks if time is not of the essence. Not sure who makes them for cabelas. I do not have much experience with ‘good’ rods like st croix so how they compare to a higher end product I don’t know.

The sellus looks nice and for another 20 or so dollars isn’t to big of a deal. When looking at pictures the rods have a certain “type” printed near the handle. Examples: drop shot and top water are the ones I have seen. Not familiar with what this means and what the difference is.
Anyone Know?

I was at cabelas last week and wiggled a few rods, picked up a Jason Michell 7ft 2inche med walleye rod. Kind felt like a berkley series one, I got 2, i think 65.00 a piece. Their one piece i would find away to transport them , Dk

I have 3 Berkly lightning shock poles. I really like them they have a lot of back bone for great hook sets. But still are sensitive enough to feel the number 3 size spinner on my walleye rigs. $49 at bass pro $39 at Walmart.

Toss another 30 bucks on there and get a Limit Creek Smootie. Great rods for the money.

Miles bruns wrote:

The sellus looks nice and for another 20 or so dollars isn’t to big of a deal. When looking at pictures the rods have a certain “type” printed near the handle. Examples: drop shot and top water are the ones I have seen. Not familiar with what this means and what the difference is.
Anyone Know?

I didn’t notice if mine had a print or not, I saw the higher end rods did. I don’t let manufacturers tell me what the rod can do, I tell what the rod can do. My 72 MH does quite well with several styles of fishing.

The Fenwick Eagle is a great choice as well, but have heard braid eats the guides up. Maybe they’ve changed since then, or you don’t use braid.

If we fish to feed our family we have to be wise enough to choose our equipment for use, rather than to look good. Age 72, fishing since I was 6 yrs olde. When I need a new spinning rod I go to a big box discount store. You can pick a rod by feel and have it serve you as a tool. Some of my 3 spinning rods are 20 years old, and still producing meals at our house. Most I ever paid was $29.00 for an extra long spinning rod. Usually spend under $20.00.

I’ve found some very nice rods and combos still in use after many years and fish by just walking into a Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop, or Gander Mt. and seeing what they have thrown in the close-out barrels. I’ve bought Fenwick/Abu Garcia walleye combos for under $80 I’ve won tourneys with and a Bass Pro baitcaster combo for $50 that’s still one of my favorites, especially since the rod I bought to replace it is now on the bottom of the Spirit River Flowage.

poomunk wrote:

I’ve had good luck with cabelas tourney trail rods. Significantly more sensitive than ugly sticks and they run them on sale quite often for about 30 bucks if time is not of the essence. Not sure who makes them for cabelas. I do not have much experience with ‘good’ rods like st croix so how they compare to a higher end product I don’t know.

I’ve only used tourny trail in the musky sizes, but they’re fantastic rods for the price. I would bet there are a few walleye sized rods that break down. Always a few in the “Cave” too.

Okuma Reflexions spin landed my biggest walleye and smallmouth. Has been a great rod for 55 bucks. 7′ medium light. Fishes more like a medium to me.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

I’m not sure about the price, but Gander Mountain’s Guide Series rods, IMO are good value. Their IM8 model is one of my favorites, I couldn’t tell you for sure what I paid for it, but it’s a ML action 7 footer and it’s a 2 piece. Which I agree, is very nice to have if you travel at all or fish out of someone else’s boat.

Grouse

Watch for sales,I bought 4 IM8 rods for 39.99,and 1 GSX54 for 49.99 a few years back.Very nice rods for the cash.Broke one and replaced no problem.1 is on the bottom of the river…

I heard GM rods were made by Quantum or All-Star?

Trunk rod = Ugly Stick.

aleb wrote:

I have 3 Berkly lightning shock poles.

That different from the long standing lightning rod series?

I’ve always liked Lightning rods. I guess because it was one of the first mid range rod I ever bought as a youngster.

By the same token I always saw Ugly Sticks as gimmick rods with plastic tips meant for Zebco closed faced reels for guys who really weren’t serious about fishing. I do have an Ugly Stick on a cat rod and before you blast me, I don’t feel that way about Ugly Sticks anymore.

Have bought the Cabelas Tourney Trails for my teenage kids who are tough on equipment. Have always thought – dang, these are actually pretty nice rods. If/when they do break, I have found Cabelas to be pretty much no questions asked if it’s their in-house brand…easy replacement. Some other non-Cabelas brands you need to be ready with a receipt you bought it there and a legitimate reason why it should be replaced (outside of operator error).

Slightly different thing to think about.

Trunk rod = Ugly Stik

OR

Trunk rod = nicer graphite rod with a rod case

After breaking a few rods on canoe trips I picked up a cheap pvc case. Fits a couple two piece rods. Bounces around a trunk or a canoe trip just fine. Haven’t broken a rod now in 8+years.

catmando wrote:

I was at cabelas last week and wiggled a few rods, picked up a Jason Michell 7ft 2inche med walleye rod. Kind felt like a berkley series one, I got 2, i think 65.00 a piece. Their one piece i would find away to transport them , Dk

I would have to agree with catmando… I found some good prices on the Jason Mitchell rods last year and have to say for the price they are excellent. I see that they have a new version/update this year also, but it looks liek the grip went from foam/rubber to cork on the new version. I would guess if you can wait for them to go on sale you could get one for around $45 or possibly less. I now have 3 models (6’4″, 7′, and 7″2″) and have to say they are all nice.. Not as good as some of my higher end rods but hard to beat with the warranty and for the price.