Trying to picking out a casting rod.

[kawasakikx250]

I finely got my first casting reel and now need to pick out a rod for it. Been looking at the Fenwick hmg & Elite Tech, Quatum smoke 2 also the St. Croix Avid X. The Avid X it past my price rang of 200 but my be worth it? What do you all recommend ? I don't head up north to get the huge pike yet. I find my self getting fish 4-5 pounds and under. fish for what ever is around so looking for an all around casting rod. Thanks for helping me in advance.

 

[Lund]

I finely got my first casting reel and now need to pick out a rod for it. Been looking at the Fenwick hmg & Elite Tech, Quatum smoke 2 also the St. Croix Avid X. The Avid X it past my price rang of 200 but my be worth it? What do you all recommend ? I don't head up north to get the huge pike yet. I find my self getting fish 4-5 pounds and under. fish for what ever is around so looking for an all around casting rod. Thanks for helping me in advance.

You can never go wrong with St. Croix if you can afford them, they are hand made here in America and i believe they are originally from Quebec but were bought and moved. My favorite fly rod is a St. Croix and i no longer use my other fly rods. For casting, i don't think i would spend that type of coin, a Fenwick, Diawa or even a Mitchell would be excellent choices, they are all made in Taiwan now.
Only for the art of fly fishing imo the money is well worth it on a St Croix.

 

[kawasakikx250]

You can never go wrong with St. Croix if you can afford them, they are hand made here in America and i believe they are originally from Quebec but were bought and moved. My favorite fly rod is a St. Croix and i no longer use my other fly rods. For casting, i don't think i would spend that type of coin, a Fenwick, Diawa or even a Mitchell would be excellent choices, they are all made in Taiwan now.
Only for the art of fly fishing imo the money is well worth it on a St Croix.

Thanks for the info and taking the time to reply.

 

[Travco28]

St. Croix is a great rod . But I find they break easy . If you want the best and the toughest go Gloomis . Fenwicks are nice also . Gloomis will cost quite a bit more though.

 

[HotShotHarry]

For the money, Ugly Sticks are hard to beat!

 

[neilsleder]

For the money, Ugly Sticks are heard to beat!

Can get your truck stuck and use the ugly stick for traction, and still fish with it after lol.

 

[gibsons]

I have a few G loomis rods and happy with them for baitcasting.

 

[Lund]

For the money, Ugly Sticks are hard to beat!

Well i have to admit, i have pulled more monster fish out of the salt chuck with an ugly stik then any other rods i've ever owned. So ya the Shakespeare Ugly stik is a winner in my gear.

 

[Lund]

I finely got my first casting reel and now need to pick out a rod for it. Been looking at the Fenwick hmg & Elite Tech, Quatum smoke 2 also the St. Croix Avid X. The Avid X it past my price rang of 200 but my be worth it? What do you all recommend ? I don't head up north to get the huge pike yet. I find my self getting fish 4-5 pounds and under. fish for what ever is around so looking for an all around casting rod. Thanks for helping me in advance.

Your question is very generic.
What your looking for is light to medium gear in the 4-5lb range. The bigger question would be the action you need to feel the fish and still be able to set the hook. Different species of fish will behave differently depending on the feeding habits. So you would need to know more about that before deciding on a rod as rods come in different actions from soft, medium and heavy.
I use different rods and set ups for different species, though rods kinda look alike they are not alike.
For example in my heavy gear, i have rods for Salmon and different rods for Halibut and different again for Sturgeon. All heavy gear but all design to perform different from each other.
Same with my fly gear, i have a rod that performs best in rivers that is 9ft long and another that is best on lakes or open water that is 12ft long.
This is also the case for light and medium gear like your looking for, lots of options but what is more important is knowing your fish.

Sorry if i'm making this complicated but i fish alot and i do see alot of guys coming back with very little to nothing. But then when you see their gear its no surprise.

 

[kawasakikx250]

Your question is very generic.
What your looking for is light to medium gear in the 4-5lb range. The bigger question would be the action you need to feel the fish and still be able to set the hook. Different species of fish will behave differently depending on the feeding habits. So you would need to know more about that before deciding on a rod as rods come in different actions from soft, medium and heavy.
I use different rods and set ups for different species, though rods kinda look alike they are not alike.
For example in my heavy gear, i have rods for Salmon and different rods for Halibut and different again for Sturgeon. All heavy gear but all design to perform different from each other.
Same with my fly gear, i have a rod that performs best in rivers that is 9ft long and another that is best on lakes or open water that is 12ft long.
This is also the case for light and medium gear like your looking for, lots of options but what is more important is knowing your fish.

Sorry if i'm making this complicated but i fish alot and i do see alot of guys coming back with very little to nothing. But then when you see their gear its no surprise.

I totally understand what your saying. Thanks for the reply. I’m going for a med/heavy fast action graphite 7 foot rod. The rod I have now is spinning graphite Med fast action. So I would like a little more back bone for my larger pike lures. My spinning rod is my first graphite rod and love how much you can feel so not looking for firberglass rods. Maybe I just grew up with really cheap firberglass rods. I’m just wanting to know what manufacturer makes the best rod 200 dollars or under.

 

[neilsleder]

I totally understand what your saying. Thanks for the reply. I’m going for a med/heavy fast action graphite 7 foot rod. The rod I have now is spinning graphite Med fast action. So I would like a little more back bone for my larger pike lures. My spinning rod is my first graphite rod and love how much you can feel so not looking for firberglass rods. Maybe I just grew up with really cheap firberglass rods. I’m just wanting to know what manufacturer makes the best rod 200 dollars or under.

My is a spinning rod med rod. It’s a Fenwick eagle claw. It’s no where near a $200 rod but it was just over a $100. It’s a very nice rod nice action. Only thing is it doesn’t have ceramic eyes and the line makes lots of noise. You’ll loose lots of feel with a heavy rod but will have better setting power. If you want lots of feel get a lighter rod with braid line you will feel everything. I used to buy heavier rods with big line. But now I buy lighter rods and lighter line and play with my fish a bit more. Makes it funner then just dragging them in. Another tip for pike is don’t use steel leaders. Buy your own snaps and swivels and tie fluorocarbon leaders. In a slow day of fishing you will out fish guys using steel leaders.

 

[kawasakikx250]

My is a spinning rod med rod. It’s a Fenwick eagle claw. It’s no where near a $200 rod but it was just over a $100. It’s a very nice rod nice action. Only thing is it doesn’t have ceramic eyes and the line makes lots of noise. You’ll loose lots of feel with a heavy rod but will have better setting power. If you want lots of feel get a lighter rod with braid line you will feel everything. I used to buy heavier rods with big line. But now I buy lighter rods and lighter line and play with my fish a bit more. Makes it funner then just dragging them in. Another tip for pike is don’t use steel leaders. Buy your own snaps and swivels and tie fluorocarbon leaders. In a slow day of fishing you will out fish guys using steel

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the Fenwick hmg, And quantum smoke 2. Both graphite rods.

 

[Lund]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the Fenwick hmg, And quantum smoke 2. Both graphite rods.

I've had a few fully graphite rods in the past and still have a couple kicking around, they do give great feel but i found they break real easy.
Now i prefer a center core graphite with glass over lay.

 

[gunner3006]

When I moved from Ontario to Alberta I brought all my gear with me. All my rods are G’loomis and St Croix. I run all Shimano on them and my favourite was the curado. All these rods are one piece rods and are medium to heavy weight. I guess it depends on what your mostly. If it’s pike then you will like the heavy.

Hook and Hoist
Cheers

 

[neilsleder]

My is a spinning rod med rod. It’s a Fenwick eagle claw. It’s no where near a $200 rod but it was just over a $100. It’s a very nice rod nice action. Only thing is it doesn’t have ceramic eyes and the line makes lots of noise. You’ll loose lots of feel with a heavy rod but will have better setting power. If you want lots of feel get a lighter rod with braid line you will feel everything. I used to buy heavier rods with big line. But now I buy lighter rods and lighter line and play with my fish a bit more. Makes it funner then just dragging them in. Another tip for pike is don’t use steel leaders. Buy your own snaps and swivels and tie fluorocarbon leaders. In a slow day of fishing you will out fish guys using steel

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the Fenwick hmg, And quantum smoke 2. Both graphite rods.

I almost bought the Fenwick hmg but liked the handle on the eagle better and was a bit cheaper. My next rod will be a G loomis.

 

[snowcannon]

When I moved from Ontario to Alberta I brought all my gear with me. All my rods are G’loomis and St Croix. I run all Shimano on them and my favourite was the curado. All these rods are one piece rods and are medium to heavy weight. I guess it depends on what your mostly. If it’s pike then you will like the heavy.

Hook and Hoist
Cheers

When I moved from Manitoba to BC, I realized you need a boat in most place to reach the fish. Needless to say, my new fenwick salmon rod with the nice Abu Garcia on it has been in storage since the move

 

[kawasakikx250]

When I moved from Manitoba to BC, I realized you need a boat in most place to reach the fish. Needless to say, my new fenwick salmon rod with the nice Abu Garcia on it has been in storage since the move

That sucks.

 

[DeNytroguy]

When I moved from Manitoba to BC, I realized you need a boat in most place to reach the fish. Needless to say, my new fenwick salmon rod with the nice Abu Garcia on it has been in storage since the move

Just a heads up- buying a boat doesn't guarantee you'll reach the fish... atleast it didn't for me, I still don't have time to go fishing lol. Hopefully this year...

 

[Lund]

When I moved from Manitoba to BC, I realized you need a boat in most place to reach the fish. Needless to say, my new fenwick salmon rod with the nice Abu Garcia on it has been in storage since the move

You don't need a boat, take up flyfishing. Its not easy and take's practice but once you learn you will wonder why you didn't learn it earlier in life. I seldom drag lines in lakes with my boat...or as i call it "poach" the lakes LOL. There is nothing like luring a nice fish on a flyrod when your waded chest deep in water or in a stream.
Plus it opens up all kinds of opportunities in fishing and not just one style.

 

[neilsleder]

You don't need a boat, take up flyfishing. Its not easy and take's practice but once you learn you will wonder why you didn't learn it earlier in life. I seldom drag lines in lakes with my boat...or as i call it "poach" the lakes LOL. There is nothing like luring a nice fish on a flyrod when your waded chest deep in water or in a stream.
Plus it opens up all kinds of opportunities in fishing and not just one style.

On my list of stuff to by is a fly rod. Want to learn to do it pretty bad. See lots of areas with the jet boat that fly fishing would be nice.