Need New Rods

[gbaade]

Hey fellas,

              Need some opinions and advice on buying new rods. While moving recently. I left my rods sitting on the side of the house while I figured out the best way to move them. In Flint thats a bad move. They were snatched in a very short window of time while I was inside. I am pretty much over the stage where I wanted to choke someone and ready to get some new ones. I would love to hear what some of you recommend, and why. I just read DKimmels page on confidence products and now I am interested in the All Star Rods. Made in America is a high priority and the fact they make specific rods for specific presentations. So, when I make my Christmas trip to BPS help me cut thru the searching and get right to what I need.


Thanks

GBaade

[MBell]

Are all-stars still made in the U.S.?  I know they were sold to shakespere pfluger and some changes were made, they no longer sell rod blanks is all I know for sure. 
-Matt

[Cheetam]

Are you looking for MADE in America or ASSEMBLED in America?  There is a BIG difference...Also, what's your price point?

[McCarter]

Dude, that really sucks.  I hate when people steal.  I think that was the first lesson my old man tought me when i was a kid.  Dont steal.  Its a shame they got your rod stash.

What kind of rods were they?

If you are interested in All Stars, i have one you can have.  Its a 7 ft medium action tube rod.  Even has a tube graphic on it.  Its a good rod for draggin on the great lakes.  I  had the top guide replaced becuase the insert fell out of it a while back, but other than that, its like brand new.  Your for free to help ease the pain of this great tragedy.

Play around with different mfg rods before commiting to one for sure.  Everyone has different preferances.  You want to make sure you are getting what you are comfortable with, after all its your money you are spending.

I have 1 All Star Rod, a bunch of St Croix rods, and a bunch of Airrus rods.  You are more than welcome to check them out.  Get a feel for all of them out there.  Remember to consider price as well, and also warranty.  Most rod makers offer good warranties on there products, but as with anything, you have to spend a few extra bucks to get the rods with the warranties.  But its worth it cuz if you ever have a problem, you can send the rod(s) back for repair or replacement.

Airrus
Croix
Loomis
Shimano
All Star
Kistler
Rogue
Setyr
Castaway
Llamiglass
Even bass pro shops has some very good technique specific rods.

There are so many good rod makers out there these days.  You may want to consider checking out as many as you can. Find the one or ones you are most comfortable with, then buy them as you go.  Rods aint cheap.  Its hard to replace an entire colllection at once.

Let me know where you are located.  Maybe we can meet half way if you want that rod.

McCarter himself

[gbaade]

Yea stealing does suck. It was suprisingly the first time I ever had anything stolen and I lived in Flint my whole life. It felt like I got punched in the stomach for about 3 days afterwards. Grand Ledge is a whole different atmosphere, and the only time I will ever see Flint again is when I visit my Dad!

The rods were a Team Daiwa Spinning , 2 Quantam Tour Editions Spinning , 2 BPS  Crankin Stick, and worst of all 2 American Rodsmith Titaniums my kids and wife got me for my birthday a month prior! Those were the ones that made me have the bad thoughts of what I would do to the person who took them!

So whatever the case I have had experience with some decent rods. I did'nt really get enough time with the Rodsmiths to have an opinion. Took em out twice. Cant say anything bad about any of them really. And your right it is all personal preference.Just figured I would see what others have to say.

The price range I am looking in is the 100 to 200 range. I got a grand of BPS gift cards coming my way and would like to get 5 rods. A flipper, a cranker, and a few spinners. I like what I have read on Airrus, and have heard good things on All Star. Not sure if they are still made in America but I read DKimmels writeup and it said they were.Main things for me are warranty and obviously comfort, (balance). Made in America is awesome too!

Thanks for the sympathy McCarter. I am in Grand Ledge now just outside of West Lansing. Never had anyone offer me a fishing rod,other than my Dad, but if you dont want it I would put it to good use.

[McCarter]

Well you are more then welcome to it. 

Do you ever get over on the ( hmmm, i am so used to calling it the west side since i work in Roseville on the eastside )  uh, ever get over near Novi???  If not, we will figure out a way to get you the rod.  I dont suspect you will be needing it anytime soon anyway.

If you plan on attending any of the upcoming shows, i am usually around hanging out if i am not working them.

Let me know and we will work something out.

McCarter himself

[Skip Johnson]

gbaade
I have heard mixed stuff about allstar I know the airrus is supposed to be the best on the market right now and Mc Carter is the rep for them!
I use the shimano clairus for both spinning and baitcasting and love them, I broke one and went to gander and they replaced it no questions asked and it was my fault! bass pro shops also sells the clairus rods and theyre cheap $69.

I like the 6.6 meadium heavy fast taper its a very versitile rod!

[canvsbk]

 I've had great luck with and like my All Star rods just fine. I also carry a couple Quantum Tour Editions and Loomis rods - a Mossyback and a GLX. We are fortunate that there are so many great rods out there now, it used to be a #4 Lews Speed Stick you had to have! (still got mine)
I'm very sorry you lost your stuff but at the same time I almost envy your upcoming search for the right stuff!!
Good luck

[Cheetam]

There are SO many options open to you in the $100-$200 range.  Loomis, St. Croix, Falcon, Daiwa...ultimately it comes down to preference.  For me, if I were to walk into BPS with $1000 bucks in gift cards looking for new rods, I'd walk over to the loomis aisle first...awesome blanks, high-quality cork and guides, awesome craftmanship and a super sweet warranty.  I'm pretty sure that all the Loomis rods are still made in the USA.  Falcon and St. Croix would be worth a look since all their models are Made in the USA as well.

[djkimmel]

I'll have to confirm on the All Star made in the US. Last I checked, there was one low end model not made in the US. The rest still were, but I haven't talked to the All Star or Shakespeare people since last summer.

I have not been on their team since last June (things change in this industry and sometimes you fit their strategy and sometimes you don't) and have had plenty to do with other projects and products so I don't have their latest nailed. I still like their products and hope to get back with them again which is why I still have their stuff up on the site.

I really liked the Titanium series, which has now been replaced by the Platinum series.

The best advice I can give on rods is to think about the job you want to do with the rod and then find the best tool for that 'job.' It is really hard to buy rods that do what you want without at least getting a feel for them by physically holding them.

Your height also has some bearing on the length of the rods you'll be more comfortable with.

Myself, I have really enjoyed their 7' graphite crankbait rods. I use 3 all the time. Looks like they only make it in the Team All Star series (TAS) now. I have a 7' TAS tube rod in a spinning rod that has been a good, tough all around tube rod for the Great Lakes, so I think the crankbait rod would be a pretty good value in the TAS price range, but I'd want to hold one before I bought it if possible.

I really like their 7' Carolina rig rod. They have that in the Platinum or TAS.

I have found many uses for their 6'6" wacky rig casting rod - I use two often, for topwater, blade baits and some wacky/jerkbait stuff. Not available now apparently in the Platinum. They have a spider jig rod in the TAS that looks to be about the same rod. I may check it out later to see how it feels.

Their medium spinning rods have all worked real well for me.

Another rod I use a lot is a short-handled 7' casting rod - really nice for pitchin and casting jigs and things like the chatterbait. Only available now in the TAS so again, I'd want to check it out first - it is the model that ends in '-SH' with a shortened handle thats make it a little easier to handle the long rod.

I have not had the chance to try any American Classic series. It's similar to the models I've seen Gerry Gostenik using. He seemed happy with them last winter, but I haven't asked him since then. I'll probably see him again soon at the shows.

[gbaade]

Great info Kimmel. I definitely plan on getting an actual feel for the rod before buying it. I just wanted to get some opinions and cut thru the seemingly endless choices there are. Thanks to everyone for the help.

Also

When is the next show??And where??

[djkimmel]

The first big fishing show that I know of will be The Ultimate Fishing Show January 12 -15 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan. Note: the Novi fishing show is Friday through Monday this year because many people will have Monday - MLK Birthday - off.

Check here - Showspan Inc. -  for more info.

[dhuff]

You really can't go wrong with any of the rods listed.  It is not always what everyone else has or what is the hot new rods and so on.  It is what you are comfortable with.  If you liked the rods you had before the replace them that way.  If you want to try new rods then try out all kinds get a feel of the handle how it fits your hand, the weight and so on and whatever you get you will soon get to use it and really get a good feel for it.  And then and only then will you know for sure if that brand is the one for you.  Or you can do what I started doing last year and make your own rods.  VERY EASY.  Not as hard as anyone would think.  You can make top end rods for alot less than you can buy them for, plus you can make them however you want to.  Not to mention it gives you something to do over the winter time.  There is very little tools needed.  With a little patience you can make really nice rods with blanks from most all of those companies.

[gbaade]

You have piqued my interest! I am a tinkerer,so attempting to build a rod sounds like a good time. Where can I find this type of info?

[djkimmel]

Heck, I even used to build my own rods. I don't have the fine artistry part down, but I was able to pick blanks out for the best action I was looking for and put on the components that felt and looked good to me. It was fun - made a dozen or so looonnnggg time ago.

I don't have the time now to do it although someday who knows... it was fun and practice makes perfect.

I have a friend who has the art part down... put out some real pieces of art in the past that also were 'fisherman's' fishing rods. He may start building again. Not sure. I'll leave that part to the guys who are really good at it and I'll use my time for the other stuff...

[dhuff]

Hey gbaade,

There are several places to get the supplies.  www.jannsnetcraft.com,  www.mudhole.com are the two I use.  A good video that will show you step by step what to do with the basics to make nice rods is a movie called
"How we do it" by Flex Coat or something to that nature for the title of it.  Just look at Jans or go to www.flexcoat.com I believe they sell it there.  Anyways it does not take long to get going and you will be on your way. 

[dartag]

Airrus Rods get my vote.   i bought 3 co-matrix rods last spring.  2 7' spinning and 1 6.6. casting.  i fished 82 days this summer and caught over 600 bass. ( i know, i keep too many records. )  i have no complaints.  i don't baby my equipment and getting them in and out of a Ranger 185 locker is tough on the guides.  the held up great and i will be buying 3 more this spring.  last year the ABA had a discount program with Airrus.  they were around 75.00 each.

they are made in China.  but it you peel the little sticker off the bottom no one will ever know.

good luck

ss