my go to has been my Phenix K2 Torzite 714 MH. Very sensitive and versatile. I am trying out the new Megabass Destroyer Dark Sleeper soon which I expect will give the Phenix a run for its money.
my go to has been my Phenix K2 Torzite 714 MH. Very sensitive and versatile. I am trying out the new Megabass Destroyer Dark Sleeper soon which I expect will give the Phenix a run for its money.
2019 Ranger RT188
Thomas Martin
Original Daiwa Tatula medium heavy 6' 10". Great rod for the money. I wish I'd gotten around a dozen in various sizes and configurations while they were available. The new cork handle ones are nice too, but run about $50 more.
All these high end rods are nice, but for movin baits they're just not worth it(I got some high end rods, too). My #1 favorite rod is a $100 rod, the Falcon BuCoo.
2017 Phoenix 618Pro
Here over the summer I bought my first 2 Cashion rods. I got 1 spinning and 1 casting in the CRT series and I love these rods. I have a Cashion elite cranking rod on the way and I have no doubt that I will love that one also. If I had the money I would start to replace more of the rods I use with more Cashions. I say Cashion all the way.
2019 Nitro Z19
200 HP Mercury Pro XS 4s
BCR & Finesse = Loomis
All Purpose = Megabass
Coverage for all techniques and price ranges = St Croix
Balance = Dobyns
Value = ALX
Douglas Outdoors rods are hidden gems.
If I had to choose, it'd be the 610M Expride. Just a fun rod to use for me overall.
I have (In the process of selling most of them due to warranty issues, sourcing, etc.) several Megabass rods that are truly special IMHO. The Gen 1 XX EMTF does so many things well, the USDM Destroyer FMJ is a great 1/4-3/8 T-Rig rod around grass and wood and the Black Jungle Deep Crank Slow Roll rods are excellent for chatterbaits.
In the past year I purchased a Tatula spinning rod and for the price it may be the best value rod I've ever had.
I just bought a ALX ENOX LSB and I have a feeling its going to make this list soon.
Will be 74 in less than 3 weeks. Rods I have fished (casting except where noted): Abu Villain (both), ALX Toadface, Berkley Lightning (both), Dobyns 704CB Glass, Hammer, Daiwa Tatula & V.I.P Smallmouth, Shimano Cumara & Compre, Quantum Tour Edition, Cabela's Prodigy (both, but took spinning rod back), Hurricane Redbone, Fenwick HMG & ET Smallmouth, Field & Stream, Falcon Original & Expert (OG), Airrus Ultra XL, Okuma Helios, Olympic GraphiteLeader, Diablo Spec R, Major Craft Benkei, Powell Endurance, St. Croix Mojo, BPS Crankin Stick, Rainshadow RX7.
Yet to fish my Ark Sniper and Tharp, Witch Doctor Shaman, Kistler, Phenix Recon2 & X10, iRod Genesis II, 13 Envy Black, Fantasista Regista, ALX Deputy & Dream, Zillion, Lew's Custom Pro, Falcon Expert (new), and Daiwa Fuego (spinning, old).
Reels fished (casting except where noted): Abu Revo & Ambassadeur, BPS, Daiwa (several models in both), Pflueger Trion & Patriarch XT, Lew's, Shimano, Pinnacle Primmus, Cabela's Prodigy, Okuma Helios & Helios Air, Penn (spinning), Concept A, Penn (spinning) and President XT (spinning).
Yet to fish my Quantums, Lew's Tournament Pro LFS & SuperDuty GX3, Helios SX, Pflueger Patriarch & Supreme XT, Bantam MGL, SLX MGL & Scorpion MGL, Procyon 2000 (spinning), 16 EM MS 2508PE-H (spinning).
I must admit that many (rods) have seen limited use and thus I don't have a good handle on their true performance potential.