Need Help-Rod Purchase Question

I don't know if the OF rods are different from the Huber rods I own or not,
but Steve's rods have been on my boat since the day I (ahem) won them ;-)
The 7 footer makes an excellent flipping rod. It's not quite beefy enough
for heavy wood cover, but I never hesitate to flip heavy weed cover with it.
I've ripped several 5+'s from thick hydrilla with it, no problem. Talk to
Steve if you want insight into what you want out of your next fishing rod,
knowing him you'll get exactly the answers you're looking for.

Warren
--
http://www.warrenwolk.com/



"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"Suthern Transplant" wrote in message
nk.net...
Greetings all,

Question: (I know we have at least a couple of rod makers in this group,
but
would value all suggestions)

***Yep, there's a couple of us in the group, which means that you're
likely
to get a couple of different answers. :-)


I have trouble with the premium rods that are offered for sale today. My
trouble is the feel they have, particularly the stifness at the tip. I
have
not had the opportunity to fish with them and quite frankly the only
criteria I have to judge with is how they react to a simulated cast in
the
store and I know this is not enough to truly judge their performance. (I
know rods are designed for specific fishing situations, lure weight,
line
size, etc.)

***Ahhh yes, the "Waggle Test". I love to spend time in sporting goods
stores and/or departments, watching people Waggle Test rods. They'll have
this serious look on their face, as they slice the air with a rod. Then,
they'll frown, place the rod back in the rack and pick up another,
repeating
the process. While this does indeed look impressive, and it's a great way
to pass the time, it really doesn't tell you much. More and more, rods
ARE
being designed (and marketed) with specific purposes in mind.

In an ideal world, you would have two, maybe three rods and those would do
everything that you wanted to do. And for many anglers, that's the case.
Unfortunately, rod blank manufacturers cannot build such a rod. Also, as
you become more involved in fishing, and deeper in debt due to lure
purchases, you'll soon find out that what works great for one application,
doesn't quite cut it for others. There's a reason for all these different
rods. A person wouldn't think of going out golfing with a putter and a
driver, but people do the same thing fishing all the time.

Unless you fish only a couple different techniques and tactics, you will
need several different rods. You should figure out what lure weights you
use and what methods you're using primarily and purchase rods designed for
that purpose. You might find that for your purposes, a couple of "General
Purpose" rods will do the job just fine, like some golfers never use a 1
wood or a 3 iron, yet own them and drag them around the course every week.


Years ago, I purchased a few graphite rods when they were first offered
and
hated all of them. Yes they were light, but all felt as though I was
fishing
with a light broom stick in terms of lack of casting action, i.e. tip
speed.

***Rod blank production has changed quite a bit since graphite rods were
first introduced. Different materials, manufacturing processes, tapers,
material blends, increased quality control, have all given rods a serious
boost over the past 20 years. Depending on the type of fishing that
you're
doing, your style and your expectations, you'll find that you'll be
surprised at what has been done. And the only way you're going to find
this
out is to actually fish with one. A big portion of your decision is going
to be based on what you're used to using. For example, long ago, I
switched
from fiberglass, to graphite/glass and now fish (99% of the time) graphite
only rods. To use one of the old rods that I still have drives me
absolutely nuts! (It's a short trip, I know)


Am I missing fish because of my decision towards casting ease vs.
sensitivity? (Telegraphing exactly what the lure is doing and subtle
bites)
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that there is a shift in rod design
towards making a rod which is all about feeling what's going on at the
business end vs. anything else. Am I right or wrong?

***You are missing fish, without a doubt. The sensitivity of a quality
rod
is nothing short of miraculous. With my spinning rods, I can tell when
I'm
dragging a lure across sand and it changes to gravel. I can feel my
spinnerbait thumping away and I can tell when there's a piece of a weed
hanging on. If I can feel this easily, how many soft bites do you think
I've missed? I guide quite a bit for walleyes, notoriously light biting
fish. I feel cold front walleyes suck a minnow in and just hold it. You
can't do this with a cheap rod, unless you are very, VERY good.

I've sold many rods while guiding clients. They'll bring their own
tackle,
and after a while, I'll slip one of my rods to them. After fishing that
for
a short time, their rods no longer feel as nice to them. Just ask Rob
Storm....


I cannot afford to purchase a rod and reel for each type of lure
presentation either. I am willing to purchase one or two, (For
baitcasting,
spinnerbait and crankbait as lures of choice) but I hate experimenting
with
my skepticism index so high. (I currently use fiberglass/composite rods
because of the more limber tip action.)

***Most people can't and must arrive at a compromise. I think that you'd
like a 6'6" or 7' (I lean towards 7'+ rods myself), medium to
medium/heavy,
fast taper rod. This will have the necessary backbone to haul a bass from
cover, yet a light enough tip to allow easy casting.


Can anyone steer me towards rods which have a balance between these
various
elements, and is a solid compromise for all-around bass fishing using a
bait
casting reel?

***Ask Charles or TNBass how they like their OutdoorFrontiers rods and if
they think that it would do as a general purpose rod, cuz I do.
Otherwise,
look at St. Croix Avid Series rods.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com