16 replies to this topic

[Western-Mass-Bass]

Anyone have any luck with these? I know the Bass Pro stuff is kind of hit or miss. I seen the Johnny Morris rods from there and was curious if there any good.? or for that matter are any of the bass pro casting rods good.?

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I have a Bass Pro Shop's Carbonlite rod 7' MH with the Carbonlite reel. I love the rod. I got the micro guide version and it's probably one of my favorite of all my rod's. It's got good feel and backbone and it looks amazing. I like it just as much as my Abu Garcia Veritas which is also a great rod.

[MichiganFishing1997]

I have a bps nitro rod and johnny morris reel, i was happy with the combo, im selling it, but thats just because i want spinning gear.

[The Rooster]

BPS "makes" quality rods. They might not be as high up as G Loomis NRX but they are still good stuff in the upper end. Heck, I'd even fish a Tourney Special. The handles are the biggest gripe I have on those. Just don't like the Power Hump grip all that much. Otherwise I'd have no complaints.

[11justin22]

I have several different models some new and some older. As long as u stay towards the upper end they are very good rods IMO. Not to say the lowers end rods are junk just money better spent if u go higher. My dad had the rod u are asking about though it is a little older. He uses it for a jig rod and loves it.

[Goose52]

I have 20 rods from BPS. They're mostly good, servicable rods. They are at their "best value" when on sale. At full price, however, there are often rods from other companies that will equal or exceed their performance. Of all the BPS rods that I have - most fall into these four rod series:

Bionic Blade (previous, full-grip model): I have 4 of these - 2 spinning, 2 BC; all are two-piece. I use them as my travel rods and they are also in the rotation for occasional use at home. Servicable rods, I bought them all on sale in the $45-$55 price range. I don't think I would buy the current-model Bionic Blade however - at today's price, I think there are better options.

Crankin' Stick: I have 4 of these - bought 3 when on sale for $59, 1 at the full price (then) of $69. Great cranking rods at their price. I would buy these again (on sale).

Extreme (previous, full-grip models with the green-weave wrap above the grip): I have 6 of these, all bought on sale from $70 down to one (a nifty 6'8" mxf spinning) that was on closeout for $39. Great workhorse rods, heavier that they probably should be, fine for any moving bait, and will work for bottom contact but there are obviously better choices for bottom work. Like the Bionic Blade, I would not personally buy the current model Extremes at their full price, and probably wouldn't consider them at a sale price either. I actually can't see why anyone would buy the current Extreme when the Carbonlite is the same price (see next para.).

JM Carbonlite: Formerly known as just the "Carbonlite", the newer models have the "Johnny Morris" label added. I only have 1 of these - a 7'mf BC rod. At 104.4 grams, it is one of the lightest rods that I own. Compare that 104.4 to 122.2 grams for my 7'mf Avid, and 124.9 grams for my Loomis GLX MBR842C 7'mf. The Carbonlite seems to be really sensitive for it's price, appears to be fairly well made, and since I got it on sale for $80, I think is a tremendous bargain. Having said that, the $100 price point is very competitive right now and there are many on this board that have their favorites in that price range. I haven't tried any of those other $100 rod models so I can't compare the Carbonlite to them. I will say that if I needed to replace the "value rod" end of my fishing battery, I could very well see replacing them with a bunch of Carbonlites. This is the only BPS rod that I have that I would gladly pay full price...BUT why - just be patient and wait for the eventual sale...

Just my thoughts on BPS rods - YMMV...

[webertime]

Extreme (previous, full-grip models with the green-weave wrap above the grip): I have 6 of these, all bought on sale from $70 down to one (a nifty 6'8" mxf spinning) that was on closeout for $39. Great workhorse rods, heavier that they probably should be, fine for any moving bait, and will work for bottom contact but there are obviously better choices for bottom work.

I have a bunch of really nice rods and I LOVE that model Extreme with a 2500 sized reel and some light braid for Ika/Senko and smaller Topwater. I use that rod about 40% of the time I can't help myself! Too bad they stopped making it.

[BASSclary]

I had a SS 2 before I sold it. If I could get another one I would, that rod was pretty sweet, just didn't care for the reel seat / foam

[Goose52]

I have a bunch of really nice rods and I LOVE that model Extreme with a 2500 sized reel and some light braid for Ika/Senko and smaller Topwater. I use that rod about 40% of the time I can't help myself! Too bad they stopped making it.

Yeah - great rod - and I got a steal at only $39. I keep thinking I will replace it with an Avid 6'8"mxf...but then I think, hey, this rod does everything I need it to, why replace it? Although, I've been eyeballing the Carbonlite 6'8"mxf - if the CLs go on sale for $80 again..........

[Stasher1]

Yeah - great rod - and I got a steal at only $39. I keep thinking I will replace it with an Avid 6'8"mxf...but then I think, hey, this rod does everything I need it to, why replace it? Although, I've been eyeballing the Carbonlite 6'8"mxf - if the CLs go on sale for $80 again..........

It's funny you should mention the 6'8" MXF Carbonlite and the Avid AVS68MXF in the same post since I replaced that same model Avid with the 6'8" MXF Carbonlite, and never looked back. It's lighter, cheaper, better balanced, just as sensitive, and (imho) better looking than the comparable Avid.

I've owned the 6'6" MH, 6'9" ML, and 6'8" MXF spinning, along with the 7' M & 7' MH (micro) casting models in the Carbonlite lineup, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I had the need...even at full price.

I also own one of the current Extremes (7' M spinning, two-piece), and find it to be comparable (sensitivity-wise) to the St. Croix Premier, but perhaps a little bit heavier. I'd pass on them at full price, but they're a decent buy when they pop up for $70.

I haven't owned any of the current JM-series rods, but I did own some of the previous generation Signature Series and they were great rods. I don't think they were any more sensitive than the Carbonlites, but I feel they were built with better components...like full-cork grips and Fuji titanium-framed SiC guides.

Another BPS rod worth checking out is the Browning HiPower. Comparable sensitivity to the Carbonlite, very light, beautiful in the sun, have a nice feel in the hand, and (unlike the Carbonlite) they actually have a foregrip. My 7' M HiPower is the one I grab first when I need a spinning rod.

[Goose52]

It's funny you should mention the 6'8" MXF Carbonlite and the Avid AVS68MXF in the same post since I replaced that same model Avid with the 6'8" MXF Carbonlite, and never looked back. It's lighter, cheaper, better balanced, just as sensitive, and (imho) better looking than the comparable Avid.
......

Hmmm, looks like I might be getting that 6'8" CL on the next sale...I already have a NIB Pflueger SupremeXT (last model) laying around that can go on it....

[Stasher1]

Hmmm, looks like I might be getting that 6'8" CL on the next sale...I already have a NIB Pflueger SupremeXT (last model) laying around that can go on it....

I have the current Supreme XT on mine, and it's sweet.

[Goose52]

I have the current Supreme XT on mine, and it's sweet.

Looks like I'm sold...

BTW - the tiger finally scored - the Purple Tiger color BPS Egg that is. Nothing would hit it during the day - couldn't find a color-blind bass...but I got a few fish on it at night.......

[Stasher1]

Looks like I'm sold...

BTW - the tiger finally scored - the Purple Tiger color BPS Egg that is. Nothing would hit it during the day - couldn't find a color-blind bass...but I got a few fish on it at night.......

Lol. Well, I thought it was sexy.

Supreme XT on a Carbonlite

[ChrisAW]

I had a 7'6" MH Micro for flouro and jigs. Broke it on a hookset. I probably wont own any others since no one I have showed that to was surprised by it. Many of my co-workers have done the same.