bayvalle

Loomis is an excellent rod builder but the E6X has not been receiving good reviews. ALX, St Croix, and Dobyns are getting good reviews in that price range. St Croix has stiffer tip than Dobyns giving it an advantage in sensitivity for lighter rods. Dobyns is better balanced and is the best bang for the buck IMHO. I don't own an ALX but I checked them out at the show and talked to the reps. They are built in the US and appear to be high quality. There are many good rod companies today you need to check them out for yourself to determine what you like.

I would add a M/M crankbait rod for your treble hook baits.

This was not the Elite. I was comparing both companies entry-level reels. As I mentioned I will be moving up to test each companies $50 to $70 reels.

I picked up a couple of both of these reels for some real world testing. IMHO the Torrent was significantly better overall. The Royal Legend cast further but had more problems with backlash and the spool tensioner loosening during multiple casting. The Torrent has a clicking spool tensioner knob which is more exact for adjusting and holds the tension better. In my hands the Torrent was easier to cast and had a more solid feel (thumb bar, handle, brake adjustment). I also picked up the Phantom x and the Phantom which I am going to test against the KastKings in the similar price range. I have Shimano, Diawa, and Pflueger and my opinion is these entry level KastKing and Piscifun reels offer a good value at their price point.

Check out Field and Stream Shop 40% off sale. Lowrance Elite-7 Ti GPS Fish Finder with Mid/High/DownScan $499 with chirp and maps.

I agree, I prefer BC reels but spinning reels have their application, ie. casting into the wind. lighter line.

If you are going to buy that rod on Amazon you should download WikiBuy. It will save you $7.

don't see it

The lightest weight you can use under the conditions you are fishing

A moderate to moderate-fast action rod would be a good add for crankbaits. If you want to cover more water with each cast you may go a little longer on the rod length.

I use an ultrasonic and acetone. If I just soak them and then place them in the ultrasonic it i impressive how much more comes out of the bearings and off other parts.

Well said

I thought you were leaning towards the Speed Demon Pro. I was considering that rod but there are no options to see one before buying in my area.

Pulled the trigger today on the Dobyn's Fury 705 CB. Thx for the advice this rod is perfect for what I needed. I already had a FR 663 C and have been very impressed. The Fury made me a Dobyn's fan but I had picked up a Berkley Lightning rod for cranking after reading the good reviews on this site. The lightning rod just didn't do it for me, different strokes for different folks. Returned the Berkley for the Dobyn's FR 705 CB and found that his rod has the feel, balance and action that I wanted in my crankin rod. I searched hard and believe this is the best bang for the buck.

I spoke with Gary and he felt it may overpower the Bandit 200, and possibly the 300. He suggested a 704cb which is in the Champion line. He also let me know the 704CB will be coming in the lower priced lines but maybe not for another year.

Do you prefer the Dobyns over the Speed Demon pro?

Would the Dobyn's Fury 705CB overpower a medium crankbait like a Bandit 200 or 300 series?

Anyone using one of these for a crankbait rod? I've been thinking of a new crankbait rod. I love my Dobyn's rod but their CB rod is heavier than I would like. My St Croix's are stiff I just didn't know how their CB glass rod would be?

I've used Power pro and KastKing but I've switched to Goture (Ebay) 8 strand and have been very impressed. Low cost, casts well, almost no wind knots. The color does fade but they all do. IMHO I did not like KastKing due to wind knots and tendency to bite in the spool.

There are many good suggestions here. The power of the rod should be determined by what type of cover and structure your pond has and what fish you are targeting. If there no dense mats or heavy grass you can downsize the power of the rod. Example I fish large Striper in the Chesapeake Bay in open water so I can use M or ML since there is no structure. Even thought these are large fish many anglers there prefer lighter power for better feel and experience. Sometimes in Lake St Clair we'll use light fiberglass rods for the smallies just for fun. On the other hand Lake Chickamauga has dense pads requiring heavy power rods. Also consider if you are going to be fishing tournaments to make some extra cash. For recreational fishing I don't want to over power my rod selection because it takes away from the enjoyment of the experience. Tournament fisherman will always want to lean on the heavy side to bring in fish faster and to not get caught in a situation where they don't have enough rod. You will want at least one moderate to moderate fast action rod for your treble hooks baits. The slower action allows the rod more give so you don't rip the bait out of the fishes mouth while cranking and it helps keep the slack out of the line. I use mainly braid and tie on a leader depending on what I need. Braid is thin for it's power rating and last longer so I don't have to respool as often but it can abrade quickly. For this reason I will tie on a fluorocarbon leader if I fishing in an area that will abrade my line or if I'm targeting a species that will twist and rub their dorsal fins on the line. I prefer a long mono leader for cranking and top water due to it's ability to stretch. For light finesse I go straight Fluoro. Straight braid for frogging. Choose wisely grasshopper.

I recently replace parts on a few of my 20 year old well maintained Pflueger reels They still work well but I also recently purchased a few KastKing and Piscifun reels to play with. I have found that these new reels significantly outperform my older reels. Reel technology has definitely advanced to the point that these newer under $100 (think no middleman and low marketing costs) reels are well worth the minor investment. I agree rod technology has not improved much but I purchased a few new rods to try the different brands and to add more lighter power rods to my arsenal.

I can't speak to everything but I do own a St Croix Mojo Bass and a Dobyn's Fury. This post is right on. I prefer the feel of the Dobyn's (softer, better balance) but the Mojo bass may excel for finesse due to it's stiffer tip. For this reason I have Dobyn's for baitcasting and Mojo Bass for M and ML spinning. The other advantage for the St Croix Mojo bass is the shorter handle when Kayak fishing. If I could only choose one brand it would be Dobyn's.

I live in Ohio but I fish Brookville lake and the Ohio River in Indiana. Anybody doing anything now in this weather?

Agree. It's telling when you see the residue left behind after cleaning with an ultrasonic.

Based on what you are using now it doesn't appear that you need a Heavy rod. IMHO, on that basis the M/F. casting rod will move you into the next phase nicely. The baitcaster gives you different options than your spinning reel plus you may find it more versatile over time. Also you can always tie on a light leader for fishing finesse baits. The medium power rod checks off a lot of techniques unless you need to throw heavy bait or pull fish from dense cover. At lot of guys are now finding that fighting fish on a lighter pole adds to the experience of fishing. There are really no wrong choices. Tightlines.