Jeff H

Shimano Crucial CRCX72H.....exactly what you are looking for. Maybe more than you want to spend though??

I thought you spit on anything with the Berkley name on it??

That's very hard to believe. I KNOW I could feel tandem Colorado's on a glass rod even. I have one I built on a Sage glass blank for cranking many years ago and I threw spinnerbaits with it too. I could feel the blades well enough.

I think you will be surprised. Those reels are great!!

Cabela's Tournament ZX (Daiwa Exceler) on sale right now for $49.99 I have 2 of these, plus a Prodigy (more $) and really like them. The Tourney ZX is a grand value at $49.99. The Prodigy (on sale for $69.99) supposedly has a better, sealed drag but I can't tell any difference in mine. I also have a Pflueger Pres and Trion and both decent but I like these Cabela (Daiwa) reels better.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I'm considering getting another charger in a couple weeks.

These are a great bait for kids to get hooked on bassin' too. Easy to cast, retrieve, and catches lots of fish.

Muddy, A $80 Fish Eagle II rod only seems cheap among the expensive tastes of this forum. I do not consider a $80 rod to be cheap!! A good many people can't justify spending even $50 for a fishing rod. Lots of folks here would probably not consider a $100 rod to be expensive, but to me it is. I have several rods that I've spent over $200 on, paired with reels that cost $150 or more and it's nice but at the same time seems a bit insane to be holding a $400 investment to pull fish out of a lake. What cracks me up about the braid thing is some guys will adamantly swear it makes no difference to the fish, yet tie on a flouro leader so they can't see it. I am one who does believe it makes a difference in clear water, so I stick with XT clear since I only fish clear water lakes. However, it doesn't seem to matter to shallow, clear water dinks where the competition factor abounds.

Wayne P, That is exactly what I was hoping for. Didn't know the Gammy Finesse was out in bigger sizes now, I'll get me some. Perfect!! I didn't have any problems hooking (and holding) fish on the HP hook last year. I just wish they would make them in a smaller wire for tubes. I think the hook is a little beefy for lighter line presentations. oh...and Eagle Claw should make ALL their hooks sharper....geez.

Could be, but it probably holds closer to true than for any other bait. I know that I have caught the same fish within an hour or 2 on worms before. I have had this happen several times that I can recall, BUT....these were only 2 lb fish, not big pigs. I have to wonder if it holds true for smaller fish rather than bigger fish. We all know big fish don't get big by being dumb. so......

D or E?

Out comes the Sliders and 4" worms. Clear salt & pepper with chatreuse firetail (or not) Kalins Weenie is my do or die rig in clear water 2 to 3 days post front when things are at their worst.

You'll likely get a lot of different answers....such as St Croix Avid and Shimano Crucial et al. I'm going to bet the overwhelming response will favor the Avid. Lots of good ones in that price range and some might even be less than $150.

You know what? These are really pretty good sticks for the price!! I was just down to the river with my son and a neighbor boy fishing for carp and I was using my Fish Eagle II 6'6" MH spinning (was a gift couple years ago and have not used it much) and I was shocked how sensitive it was. I have never really noticed nor given this rod a chance but after today I'm backing this rod as a good deal, and even better if you get them on sale. My biggest gripe with this rod of mine is the strpping guide is too small, but that may not be the case with others or newer models. I'm going to keep this one for carp and might consider another to fill a void in my finesse lineup now.

The Platinum 6'6" M/XF might just be exactly what I want. Checked Cabela's for price...on sale for $129.95 right now. Not too bad!!

Hey Muddy, (or the rest of you guys) How is the abrasion resistance on the Proline? Will it match Trilene XT?

Cabela's Tournament ZX 2500A (which is a Daiwa Exceler) is on sale right now for $49.99. Great reel for that price. Does have a tiny bit of slap in the anti reverse but it's not enough to bother me. So, with that you are left to spend $100 on a Shimano Compre of your choice. I like the 6'3" M/XF for finesse presentations such as Sliders, splitshottin',tubes and small finesse jigs. Cabela's Fish Eagle II rods are another good option for $80 and the 6'6" Medium should work great. If you have a Cabela's nearby, just print out the page with the reels online sale price and they will honor it

Crucial fan here. Buy with confidence, fish hard, enjoy. d**n good rod for the money. Don't know squat about the Platinum but it sounds good too. I would like to check out the Platinum as I'm looking for another spinning finesse but in order for me to choose one over a Crucial it would have to be cheaper. How do they compare in price?

If Long Mike saw this he'd bury you. ;D I'm interested too....what $70-$80 rods are so much better? Clarus are a good value.

Is it possible shorter rods could be more sensitive? With the "signal" traveling a shorter distance, could it remain stronger? Lots of variables involved of course but just a general thought. Say, a 5'6" rod vs a 6'6" of same blank and power ratings? Or, 6'6" vs 7'6" etc.

I use the Kalins 5", Producto 4 1/2" Spring Grub, and Producto 4" Tournament grubs.

LOL....what a surprise. (ok, now before we get all bent, what I meant by that was... I didn't know Shimano had a controlling interest here, but I SHOULD have known or at least guessed it. duh!)

Probably just curiousity on the youngsters part I suppose. I would imagine I wasn't the only one smiling at that if others saw it too.

I watched a guy and his young son checking them out today. They both spent some time smelling the rods before they moved on. It was pretty funny to watch. I was tempted to ask if they smelled like carrots....lol. ;D

Maybe some new, innovative company will rise out of the muck and start off by selling blanks, just like Loomis did??