In my limited experience I bought BPS carbonlite rods on many of the recommendations here. I broke two of them on hooksets (I didn't even get the fish). They weren't weakened from bouncing around in a car or being stepped on as I only had the first one two weeks. I'm not trying to bash BPS or the Carbonlite by any means, only relaying my newbie experience that may be relevant here. When I returned the second one to CS at BPS the guy told me the Carbonlite rods are the ones returned the most with issues.

 

Now I was looking at the regular Johnny Morris rods and they seem very nice. Can anyone chime in on those?

 

For reels, I bought a BPS PQ casting and it is very nice. I'm not comparing it to anything but only relaying I have zero complaints about it. Another BPS I bought and seems very nice as well is the BPS Bionic (the white one). I've fished them 20-30 times from the shore plus tons of yard practice and it's ran very nice as well.

 

$.02

Thank you guys so much for all your help! I now have so many different opinions and choices. I appreciate it guys!

In my limited experience I bought BPS carbonlite rods on many of the recommendations here. I broke two of them on hooksets (I didn't even get the fish). They weren't weekend from bouncing around in a car or being stepped on as I only had the first one two weeks. I'm not trying to bash BPS or the Carbonlite by any means, only relaying my newbie experience that may be relevant here. When I returned the second one to CS at BPS the guy told me the Carbonlite rods are the ones returned the most with issues.

 

Now I was looking at the regular Johnny Morris rods and they seem very nice. Can anyone chime in on those?

 

For reels, I bought a BPS PQ casting and it is very nice. I'm not comparing it to anything but only relaying I have zero complaints about it. Another BPS I bought and seems very nice as well is the BPS Bionic (the white one). I've fished them 20-30 times from the shore plus tons of yard practice and it's ran very nice as well.

 

$.02

 

I have not used one, but I have 5 cabonlites and really like them. From talking to a guy at basspro about the Johnny Morris rods, the only difference between them and the carbonlite is that they use Fuji guides and the carbonlite does not.