The hot ticket this year has been the *** Black...claimed to be the best $100 rod made today, and equivalent in quality to rods costing much more.  I posted earlier about my reservations on its sensitivity being what many have claimed and about how awkward one-handed casting felt for me.  Like I was about to lose the rod.

 

Today I took another $100 rod with me to my practice spot for comparisons.  My *** is a 7'3" Medium Fast  rated 1/4-5/8, 10-17.  It has a Purple Alphas on it.  The other rod was a Cabela's Prodigy 7' Medium Fast rated 1/4-3/4, 8-47 and has a TD-X 100HSDF on it.  Both reels use 12# mono, but not the same brand.

 

My original test with the *** was with a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait with two blades...a small Colorado in front with a Willow trailing blade.  Turns out this lure doesn't give as much feedback as I thought it would.  I could pick up the blades vibration a tad sooner on the Prodigy, and the Prodigy's tip definitely was vibrating much sooner in the retrieve than the ***.  The other lure I tried on both rods was a Clackin Crank CNC-74...a 5/8 oz. lure.  For those that don't know it is a squarebill rated for a 4' depth.

 

This lure gave much more feedback.  First time testing I felt the Prodigy picked up the lure's action a bit before the ***.  I wasn't so sure later.  One conclusion I came to today was that my sense of touch isn't up to what it is for most people on here.  I would like to drag a jig across a lake bottom to see If I can tell a difference between the two rods.  Better yet would be for someone else to do the test. 

 

I tried one-handed casts again today.  I did better today than the first time with the ***, but the Prodigy was a clear winner in this category.  Handle make-up had nothing to do with it.  I don't think the shorter piece behind the reel played much of a part in it although it is possible it did make a minor contribution.  I feel the smaller diameter of the handle on the *** was why I had less control with the ***.

 

Casting distance on the *** was slightly better than the Prodigy.  However, I have no idea if this was because of the extra 3" rod length, the fact that the ***'s max rating is 1/8 less than the Prodigy, or if the reels played a minor part,  Did the material used to make the rods have an affect?  How about rod taper?  Or was it a combination of all.  I love the Alphas, but the HSDF is no slouch either.  Both seem to be excellent casters to me.  No way would I bet a paycheck on which would cast further if using the same lure on the same rod.

 

I would love someone with good "feel" to test these two rods.  I wouldn't be surprised it the Prodigy came out the winner....and at a savings of $10 over the ***. 

 

BTW, a $60 Field & Stream Tec Spec 6'8" Medium in Medium-Fast action outcast both rods using a 1/2 oz. Booyah Swim Jig.  The jigs compactness and the rod's action overcame the length advantage of the other two rods.  This rod was also using 12# mono on a Daiwa TD-S 103HL reel.  However, today's casting champ was neither of these three.

I have no experience with the *** line of rods. I did ,however pick up a 7' M Prodigy at one of Cabela's Bargain Caves. The price was one I couldn't pass up. I like the fact that there are a lot of guides close to the tip. I , personally like the rod.

The hot ticket this year has been the *** Black...claimed to be the best $100 rod made today, and equivalent in quality to rods costing much more.  I posted earlier about my reservations on its sensitivity being what many have claimed and about how awkward one-handed casting felt for me.  Like I was about to lose the rod.

 

Today I took another $100 rod with me to my practice spot for comparisons.  My *** is a 7'3" Medium Fast  rated 1/4-5/8, 10-17.  It has a Purple Alphas on it.  The other rod was a Cabela's Prodigy 7' Medium Fast rated 1/4-3/4, 8-47 and has a TD-X 100HSDF on it.  Both reels use 12# mono, but not the same brand.

 

My original test with the *** was with a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait with two blades...a small Colorado in front with a Willow trailing blade.  Turns out this lure doesn't give as much feedback as I thought it would.  I could pick up the blades vibration a tad sooner on the Prodigy, and the Prodigy's tip definitely was vibrating much sooner in the retrieve than the ***.  The other lure I tried on both rods was a Clackin Crank CNC-74...a 5/8 oz. lure.  For those that don't know it is a squarebill rated for a 4' depth.

 

This lure gave much more feedback.  First time testing I felt the Prodigy picked up the lure's action a bit before the ***.  I wasn't so sure later.  One conclusion I came to today was that my sense of touch isn't up to what it is for most people on here.  I would like to drag a jig across a lake bottom to see If I can tell a difference between the two rods.  Better yet would be for someone else to do the test. 

 

I tried one-handed casts again today.  I did better today than the first time with the ***, but the Prodigy was a clear winner in this category.  Handle make-up had nothing to do with it.  I don't think the shorter piece behind the reel played much of a part in it although it is possible it did make a minor contribution.  I feel the smaller diameter of the handle on the *** was why I had less control with the ***.

 

Casting distance on the *** was slightly better than the Prodigy.  However, I have no idea if this was because of the extra 3" rod length, the fact that the ***'s max rating is 1/8 less than the Prodigy, or if the reels played a minor part,  Did the material used to make the rods have an affect?  How about rod taper?  Or was it a combination of all.  I love the Alphas, but the HSDF is no slouch either.  Both seem to be excellent casters to me.  No way would I bet a paycheck on which would cast further if using the same lure on the same rod.

 

I would love someone with good "feel" to test these two rods.  I wouldn't be surprised it the Prodigy came out the winner....and at a savings of $10 over the ***. 

 

BTW, a $60 Field & Stream Tec Spec 6'8" Medium in Medium-Fast action outcast both rods using a 1/2 oz. Booyah Swim Jig.  The jigs compactness and the rod's action overcame the length advantage of the other two rods.  This rod was also using 12# mono on a Daiwa TD-S 103HL reel.  However, today's casting champ was neither of these three.

 

First of all let me commend you on actually comparing the rods and making comments based on observation rather than speculation, great job. The only problem is you are comparing apples to oranges as the 3" difference in length is going to make a difference in casting difference and in other areas. The 6'8" M-MF out cast everything because the medium fast action, the rod loaded twice as much as the fast action which gave it more velocity so that test is out. The Prodigy is in its own right a pretty good rod for the price point, in fact I think Cabela's has high specs than other store brands for their rods as most of the Cabelas branded rods are pretty good. The only thing you need to worry about is what rod fits best for you and it isn't always going to be the most popular or even the most expensive. I passed on a G.Loomis IMX SJR722 and instead got the same rod in a GL3 and it wasn't because the GL3 was cheaper, it was because the reel seat on the GL3 was better and to me the slight difference in blank composition wasn't noticeable at all, I could not feel any more with the higher rated rod than I could with the less expensive model, it all comes down to what is best for you regardless of price or popularity.

Hey, Dan, I did mention the 3" difference in rod lengths.  I just don't know how much difference it actually makes in real life...3 feet or 3 yards.    That would require using a 7' and 7'3" rod from the same manufacturer and in the same model line.  A truer test would require using several rods of each to make sure it was representative of the group & not just the difference between those two particular rods.   I am not a review specialist, nor do I want to be.  Too time consuming.  Too much hard work.  A truer test that day would have required me to not only use the same lures and line, but I would have had to switch the same reel between rods.  More trouble than I am willing to go to.

 

I also mentioned why the Tec Spec cast a greater distance.  Seems we agree on that point.  I suppose I shouldn't have even mentioned casting distance as my main concern was the sensitivity between the rods.  Couldn't help myself, tho, as distance often plays a critical part in my casting.  I am either fishing from shore, (or from my brother-in-law's boat when visiting Florida & he prefers to stay away from the area as far as possible and still reach it with a cast).  Didn't take my Porta-Bote out last year for fear of putting my back out again.  Had done it 3 times starting in January doing nothing more than spitting toothpaste in the sink, putting on a sock, and tying a shoe.  Each time it took 2 weeks before I could walk without pain.

 

I hardly ever get to handle a rod or reel before buying.  I have never handled a reel before buying it, but have a few rods.  I rely on reviews and opinions of others.  I realize this isn't the most advantageous way to go about purchasing either, but it is better than throwing a dart at pictures (or names) on the wall.  At least I know that the item worked satisfactorily for some.  Some have no problem casting the *** one-handed.  I do.  So did the seller.  It was why he sold the rod.  Not a problem for me as I have come to cast two-handed almost all the time unless I switch to the left hand.

 

Here is a question I would like answered.  What does rod length have to do with sensitivity....if anything?  Take my initial presumption that the *** wasn't particularly sensitive.  I remember testing the 6' MH Lightning rod with Daiwa Procaster and 1/2 oz. spinnerbait at the same spot the spring after I bought it for my grandson.  I had sent the reel out for cleaning and wondered how the combo would perform.  The whole rod/reel was bouncing in my hand from the blades vibrations.  Was it because it was a MH versus the other rods yesterday being Mediums?  Was it because it was only 6' long?  I do know the Prodigy tip vibrated more (and sooner in the cast) than the ***.  Was it the extra length of the *** rod absorbing the vibrations, or something else?