The bait monkey just left. NRX 853C on the way.

I forsee your dobyns in the flea market

Dobyns Champion Extreme or Dobyns Champion lines.  I don't have a single specific rod I like best.  When spending that amount of money I want the rod to do a specific job and do it as well as possible.  I'm not happy fishing with something "that works" for that price.  I'm not going to fish a frog on my most expensive, sensitive under-powered rod in the line, that's just plain stupid.  I couldn't care less what a rod looks like, or if it feels "dead" whatever in the heck that is supposed to mean.  I want to be able to feel a bite, hook a fish, and land it without worrying about breaking a rod.  I seem to be able to do that with my rods without any issues.  That is what I care about it and I keep it simple.  There are a lot of good rods out there and I think some of them are sorely overpriced.  The $100-$200 price-range is getting pounded right now and is by far the most popular with the best value.  I know Dobyns isn't the hot new rod anymore and it will fade in popularity, but there is a reason they have a loyal following and people might be a little surprised about who is not on staff that they think is. 

I forsee your dobyns in the flea market

It'll actually be some Cumaras and an ***, haha. Keep your eyes open!

Any of the Shimano Cumaras. Right at that price range. I personally love the grips and it feels great fishing the whole day.

I guess I don't understand the question. If there's no top $$$ limit per the OP...why not just ask what the absolute best rod on the market is? It's probably not, but if it's less than $250...the people who buy boutique rods for the sake of having the most expensive rod (not the best rod) won't acknowledge it anyways because you'd feel like a tool spending $800 on a rod that won't catch fish better than a $150 rod.

(BTW, an $800 rod won't catch fish better than a $150 rod, hehehe)

So I guess the OP should say "What's the best rod on the planet?"

I guess I don't understand the question. If there's no top $$$ limit per the OP...why not just ask what the absolute best rod on the market is? It's probably not, but if it's less than $250...the people who buy boutique rods for the sake of having the most expensive rod (not the best rod) won't acknowledge it anyways because you'd feel like a tool spending $800 on a rod that won't catch fish better than a $150 rod.

(BTW, an $800 rod won't catch fish better than a $150 rod, hehehe)

So I guess the OP should say "What's the best rod on the planet?"

 

My guess is that OP is looking for input on purchasing a rod in the $250+ range but doesn't want to spend Megabass X7 money. You may have missed it where he added the $400 cap, which is unfortunately just short of X4 money.

 

Also, no reason to stir the pot. If you don't like expensive rods, don't buy them. 

My guess is that OP is looking for input on purchasing a rod in the $250+ range but doesn't want to spend Megabass X7 money. You may have missed it where he added the $400 cap, which is unfortunately just short of X4 money.

 

Also, no reason to stir the pot. If you don't like expensive rods, don't buy them. 

I agree. It may be true that a $100 rod will catch fish the same as an $800 rod, but IMHO you'll enjoy fishing more with the expensive rod. And isn't that the point of bass fishing? Enjoyment?

Great.... The most expensive stick I've bought to date is an Abu Villain, one of my favorites. After reading this thread I've got 'the monkey' whispering Dobyns, Loomis, And St. Croix ....

Anyone have any monkey repellant?

Great.... The most expensive stick I've bought to date is an Abu Villain, one of my favorites. After reading this thread I've got 'the monkey' whispering Dobyns, Loomis, And St. Croix ....

Anyone have any monkey repellant?

Don't expect a performance upgrade going from a Villain to a top end rod.

Great.... The most expensive stick I've bought to date is an Abu Villain, one of my favorites. After reading this thread I've got 'the monkey' whispering Dobyns, Loomis, And St. Croix ....

Anyone have any monkey repellant?

 

  The only bait monkey repellant I've ever seen was my Wife and she is d**n good at it too. If not for her our house could be made out of fishing rods by now.

The only bait monkey repellant I've ever seen was my Wife and she is d**n good at it too. If not for her our house could be made out of fishing rods by now.

My wife looks at the bank statement and knows immediately I've been buying more fishing "crap" by seeing the Japaneese names on the transaction.

I've also thought of building a log cabbin out of rod tubes.

As the topic states what's your fav rod for 250 or over. Let's stay in reason and not say a megabass destroyer phrase 3 or something.

 

 

No reason to spend more than $250 IMO to be completely honest.

 

13 *** Black.  Honestly I love my NRX but it's not that much better than the Envys.  Recoils, ultra light blanks, crisp as a brand new $100 bill and more sensitive than a 15yo girl...  And you could buy two Envys and still have money left over when compared to the NRX.  Honestly with how versatile the tips/blanks/backbone is in every *** Black model I've tried, you seriously cannot go wrong.  Try to find all the features and advantages in the *** elsewhere and you'll seriously either be buying a full custom or a top of the line $500 rack rod.  IMO they are a serious bargain for what they're being sold for.  I'm honestly waiting for them to jump up by like a hundred bucks or more one of these seasons.    

 

 

I have been wrestling with getting a 7'1" MLXF *** spinning rod for some time...  I don't think I'll be able to hold out much longer once they're back in stock.