I am getting a new rod for Christmas but on a budget of $80, I need some recommendations even if it over $80 But cant be over $100 

I'm looking for a good rod for any technique

 

Much Appreciated,

Tom

I really like Falcon rods. You can pick up the Original for $89-$99 in a bunch of different actions and models.

The Dawai Tatula XT looks like a nice rod for under $100.00

on more than a few sites.

Tom there are now many great rods in the $100-150 range. Unfortunately there is no one rod that is perfect for everything. A 6-6 to 7' MH-F is maybe the most versatile bass fishing rod, but that will limit techniques at both ends of the weights commonly used and is not well suited to most treble hook baits. Good luck.

I fish a lot of Falcons.  The Bucoo line up is great.  Think they are right at the $100 mark and the 7'MH is a pretty good all around rod.  Has a ModFast action which lends it to almost any kind of fishing you want to do.

No such thing as a rod that can do anything.

Rods that fit general use:

Spinning 6' 6"- 6'10' medium fast action bass rod.

Bait casting 7' medium heavy fast action bass rod.

Which rod type are you looking for?

Tom

Casting or spinning? A medium heavy Phenix Maxim can handle a lot of things. If you list the primary baits and techniques you plan on employing, you will get more accurate responses. You will never find a single rod that will do it all. It doesn't exist.

H2O, Falcon, or Duckett

Gosh! To think that I ACTUALLY HAD a rod that did everything. I was 14 years old and only HAD one rod!

Oh, I forgot: some techniques came about since that time.

I think my one rod was a Berkely Lightning rod. Did everything. But what did I know? Caught literally thousands of fish with it.

Gosh! To think that I ACTUALLY HAD a rod that did everything. I was 14 years old and only HAD one rod!

Oh, I forgot: some techniques came about since that time.

I think my one rod was a Berkely Lightning rod. Did everything. But what did I know? Caught literally thousands of fish with it.

Okay, let me rephrase. A rod that will handle any bait type or size effectively and efficiently. Your lightning didn't do everything. How many 2 ounce swimbaits did you chuck on it? Did you throw 1/16 ounce jigs with it? Drop shot? What one line were you using? Find me a rod I can pull a 25 foot diving crank, retie, and throw a weightless finesse worm on. Should I use 16 lb mono or, 8 lb fluoro, or 60 lb braid on it cause I want to flip and pitch with it too.

Dad had a Lew's Speed Stick that did everything for him for a long time. Worms, cranks, jigs, topwater... All with that rod and an Ambassadeur 5000 reel. (To be fair, he had a spinning rod, too.)

Now he has an Ambassadeur 5600c4 Mag on a 6'6" BPS MH/F BPS rod, a couple I've gotten him, and a few spinning setups. The spinning setups are on Ugly Sticks.

When I go to buy a new rod, I do consider this. Dad was a GM engineer and can pretty much afford what he wants. I asked him why he chose the Ugly Sticks and he told me that they have the action he wants for the way he fishes.

I find that my go-to rods are a Cherrywood HD MH/F 6' with an Ambassdeur 5500c3 mounted, a MH/F 7' Daiwa with another 5500c3 mounted, and now, a M/F Daiwa with a 4600c3 mounted. This last replaces a 5'6" Daiwa MH/F "Bill Dance Spinnerbait" rod with modified 5000 mounted. I retired this last this fall.

Were I to choose one rod for everthing, I think it would have to be the Cherrywood HD. It's not great for topwater, but works for cranks and has the action I prefer for jigs. I'm choosing it because I fish jigs and other critter baits the most and am best with them.

Just some things to think about!

Josh

6'6"-7'MHF rod.  I picked one up in store and those Blackouts do feel very nice.  Berkley Emotions are nice for that price too.  

 

I watched a video of the best 5 (I think that number) of rods to have.  Two were #8 rods  I've been told good things about the Emotions.  Both are rods I'd like to try.  The H2O gets good reviews.  I have several Fenwick rods, and feel the HMG should be included in any discussion of $100 rods.  My personal best largemouth was caught on an older Falcon Original....another good rod hardly ever mentioned these days.  However, all 3 of my Tatula rods were $100 or less.  Kind of hard to beat that rod at that price.  My MH is making me a fan of Daiwa's Regular action. 

I have a nick name Topwater Tom, I love Topwater! Forgot to mention the rod has to be great with Topwater Lures, and I am very "Brand Specific" So it cant be a competitor of SHIMANO like(Ex. Diawa, Abu Garcia, Quantum, Lews)

Haha so you're looking for a shimano top water rod...

I have a nick name Topwater Tom, I love Topwater! Forgot to mention the rod has to be great with Topwater Lures, and I am very "Brand Specific" So it cant be a competitor of SHIMANO like(Ex. Diawa, Abu Garcia, Quantum, Lews)

Zebco 33 combo is the perfect outfit for you.

 

 

Zebco Is a branch of Quantum, and I'm looking for a rod that is made from a brand that does not make reels, this way the SHIMANO Reel is not in a combo of a competitor

Zebco Is a branch of Quantum, and I'm looking for a rod that is made from a brand that does not make reels, this way the SHIMANO Reel is not in a combo of a competitor

 

If Shimano cares whether or not you use a competitor, you should be asking them for recommendations, not us.

Look into the Berkley E-Motion rods..............thier 7' MH casting rod (labled as "general purpose" by Berkley) is a very VERY nice rod for $80....I like them better than my previous "favorite" $80 rod.....the Abu Vendetta.

Hard to go wrong with a Veritas, in my opinion. 

I'm glad you indicated your age on your profile. Carry on.

Zebco Is a branch of Quantum, and I'm looking for a rod that is made from a brand that does not make reels, this way the SHIMANO Reel is not in a combo of a competitor

That was a tongue in cheek reply young man, at age 14 everything you do is entry level.

Why are you concerned with brand conflict? You are too young for major sponsorship.

If you are asking what are the characteristics of a good top water rod and who makes it within my budget, you may get more specific replies.

Tom

... at age 14 everything you do is entry level.

 

 

Man, at age 40, with 8 years focused casually (i.e., free time) on bass fishing specifically (other species since age 7), I still feel like everything I do is entry level.

 

Brand conflict?  I'm still too busy learning how to catch bass to worry about that.

Check out the st croix bargain room on their website, might be able to find a rage or mojo that you like

That was a tongue in cheek reply young man, at age 14 everything you do is entry level.

Why are you concerned with brand conflict? You are too young for major sponsorship.

If you are asking what are the characteristics of a good top water rod and who makes it within my budget, you may get more specific replies.

Tom

 

This is the best advice you'll get young man. You gain experience by trying different things, I see far to many guys saying they don't like brand "A" and when I ask why, the response I normally get is " I heard it was..." and that is wrong. There are a lot of good rods available in your price range that will work with topwater baits, the best thing you could do is look at an online retailer who carries a large assortment of rods and look for rods in your budget from EVERY manufacturer, this will help you but if you stick to Shimano only products you may be missing the boat on something that would work perfect for you at your price range. I'll tell you what we're talking about, Shimano, Dawia, and Abu Garcia all make great high end products, but when you get into what we like to call the "workhorse" range, the $100 - $200 range, there are a bunch of products that hold their own and even beat the big 3s products, you just have to have an open mind and don't limit yourself.

Zebco Is a branch of Quantum, and I'm looking for a rod that is made from a brand that does not make reels, this way the SHIMANO Reel is not in a combo of a competitor

 

^ This is silly...