Anyone with experience with Bass Pro Shops rods? Specifically the Johnny Morris Signature Series and Signature Platinum Series? Thoughts or opinions?

I own several Johnny Morris rods, both the 'Signature' model and 'Extreme Performance' model.

My rods are several years old though, and are the old JM builds that ran abreast of top-rung rods like St Croix.

The old Johnny Morris line was 'overbuilt', yet it failed to attract the market that it truly deserved.

As a result, it's not the same fantastic rod today that it once was, and I have since fallen out of their loop.

 

Roger

14 minutes ago, DN3 said:

Anyone with experience with Bass Pro Shops rods? Specifically the Johnny Morris Signature Series and Signature Platinum Series? Thoughts or opinions?

 

I find the quality of the JM series pretty good for the money.

Went with the Carbonlite for my stuff though because they 

felt lighter in my hands - mostly due to the guides, I believe.

The JM series uses better K guides as found on my Legend

Tournament Walleye rod from St. Croix.

 

Good stuff, methinks.

5 minutes ago, Darren. said:

 

I find the quality of the JM series pretty good for the money.

Went with the Carbonlite for my stuff though because they 

felt lighter in my hands - mostly due to the guides, I believe.

The JM series uses better K guides as found on my Legend

Tournament Walleye rod from St. Croix.

 

Good stuff, methinks.

Yeah, it looks like the regular signature series might have better guides than the Platinum...For the Platinum it doesn't give much info other than Fuji SiC guides

5 minutes ago, Darren. said:

 

I find the quality of the JM series pretty good for the money.

Went with the Carbonlite for my stuff though because they 

felt lighter in my hands - mostly due to the guides, I believe.

The JM series uses better K guides as found on my Legend

Tournament Walleye rod from St. Croix.

 

Good stuff, methinks.

Yeah, it looks like the regular signature series might have better guides than the Platinum...For the Platinum it doesn't give much info other than Fuji SiC guides

one of the few rods I have never broken. overall hard to beat for the pricepoint

I only have Carbonlite rods from BPS and as much as some bad mouth them, I have never had a problem with them.  They are inexpensive, sensitive  and really, really light, which is what I like. All of mine are 6'6" & 7' MH fast and 7'medium.  I am up to nine.  They take a beating on the Potomac beds each summer and keep on ticking.

1 hour ago, runt4561 said:

one of the few rods I have never broken. overall hard to beat for the pricepoint

5 minutes ago, OnthePotomac said:

I only have Carbonlite rods from BPS and as much as some bad mouth them, I have never had a problem with them.  They are inexpensive, sensitive  and really, really light, which is what I like. All of mine are 6'6" & 7' MH fast and 7'medium.  I am up to nine.  They take a beating on the Potomac beds each summer and keep on ticking.

 

Have to agree, CL rods are a great bang for the buck.

 

I actually cut two of my spinning models down from 6'6"

to 6'3" (butt end) so it's easier for kayaking. But they're 

tough, super-reasonable price esp. when on sale (which

is several times/year). Just wish they came in more 

lengths like some of their other models. Would love some

MF, MH 6' CL rods.

 

 

Love the CarbonLites and Johnny Morris Series

 

Darren is right - It can take a beating since I have fished in the Potomac River in DC Metro area. It can handle anything..but my favorite Carbonlite (6'8 M/xf) broke in half while casting it. It was jus a freak break...

 

 I just wish they would go back to the black models since I really hate the white stick but other than that, I LOVE it .

 

Memo for BPS:

Go back to BLACK Color Rod (more attraction) 

Get rid of WHITE Color Rod (Looks like duckey rods) 

I own the Jim signature and the Jm carbonlites and find that they are exceptional values for the money. 

The platinum series especially is the by far the lightest rod I own. That includes some rods that are far more expensive. 

I will say this,  The hook keepers on them are complete design fail. The ones that own catch line in the wind and have a tendency to loosen up over time. 

Otherwise, they are great rods and I have never had any problem with bass pro branded stuff. 

 

2 minutes ago, Poolshark said:

I own the Jim signature and the Jm carbonlites and find that they are exceptional values for the money. 

The platinum series especially is the by far the lightest rod I own. That includes some rods that are far more expensive. 

I will say this,  The hook keepers on them are complete design fail. The ones that own catch line in the wind and have a tendency to loosen up over time. 

Otherwise, they are great rods and I have never had any problem with bass pro branded stuff. 

 

 

Agree on the hook keepers. Hate 'em. I clipped one

off, bent the other one in and replace with these:

 

I have the 7'2" MH/F, JM Signature. The ceramics in one of the eyes just fell out after about 10 days. The handle section is very long for a rod that short, but I throw Keitech's on it so it works out really well. I wouldn't want it for much else though.

 

Not a horrible rod for $150, but something like a Duckett Terex is a better rod for the same price.

I have (8) Johnny Morris Signature Series rods some older and some newer and they are the best rods for the money. I never broke one either and are comfortable to fish. Like mentioned above, the hook keeper should have been put on the bottom of the rod. I cut mine off as well, as it catches line. But overall an excellent choice.

I really like my carbonlights. I actually prefer my carbonlights over my st croix premiers because I found the carbonlight to be lighter, better balanced, more sensitive, and have a more comfortable grip for me. 

On 3/23/2017 at 4:24 PM, Poolshark said:

 

The platinum series especially is the by far the lightest rod I own. That includes some rods that are far more expensive. 

 

Good to hear. I bought a 7'4" platinum series as a new jig and t-rig rod, to go with a new carbonlite 2.0 reel. Though I couldn't hold one before buying, as I obviously would have preferred, my local shops (BPS, Dicks, F&S) had very little selection in the moderate (I.e., sub $200) price category to touch and feel, so I would have been buying whatever I chose sight unseen. 

 

It arrives Tuesday. I guess if I don't like the "feel", I can return it and only be out the delivery charge. 

I have a 6'10" Platinum. Great rod, it's lite and very well made. I had an old Bionic Blade IM8 rod, that rod seen a lot of abuse with no problems what so ever...

I have a Carbonlite and and Extreme.  I like them both.  The only problem I have the Carbonlite is that I get line wrap around the tip a lot.  Not sure why.  I love my Extreme and was sad to see them go.  Built like a log and not the most subtle piece of gear I own but it has taken a beating and just keeps on going.