I've been fishing with a mojo bass rod as my jig/bottom contact baits and I've been looking to upgrade I want something more sensitive and to fill what I'm dragging my jig on or fill that inhale bite from a big bass I'm looking for something in the 150-200$ range any advice is good advice

If you like St Croix, the next logical step would be the Avid or Avid X. Hammer rods are very nice too if you like microguides and winn grips.

 

My personal pick would be the ALX Zolo B series. Retailers like TW will have them right at your price range or touch more but when on a sale for 10-20% off you can get them well within your range.

St. Croix Avid or Shimano Zodias would be my vote. 

The Avid and Avid X rods are both awesome for $200 or so.  I also own Fenwick Aetos rods in that price range that are also really, really good.

KLX no doubt about it.

If you don't care about having the newest and most popular of today's market, I suggested you locate a Fenwick Techna AV on e bay..

 

At one time they were considered a top of the line rod, but unfortunately they were discontinued about 8-9 years ago.. But as I've said before, I'd put that rod up against anything made today by anybody.

 

 

 

 

Mike

Powell Inferno 7' MH extra fast  ?

Lots of good choices. Look at Irod Crusher series in the 734 model

 

Everyone's suggestions are great. That being said, I have first gen mojos, second gen Mojos, avids, and a legend tournament. Comparing similar rods, none are night and day more sensitive than the next. I do notice split grip rods having a slight better transfer of vibration over full cork, less material for energy to travel through would be my guess for that. I use my Mojo 7'1mh for 1/8-3/8oz jigs, and usually leave the legend home due to my distaste for the sk2 reel seat. Sensitivity is highly subjective. 

Agree with the Avid X, Zodias, or Kistler KLX.  I have all of them.  They're all around $200 and are PLENTY sensitive for bottom contact.

13 hours ago, Mike L said:

If you don't care about having the newest and most popular of today's market, I suggested you locate a Fenwick Techna AV on e bay..

 

At one time they were considered a top of the line rod, but unfortunately they were discontinued about 8-9 years ago.. But as I've said before, I'd put that rod up against anything made today by anybody.

 

 

 

 

Mike

State of the art rod 20 years ago that cost $300 and I have a rod I will part with; AVC 66 MHF, aramide veil design, 3/8-1 oz, 10-25 line.

It's a good rod in today's market but not nearly as good as ALX Zolo B referenced, maybe better then most of the others recommended.

Tom

 

31 minutes ago, WRB said:

It's a good rod in today's market but not nearly as good as ALX Zolo B referenced, maybe better then most of the others recommended.

Based on what?

46 minutes ago, WRB said:

State of the art rod 20 years ago that cost $300 and I have a few Inwill part with.

It's a good rod in today's market but not nearly as good as ALX Zolo B referenced, maybe better then most of the others recommended.

Tom

 

I've fished them and they are nice. Similar to an Avid but stiffer.

Falcon lowrider finesse worm and jig. My favorite rod ever. I have a 7'1 mh mojo bass too and they're not even close

 

4 hours ago, r83srock said:

Comparing similar rods, none are night and day more sensitive than the next. I do notice split grip rods having a slight better transfer of vibration over full cork, less material for energy to travel through would be my guess for that.

Agree with @r83srock that, at least in my opinion, there

isn't a huge difference. I had a similar experience when I 

had an Avid and compared it to one of my Carbonlites, I 

honestly didn't think the difference was that big.

 

I no longer have the Avid, upgraded to a Legend Tournament

and while I do think it has a little more, I'm not sure it is

an order of magnitude. I also have Premier rods and they're

pretty good, too.

 

So Carbonlites, Premier, Avid, Legend Tourney, all good and

transmit well -- to me. In your range, Croix is a great choice,

based solely off my experience.

5 hours ago, WRB said:

State of the art rod 20 years ago that cost $300 and I have a few Inwill part with.

It's a good rod in today's market but not nearly as good as ALX Zolo B referenced, maybe better then most of the others recommended.

Tom

 

Which zolo model for jigs and trigs 

7 hours ago, RichF said:

Agree with the Avid X, Zodias, or Kistler KLX.  I have all of them.  They're all around $200 and are PLENTY sensitive for bottom contact.

Which is your favorite for jigs/bottom contact baits 

5 hours ago, RichF said:

Based on what?

The baseline for bottom contact lures IMO is G. Loomis NRX series rods, changed the diffention of bass rod flexing. After fishing the NRX rods I was impressed and shocked with the price point and warranty, no way I was going to pay over $500 + $100 cert to guarantee rod replacement. That was 5 years ago and I haven't changed my mind. 

I was Lamiglas rod user for over 35 years until they basically stopped producing state of the art custom bass rods and was referred to ALX by Lamiglas for custom rods. ALX made me rods equal to the NRX series using state of the art NG+ blanks with state of the art guides, handles and material for $260 each rod that weigh 3.8 oz with a foregrip and that was 5 years ago. Since that time ALX offers their 1st over the counter rod Zolo B, now available at TW. Alex offers limited life time warranty and 90 day trail period on custom rods and 10 year warranty on ALX OTC Zolo B rods. 

Tom

 

1 hour ago, OkieBoy17 said:

Which zolo model for jigs and trigs 

Which is your favorite for jigs/bottom contact baits 

Deputy 7'1" MH fast.

Tom

in the $200 rod market i really like hammer rods.. i had 2 alx rods and they were nice quality rods but i find the sensitivity of the hammer rods to be much better in my hands.

Just now, OkieBoy17 said:

Which zolo model for jigs and trigs 

Which is your favorite for jigs/bottom contact baits 

 Tough call. I use all three with jigs lol. I actually think the Zodias is the most crisp.  It's just really light and balanced with my Chronarch CI4.  The others are honestly just as good, sensitivity wise, the Zodias just feels the best to me in hand...with the KLX a very, very close second.  The Avid is great too, just a little tip heavy (7'4 H).

1 hour ago, RichF said:

 Tough call. I use all three with jigs lol. I actually think the Zodias is the most crisp.  It's just really light and balanced with my Chronarch CI4.  The others are honestly just as good, sensitivity wise, the Zodias just feels the best to me in hand...with the KLX a very, very close second.  The Avid is great too, just a little tip heavy (7'4 H).

What model zodias do you have, and what's the lightest jig it can throw?

8 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

in the $200 rod market i really like hammer rods.. i had 2 alx rods and they were nice quality rods but i find the sensitivity of the hammer rods to be much better in my hands.

What alx did you have 

46 minutes ago, OkieBoy17 said:

What alx did you have 

i think they were the deputy and promise.

In the $200 it's tough to beat the KLX. A couple other good ones would be the *** and if you want to save a few bucks the Ark Invoker is outstanding.

10 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

What model zodias do you have, and what's the lightest jig it can throw?

I have a 6'10 mh and 7'2 mh.  I use the 6'10 for 1/4 - 3/8 oz football jigs for smallmouth and it's perfect.  The 7'2, even though it's the same taper and power, feels quite a bit more "substantial."  I use it for swim jigs and flipping jigs up to an 1/2 oz.