Shimano/Lews -casting

Shimano/Daiwa-Spinning 

St Croix/Loomis/Abu-Rods

I’m less inclined to have one favorite Reel, but I’ve been on a Daiwa Steez buying spree (and other Daiwa this spring).

 

In the last few years, I only bought Kistler Rods. I have 71 now.

 

I have a Browning rod from the late ‘80s that I love. It was very expensive for that time period, but it is a work horse and sensitive. 7’ heavy. 

 

I sold my Loomis rods. I still have some Lamiglas Rods but I don’t use them any more.

Spinning Reels - Pflueger Presidents

Baitcasting Reels - Currently Abu Garcia, and Shimano

Rods - Daiwa, St. Croix, and Bass Pro

This one is easy. For reels, daiwa and shimano. For rods, loomis, megabass and kistler.

Shimano and Penn reels

At the moment, could change tomorrow, my top 5 favorite brands are:

 

Reels: Daiwa, Shimano, Kastking, ***, Lews

 

Rods: Powell, Denali, Kastking, Lews, Abu Garcia

For reels, I like Daiwa, Shimano and Pflueger and it doesn't really matter if it's spinning or casting (The Pflueger Supreme XT is a great casting reel that most people don't know about!)

 

For rods, I like Daiwa, Dobyns and St. Croix in my normal target price range ($100-200), and Berkley or Abu Garcia when I'm on a budget.

Spinning reels:  Daiwa, Pflueger

Baitcast reels:  Diawa, Shimano, Lews, Pflueger, Abu and the Pinnacle Primmus is a favorite, but have not used any of their other models.

 

Spinning Rods:  Fenwick, Abu, Diawa

Casting Rods:  Diawa, Megabass, ALX, Fenwick, Falcon.  Have a Major Craft and Abu that are new-2-me but seem very good so far.

 

I agree that Fenwick should bring back the Elite Tech Smallmouth series even if they have to raise the price.  They had to be one of the best values ever.  The original Diawa Tatula rods are another great rod at their price point.  I wouldn't mind seeing Falcon bring back the Expert series, but wouldn't be able to buy one until they went on closeout again. 

 

Really like the one Dobyns casting rod I have. 

Rods - Shimano, Loomis, Megabass, Powell and Dobyns

Reels - Shimano, Daiwa, and Pflueger

Casting Rods - Dobyns

Casting Reels - Lew's

Spinning Rods - St. Croix

Spinning Reels - Pflueger 

Reels: Shimano

 

Rods: G Loomis, Shimano, Falcon and Kistler

 

Rods (Salt): Batson, Calstar, Shimano and Daiwa

 

I am somewhat of a Dobyns Fan Boy. All my bass fishing rods are Dobyns with the exception of 2, 1 Powell punching rod and 1 Shimano ultra light Expride. I'm sure there are other great rods made by others out there, but I have grown accustomed to knowing what I'm getting with some of the specs. I have tried a few companies, Phoenix and Shimano and their MH vs a Dobyns MH are slightly different. Because of this it's easier for me to just stick to one brand, a quality brand by the way, and bump up and down in powers and action as needed. Probably not the best way of finding and exploring new rods but I've been happy with my Dobyns. 

 

All reels are Shimano. I stick to what I know and trust. Not that there aren't any other great companies out there. 

Reels - Daiwa and Shimano 

 

rods - Daiwa,Dobyns,G Loomis,St Croix 

Shimano and Dobyns. No need to look any further, as far as I’m concerned. 

 

St Croix and G. Loomis are no slouches either, but I sold all of mine to switch to Dobyns. I’m not going back. 

Shimano spinning reels

Lew’s casting reels

Megabass Casting Rods

St Croix Casting rods

St Croix spinning rods

Reels: Pflueger and Lews

Rods: Fenwick and St. Croix 

Reels: Daiwa, Abu Garcia, The name we can't say

Rods: I have one brand I fish: Kistler. I did enjoy my Phenix, Denali and Abu Garica when I used them. I'm more of a brand loyalist when it comes to rods.

I am more blue collar than some, except with fly fishing.  Some of it is old and clunky by today's standards, but this ain't a fashion show.

BC reel:  Pfluger and my old Bass Pro Viper (workhorse)

BC rods:  St Croix, BPS Tourney Special, Lamiglass, Daiwa, American Rodsmith, Ozark

Spinning Reel:  Pfluger, Okuma

Spinning Rod:  Ugly Stick!,  BPS Tourney special, Okuma, Shimano (for salt)and I have a Fenwick travel rod that I am wildly inaccurate with

Fly reel: Pfluger, Hardy, Okuma, Orvis, Ross

Fly Rods: St Croix, Sage, Lamiglass, Loomis

 

Overall, St Croix and Pfluger are my favorite brands with Okuma right up there.

Casting Reels - Lews and Abu

Spinning Reels - Pflueger or Shimano

 

Rods - Powell, Fenwick, Okuma (Helios/TCS), Duckett, G.Loomis

On 6/12/2018 at 5:18 PM, Mike L said:

Don't have 5...

Shimano reels

Fenwick and Loomis rods. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I’m liking that little shoutout to Fenwick.

Casting reels: Daiwa, and Abu Garcia

 

Spinning reels: Daiwa, and Pflueger

 

Rods: Daiwa, Fenwick, Abu Garcia, and Berkley

 

I used to be a big Shimano, and St Croix user, but I feel the above companies offer more bang for the buck performance wise, and have  fantastic offerings at lower price points.   

We talked about this on the water yesterday.  We were trying to zero in on a single "favorite" and I determined that, because I buy for specific purposes, I don't have a favorite.  Opening up to "top five" opens the doors to preferences a bit, and I like it.

 

Reels:

• Lamson
• Nautilus
• Abu/Diawa/Shimano in a tie

Rods:

• Temple Forks
• St. Croix
• Orvis
• Scott
• Hav1

Rods are all a tie, IMO.

 

Yeah, some of those are gonna puzzle non-fly fishing folks.  But it's what I use for bass...

Rods:

St. Croix

Abu Garcia

Fenwick

 

Reels:

Shimano

Daiwa

On 6/16/2018 at 11:25 PM, HogsNHawgs said:

I’m liking that little shoutout to Fenwick.

Fenwick's aren't as popular as they once were but my Techna  AV is one of the best casting rods ever made by anyone. 

 

 

 

Mike

 

Reels - Basically all Shimanos.  I do have 3 BPS PQ's but they are my beater or loaner reels.  

Rods - Mostly Shimano, Fenwick and Loomis.  I have some others that are 1 or 2 of.  (Abu Garcia, St. Croix and BPS)