Shimano rods

[Mobasser 928]

I see a lot of threads about various rods on the forum, but not much mention of Shimano rods. Mine is a Clarus model that I bought years ago. Dark brown blank, med/hvy casting rod. Very good quality cork. Light and sensitive too. It's been one of the best rods I've ever owned. I know many like Shimano reels, but I think their rods get passed by in favor of other models. Anyone using Shimano rods? I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

[islandbass 505]

I had a Clarus 2-piece casting rod, M power. Performed well. Forced to leave it in Mexico. Never saw it again. I have an MH spinning compare rod. Love this rod. 

 

Honestly don’t know if other companies provide better bang for the buck at their price levels. 

 

I think Shimano’s lower end rods like the clarus, compare and convergence are severely underrated. 

[The Bassman 1,038]

Zodias is my go to for spinning now. Crazy light, sensitive, and great ergos.

[JustJames 2,873]

I own total of 4 Shimano Crucial gen 1-2, Shimano compre and recently got zodias, they are all good and still using it day in day out. They are pretty good for price point.

[Catt 16,603]

My #1 Texas Rig CRC-X610MHXF, full cork handle

 

I will cry when it breaks!  😭

[new2BC4bass 1,690]

Have very limited experience with Shimano rods.  Found a new Compre for $75 while visiting relation in Florida a few years ago.  I keep it there.  A 7' MF rated for 1/4-3/4 oz.  To me that is MH territory.

 

Curious if Shimano rods are similar to Abu and St. Croix.  That is 'heavy' for there power rating.  Never really checked Shimano rods out.  Like the OP said, you don't see much about them.  I have read that the Expride line is excellent, but don't recall if it was mentioned that they fish at their rating or somewhere else.

[livin2fish 57]

I love my Crucial 7' MF which is more like a MH.  Have two Clarus 6'-6" MF that are like MF.  They have about 15 years on them, all heavily fished.  All have been good rods.

[d-camarena 599]

I used to use mostly shimano rods, the crucial was probably the best rod ive ever had. Better than rods twice its price. Now that i think about it, i dont know why i dont buy shimano rods anymore

[blckshirt98 839]

When I first started fishing the Shimano rods were one of the best bang for the buck rods out there, the Clarus in particular was the standard for a solid quality rod for only $80, with a lifetime warranty to boot.  Once Shimano changed their warranty policy from lifetime to one year, no longer allowed over the counter rod replacements by their retailers, and with the number of high quality rod choices available by the competition, their rods really took a hit.  My local store that specializes in bass tackle completely stopped stocking Shimano rods - customers were bringing in their broken rods trying to get an over the counter replacement, and they couldn't give them a replacment (like they always used to do) because Shimano now requires the customer to send them to Shimano for a replacement, and customers were arriving with a broken rod, and leaving with a broken rod.  The Shimano Expride rods are the only rods generating any kind of buzz or recommendation nowadays.

[Catt 16,603]

@new2BC4bass I've thrown Crucial for years & do not find the to fish "heavy", I find them more dead on the most rods.

 

My Crucial is rated for 3/8-3/4 oz, I can throw a weightless Trick Worm to a 1/2 oz Texas Rigs.

[Mobasser 928]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

@new2BC4bass I've thrown Crucial for years & do not find the to fish "heavy", I find them more dead on the most rods.

 

My Crucial is rated for 3/8-3/4 oz, I can throw a weightless Trick Worm to a 1/2 oz Texas Rigs.

Catt, my Shimano rod has been very good. I don't own or really have a way to compare it with other rods, but I think it can hold its own with many rods on the market. I'm not sure when I bought it, maybe 8-10yrs ago. Lots of bass later, still going strong

[JustJames 2,873]

Medium rod that rate 1/4 - 3/4 are the norm these days. That why I miss my crucial medium so much. It rate 1/8 - 3/8 and fish true to it rate. I can fish weightless thick worm all the way to Fat Ika no problem. Soft enough tip for Fluke and have perfectly backbone for any type fishing. On the other hand my compre worm/jig rod Medium which also rate 1/8 - 3/8 got even softer tip but not enough backbone (I only use this rod for finesse and small top water.

[Catt 16,603]

@Mobasser My first Crucial replaced a G Loomis & I don't feel like it was a down grade at all.

 

For Texas Rigs & Jig-n-Craws I prefer medium heavy extra fast.

[LonnieP 403]

I had a 6’ 10” MH Crucial that got broke in the bed of my truck a couple of years ago. It was my first good rod and I remember being blown away the first time I used it because it was so light and sensitive. I’m still kicking myself for not getting it replaced for half price under the warranty.

[ItsHardwick 90]

I have a couple of Zodias rods I got recently. So far I really like them, crazy light and sensitive for the price point. I haven’t fished them enough to tell you I’m really really in love with them yet but I think that’s where I’ll land. My one gripe so far is the handle on the casting models is a little slim for me. The handles on the spinning models are perfect though. 

[The Maestro 121]

I use and love Shimano rods. I think being known as one of the top reel brands actually works against them when it comes to their rods. People just automatically associate Shimano with quality reels.  The new Poison Adrena looks like it will be another one of their legendary releases that people will still covet long after they've been discontinued.

[NHBull 3,169]

Conquest?........Not worth sticker, but one hell of a rod if you can find them on sale 🥃

[jbsoonerfan 1,632]

I love Shimano rods. Still own Crucials. I have used the Cumara, Clarus, Compre, Zodias, Poison Adrena and even the Sellus rods. I even owned a Cumulus that I got for a rediculous price. It was a M so I didn't have much use for it since it was 7'2" or 7'1" so I sold it. My buddy has bought a bunch of my rods from me and he still uses them 3-5 times a week and they are just as good today.

[RB 77 262]

11 hours ago, Catt said:

My #1 Texas Rig CRC-X610MHXF, full cork handle

 

I will cry when it breaks!  😭

 

My all time favorite T-rig rod is a 7' MH/ F full cork Crucial that is the only rod that I own that if it broke I would shed a tear for! That's saying a lot for the quality of Shimano rods as bottom contact rods since were both certificated worm draggers.

 

As far as OP's original post,  I own more Shimano rods than all my other rod brands put together. Great rods at great price points.

[islandbass 505]

I forgot to mention I had a crucial. I freezing conditions with fingers so numb that I couldn’t bend them to grab the reel handle, I felt a fish take my lure 54’ down. 

 

I set the hook by placing my forearm under the rod to take the place of my hand, lol. I also had to use my palm to crank the handle. I lost the fish because I could use my hands, but to have felt a fish take that deep in those conditions that to me is a testament to the sensitivity of a crucial. 

Unfortunately, I donated it for a good cause, as painful as it was which is probably why I forgot about it. 

 

As I mentioned before, I am still blown away at how underrated Shimano’s lower end rods are in terms of performance and bang for the buck. 

 

Also, a one year warranty is more than enough for any rod to capture manufacturing defects.  Anything beyond that would be more akin to a replacement program which in essence could be what many anglers like to have as a comfort, and as a result they’re willing to pay more to have it. I’m not against it in any way and there is definitely something to it because the need and demand for it there. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE 1,378]

Well Im the dissenter dont much fish any of my shimano rods. Dont find them to be anything special. I did finally find a use for a cumara I bought a few years back, ned rig, still dont use it much. I think the reason is about the time I bought my shimano rods I bought some other rods that were lighter better balanced more sensitive at equal or less cost. Just glad I picked them up on closeout sales.

[ItsHardwick 90]

5 hours ago, The Maestro said:

The new Poison Adrena looks like it will be another one of their legendary releases that people will still covet long after they've been discontinued.

 

I covet one now lol. I can’t wait to get my hands on one, or four.....

[d-camarena 599]

The only bad rod ive ever held from shimano was a sellus, my aird x blows it out of the water

[Matt_3479 98]

I’ve fished a few of the older crucials and they were good rods no doubt. The only shimano I have now is an expride and I haven’t fished it yet but holy crap it’s probably one of the nicest feeling rods I’ve ever held. Can’t wait to fish it

[BaitFinesse 638]

I have two Zodias rods.  They are great versatile workhorses.  The 72M is a fantastic caster and fishes on the heavier side of M.  The 610ML is great at 1/4 oz hard baits and 1/8 oz jighead and 3 to 4 inches of plastic yet has a lot of power for a ML casting rod.  It's a good flick shake dock skipper rod.  Both rods are a little on heavier side and the 72M is more tip heavy than I like but they have proven to be great rods and I have no interest in replacing them any time soon.