I've used a number of different rods over the 40+ years of fishing but for the last 20 years I've used St. Croix almost exclusively.  This may be partly due to the fact that I visit their factory at least once a year and in my region (N. IL) they are highly favored.  I've had G Loomis but never a Dobyns which I know some guys on here really like.

Berkley hands down...

I'm a big St. Croix fan myself.  I'm so glad the SCV blanks are still available to custom builders.  I do miss the SCIII for budget builds though.

I use mostly St Croix. They are widely available and easy to get in my area. Almost every shop has more St Croix on the shelf then any other branded rods. St Croix are not included on sales at my local stores so I am starting to expand out and buy other brands because when you can get a 20% discount on everything but St Croix that can be quite the savings. 

 

This year been using a few of the Shimano Expride and Zodias rods and I like them quite a bit, but I wish they had hook keepers on them. Also just purchased a G Loomis NRX that I have yet to really use.

 

At this point my top three favorite rods are all St Croix, but I really like Exprides and have been starting to use them more and more.

 

 

But being serious. I try not to be picky I just buy good deals and not worry about brands. Mostly Abu Garcia and Shimano.

I'm a student so my budget is tight, I can currently only dream about spending $400 on a St Croix or Loomis.

Yesterday I went out on the kayak and was 'restricted' to eight rods -- I had two Fenwick, two St. Croix, one Dobyns, one Okuma and two Kistler.  Left in the truck were at least two other brands.  I wouldn't want to restrict myself to one manufacturer.

Bass pro Carbon light

the old cabela's fish eagle II casting rods ... still got 'em ... best 70 dollars i ever spent on a rod ...

 

good fishing ...

I don't buy rods because of who makes em. 

I buy based on past experience, action, power, rod and handle length for what I need it for. 

 

That said..Older Fenwick's, and Falcon's and newer Loomis and Falcon rods seem to cover all my needs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

1 hour ago, ElijahH said:

I try not to be picky I just buy good deals and not worry about brands.

Same here, but I fish my Kistlers & Abu Garcias 90% of the time so I’d have to say they’re my favorites.  

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

out on the kayak and was 'restricted' to eight rods

Eight !?!?!?!!!?!?

 

I think four is a lot when out on my Lure.

LOL...was a time not so long ago when I thought the same thing. 

 

Crazy thing was that I had a hard time paring it down to 8.....but I did use every one of them.  Tough summer times fishing shallow wood and grass, rocky bluffs, deep sandy points, med depth flats....

I'm another that buys rods based on my needs and reviews by trustworthy (hopefully ) guys on boards like this one.  I have favorites from several brands including, but not restricted to Falcon, Fenwick, ALX, Daiwa, Dobyns and...yes...Quantum (higher priced models).

I don't have a favorite brand, I do have favorite models from a bunch of different manufacturers.

All star and falcon. Never had one that didn't feel just right in my hands.

Kind of a long story but I grew up using low end rods and reels.  I had never heard of most of the rods/reels that are used today.  Twenty years ago I visited a friends cabin in St. Germain, WI and forgot my fishing rod.  My friend was a huge St. Croix fan (especially the Avis series) and Shimano Stradic's.  I borrowed one of his combo's and was blown away at how much smoother the reel was and how much more sensitive the rod was.  I became a convert after that.  Not knocking any other brands just have been happy with Shimano and St. Croix.

I'm all over the place with this one. Can't pin point to one. If I had the money I would go with the higher end brands like GLoomis, St.Croix and such, but I have had success with my 1 Fenwick, a couple of Cabelas rods, and even my KK rods. Pretty sure if I had a higher end rod the difference would be night and day, but I don't want to fall down that Bait Monkey slippery slope... I think my wallet doesn't want me to either .

I think out of all my rods only two rods are made by the same company. And I like most of them.

 

I have:

 

Abu Garcia Veritas casting

Bass Pro Bionic Blade casting

Bass Pro Carbon Lite II casting (best casting I have)

Shimano Clarus casting

Academy H2O Express Ethos spinning

Lew's TP1 Speed Stick spinning (best spinning I have)

Berkely Lightning spinning

St. Croix fly 

I use a handful of different rod companies.

 

Shimano, ALX, Kistler, Fenwick, Daiwa, Cabela's, Dobyns, St. Croix. Plan on getting a Cashion and possibly a Lew's in the near future.

 

Of all of those rods...and I like them all...if I had to choose my favorite, I would go with my Kistler's (Helium 3 and KLX Feel N Reels).

 

 

I have tried several brands over the years and for me it's a tie between G. Loomis and St. Croix.  

My favorite would be Gloomis but I have also been using them for years and years they have never disappointed.

 

But I also own Megabass and St Croix and like them just as much.

 

As for builds

Megabass builds the best looking and the wraps, guides and blank are always perfect.

St Croix also does an amazing job with their builds.

Gloomis has always been a little off here and there, except for my Conquest, its perfect.

 

My dream rod would be a NRX blank sent to the megabass factory to be built

I've used a number of different rods over the 60+ years of fishing and I still have a lot of them. I caught my first 9+# largemouth on a short St. Croix Premier. I don't think they even make the 6' MHF rod anymore. I love that rod for some reason. For the past year or two I've settled on the brand I like the most - Shimano-Loomis. I only have 5 so far, but I got married in November and she's taking up a lot of my time (and money.    )

 

People keep saying you don't need a Conquest to fish spinnerbaits. I like them for everything, especially spinnerbaits.

 

My first good rod was Dobyns. It was an addiction. Luckily I broke the cycle to see what else is out there. Now I own alpha angler, diawa, and dobyns. Gloomis is next. I want a Kistler and Megabass as well. It's a great time to be an angler to have such a thick variety and competition to keep the prices in check. There is lots to choose from at every price point. Its hard to imagine how people were able to fish 20 years ago with only a few manufacturers to choose from. 

I have 5 Dobyns and 3 KK, 1 Okuma, I like them all.

I like shimano and okuma, but dobyns also has some good offerings.  I also have a kistler and Megabass, but I haven't used them that much, so the jury is still out on those.  

I currently own 2 Lew’s sticks (Crush and a Mach II), Dobyn’s, Kistler, and a Megabass. My Lew’s and Megabass gets a lot of use out of all my stuff since I prefer them 3. As for my wife, she loves her Kistler Rods (H3, KLX Reel n feel).