What do you guys prefer? My main rod was a zebco rhino tuff, which I is a hybrid........but my new main rod has been a graphite rod. After using the graphite, I seem to prefer graphite now over the hybrid. It just has a better feel, but I am not sure about power? I just grabbed a new rod today. I had a hard time making a decision between a hybrid rod and a graphite rod. The hybrid felt a bit more powerfull and heavy duty, like it could handle more, despite it being the same power as the graphite rod......but they both had the same ratings and the graphite just "felt" better so I went with that.......hoping I dont regret my choice as Im hoping to make this sort of my all purpose rod.......7 ft, Med action spinning rod should fit a lot of applications I figure. 

 

I got the quantum rather than the shakespeare.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Quantum-Throttle-Size-20-Spinning-Combo/735210278

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shakespeare-Crusader-Spinning-Combo/49114664

   For any competent rod designer, there is no advantage from one over the other. But for a fisherman, there definitely is.

   Fiberglass is a material that absorbs vibration. It is therefore classified as "reduced sensitivity" material compared to graphite. Composite ("Hybrid") rods are, to one extent or another, the same. Graphite, by comparison, transmits vibration much more readily, so people say that it is "high sensitivity" material.

   When you said that the graphite "felt better", this is probably what you were referring to. Maybe not; it could also have been weight and balance. I think that you would have noticed that as obvious, though.

   Fishermen will feel that one design is a lot different than some other, but they can all do the same thing, all other things being equal. I have (and like) both fiberglass and graphite.          jj

Each material has it’s time and place. 

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   For any competent rod designer, there is no advantage from one over the other. But for a fisherman, there definitely is.

   Fiberglass is a material that absorbs vibration. It is therefore classified as "reduced sensitivity" material compared to graphite. Composite ("Hybrid") rods are, to one extent or another, the same. Graphite, by comparison, transmits vibration much more readily, so people say that it is "high sensitivity" material.

   When you said that the graphite "felt better", this is probably what you were referring to. Maybe not; it could also have been weight and balance. I think that you would have noticed that as obvious, though.

   Fishermen will feel that one design is a lot different than some other, but they can all do the same thing, all other things being equal. I have (and like) both fiberglass and graphite.          jj

yeah the graphite felt much more balanced and came with a better reel so I went with it. The hybrid felt more durable, or maybe I should say the graphite felt more fragile. Hope I dont break the d**n thing lol!

1 hour ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Each material has it’s time and place. 

 yeah, and from the reading I have done, it seems fiberglass or hybrid rods are good for crankbait rods, it also seems most prefer graphite rods in general. 

When I started fishing in the 50's fishing rods were made from split bamboo, tubular steel, solid fiberglass and newest tubular fiberglass. 

Fiberglass has evolved from solid to light tubular, the leader was Conolon who Garcia purchased in the early 60's. My 1st bass rod was a Conolon Live Fiber tubular rod.

In the mid 60's Fenwhick came out with a lighter stronger tubular glass rod followed by Browning Siloflex and rods continued to be developed mostly for fly rods.

Graphite was introduced by Fenwick followed by boron from Phenix rods, both westcoast rod companies. The early graphite and boron rods failed randomly. It was Gary Loomis working for Lamiglas who solved the graphite rod problem. Boron died out.

Rod materials haven't progressed until 3M Nano resins came out in the early 2000. Everything we have today was developed over 20 years ago.

Tom

My primary spinning outfit is a graphite. My casting is a Dobyn's Chamion fiberglass. More for heavier stuff but I really love that rod.

 

That being said. My first rod was a JC higgins from Sears (later rebranded Tedd Williams brand). It was nylon. Sort of a yellowish milky color to it. I've still got it since the early 60's. A bait caster. We did have in the family one of the early fiberglass rods. It was very thin body hollow and actually made to look the color of wood. I knew it was thin because after using it a few years it broke at the ferrel and I could see a cross section of it.. It was a bit fragile but actually was a pretty nice rod.