Hey guys so I am looking to upgrade my rods. I currently fish with  2 BPS v1 carbonlites one is a M and the other is a MH. If you are unfamiliar with these they are microguides.

 

Where do I fish?

Creeks(25% of the time), lakes, ponds, and rivers (75% of the time)

 

What do I fish with?

When creek fishing I use the bigger jointed rapala that weights around .5oz, small/large swimming super flukes with 1/8 weight, lizard with a 1/8 weight

 

Everywhere else I fish with jointed swimbaits ranging from 1/2 oz to 1 oz, soft plastic swimbaits from 1/2oz to 1oz, creature texas rigs, crankbaits with max depth of 8 feet.

 

What do I fish from?

Mostly bank and kayak but sometimes a bass boat.

 

Possible Rods?
Dobyns Sierra Micro

St Croix Avid X

BPS platinum signature series

Phoenix M1 or Elite

Diawa Tatula or Tatula Elite

 

Budget is $600 but I really would like to spend less than that.

 

I want to buy three rods. I understand that it would be impossible finding two rods to do everything I am asking. Depending on what brand because I know they all have different weight ranges. I really also want to stay with the micro guides as well. From what I have seen the dobyns looks like a good choice.

 

Thanks for the replies!

 

 

I personally like St. Croix, but not a fan of the Avid X. I'd suggest checking out their new Victory lineup. 

 https://stcroixrods.com/pages/victory?utm_source=BassResource&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=banner&utm_campaign=VictoryLaunch

I also really like St Croix and Dobyns, but I find myself gravitating toward my Shimano Exprides.  I also tend to like slightly longer rods, 7-7'6" which might not work for bank fishing.  The Victory line looks great, I have old run Avid spinning and love them, in Dobyns I have both the Fury and Champion, and I hear nothing but great things about the Tatula series.  If you're up for mixing and matching, I'd go Victory or Tatula in a MH/F for bottom contact and go Fury for moving baits.  I love the action and feel of the Champions but to me they are a little muted on the sensitivity front compared to the exprides.  Should keep you around $450 for 3 rods.  

 

scott

 

$550ish

 

Victory - 7'3" Heavy/XF

Tatula - 7'3" Heavy Swimbait

Fury - 7' MH (703)

 

$450ish

 

Victory - 7'3" Heavy/XF

Fury - 7'3" H (735)

Fury - 7' MH (703)

 

$525ish 2 rod setup (no personal experience, but I've been looking at em)

 

Poison Adrena - 6'11" M+

Tatula - 7'3" Heavy Swimbait

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 20215 yr by softwateronly
specifics

I won't help with specific rods here.  However,  if you can't get to a decent sporting goods store and handle some...or better yet, try a friend's....then I suggest not buying three of a brand at once.  Buy one at a time.  If you love it, get another from that brand or line...if you don't,  you have opportunity to try something different 

Started bass fishing with an  ugly stick. Then went to st Croix mojo bass. Next 2 rods were shimano expride and tatula elite. The expride and tatula elite were significant jumps in sensitivity for me. My vague advice would be to buy 2 rods in that price range and use your favorite of what you currently have until you feel comfortable replacing that rod with another  in that 250-300 price point. Let us know what you decide!

Anybody have any experience with the Diawa rebellion?

St. Croix Avid 7' H Fast, 6'8" M xfast, and a 7' MH Fast.  Little over budget but you'd be set.

7 hours ago, riplips said:

Anybody have any experience with the Diawa rebellion?

Only the 7’4” glass. But it is amazing for the price. Very responsive and light for a glass rod. 
 

If I had to pick three rods...

 

Megabass Levante

Diablo Spec R

EMTF

Perfect Pitch

On 4/27/2021 at 12:09 PM, Pogues2300 said:

Started bass fishing with an  ugly stick. Then went to st Croix mojo bass. Next 2 rods were shimano expride and tatula elite. The expride and tatula elite were significant jumps in sensitivity for me. My vague advice would be to buy 2 rods in that price range and use your favorite of what you currently have until you feel comfortable replacing that rod with another  in that 250-300 price point. Let us know what you decide!

I ended up buying the tatula elite. Cant wait to try it out.