So I’ll start this off by saying I just broke a rod screwing around in my garage ?. Thankfully I purchased the rod second hand a few years ago and was able to enjoy it prior to breaking it. It was a Denali fission rod not covered under warranty and although I enjoyed the rod for its unique, in my collection attributes of a soft tip with a firm but not too powerful backbone I’m ok with replacing it (bait monkey approved)?. As of now I’m interested in the Okuma tcs-a 7’0” medium plus rod but I’m open to other suggestions that match my vague description of my Denali. I’m in no hurry and will probably wait until the Black Friday sale but will pull the trigger if I hear it’s being discontinued. I have a local shop that carries Okuma rods and I’m very impressed and happy with my evx-b and my tcs-a. I’m again hoping to hold off until the sales as I’m hoping to purchase a reel through my local shop soon. I’m planning on pairing the rod with my newest reel a Tatula 80 which I just spooled up yesterday night and can’t wait to put to use. Lastly I’m a bit of a budget minded guy and I’m looking at $150.00 and under. Thanks in advance guys and gals.

Diawia Tatula or Falcon Lowrider

What types or lures do you plan to use it for. 

 

Struggling with your description of "Medium plus" and soft tip with firm, but not too much backbone. ?

 

Are you saying you want something 7' with a little slower tip that has somewhere between a M and MH action?

 

It's a hair more than your budget, but you might look at a Dobyns Sierra 703c (7') or a 733c (7'3"). They run about $159/ $169 and are labeled MH, but run a little light. And they are a little slower action than the Fury or Champion. I really like my Sierra 734 for swim jigs or a chatterbait in a pinch.

It's sold as a saltwater rod, but Omen Green ML is in stock and affordable. 

It's one you couldn't pry from my hands, etc. 

(and Eric, you know I have spendier rods to choose...)

Fishing 1/8 oz inshore, I can feel blades of grass in this rod. 

I used the Denali mainly for throwing small square bills. The tip was soft enough to really cast them out their and keep the treble hooks pinned but enough backbone to set the hooks or rip free of weeds. As I said I’m in no rush so I’m going to try to get my hands on these rods. My daughter is getting ready to graduate high school and head off to college so my focus is more on her preparation than my need for a rod as of now. Thanks for the solid recommendations. I was hoping to hear from someone who has/had the Okuma I mentioned because I really like mine as I said.

55 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

It's sold as a saltwater rod, but Omen Green ML is in stock and affordable. 

It's one you couldn't pry from my hands, etc. 

(and Eric, you know I have spendier rods to choose...)

Fishing 1/8 oz inshore, I can feel blades of grass in this rod. 

What are you all throwing on that rod? 

45 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

I used the Denali mainly for throwing small square bills. The tip was soft enough to really cast them out their and keep the treble hooks pinned but enough backbone to set the hooks or rip free of weeds. As I said I’m in no rush so I’m going to try to get my hands on these rods. My daughter is getting ready to graduate high school and head off to college so my focus is more on her preparation than my need for a rod as of now. Thanks for the solid recommendations. I was hoping to hear from someone who has/had the Okuma I mentioned because I really like mine as I said.

You want this:  TCS-C-691MHa

I believe it is exactly what you are describing.  I own two of these and a Heavy TCS model thanks to @J Francho who recommended I give the "all-around" a try.  It's perfect for 1/2oz lipless and squarebills.  Parabolic tip that casts a country mile and good backbone for pulling them out of the vegetation.  I have not tried the M+ but my personal opinion/preference would be that lighter than the MH would not work for me for 1/2 lipless/squarebills.  

 

If you want something similar but for vibrating jigs/large spinners I love the Duckett Terex (no longer made) that has similar characteristics but fishes heavier.  I'm told by the people at Duckett that the Jacob Wheeler series is a good replacement for the Terex.  

5 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

What are you all throwing on that rod? 

My ML niche is most often 3" Z-man Minnow-Z on 1/8-oz Texas-Eye jigheads. 

11 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

My ML niche is most often 3" Z-man Minnow-Z on 1/8-oz Texas-Eye jigheads. 

Do you know where this rod can be bought? I see a lot of the Omen Green 2's. Thanks. 

@NorthernBasser

oops - I checked 13Fishing - they're OOS. 

Tackle Warehouse carries them, but they're also OOS on the ML, both 6'8" and 7'1"

Sorry. 

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

It's sold as a saltwater rod, but Omen Green ML is in stock and affordable. 

I've had my eye on the 7'7" M for quite some time. 1/8-3/8. I have some light stuff I'd like to get into spots that are hard to reach with shorter rods.

18 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

@NorthernBasser

oops - I checked 13Fishing - they're OOS. 

Tackle Warehouse carries them, but they're also OOS on the ML, both 6'8" and 7'1"

Sorry. 

No worries. And I don't see the Omen Green on TW. Just the Omen Green 2 and Fate Green. I'm guessing the Omen Green may be discontinued? 

51 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

I've had my eye on the 7'7" M for quite some time. 1/8-3/8. I have some light stuff I'd like to get into spots that are hard to reach with shorter rods.

My buddy Josh took this photo.  There's a 19-1/2" redfish making a good run against my spring-scale-set drag.

It shows how long the fast mid is on this rod. 

I have the 7'7" spinner, there is added heavy butt, but even longer soft tip. 

I'm not sure how close the bait rod would be, but really don't notice the soft tip on the 7'1" bait rod except in its light-end casting ability. 

55 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I don't see the Omen Green

@bulldog1935's rod is a OG2(Omen Green 2).Take a closer look the badge.

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

@bulldog1935's rod is a OG2(Omen Green 2).Take a closer look the badge.

Oh shoot, ok thanks. I think the color of the green threw me off. This is the color of the Omen Green 2. Darker than Bulldog's.

And looking around on the web there's a 7'1 med-light but it's a full grip, not split like Bulldog's. Upon further investigation, there is an Omen Green 2 with the split grip and lighter green wrap...the saltwater version, which Bulldog had mentioned his was. But most places I looked at didn't list that version.

 

Thanks again. 

I broke a rod yesterday on a fish. I use cheaper rods for wade-fishing bc I'm rough on my gear. I caught a 3- pounder and for some reason decided to try and "boat-flip" it on the sandbar. Snap! My rod breaks 3/4 of the way up the rod. It also probably didn't help that I tried to flip a fish knowing it was a $20 rod. Warning: I would suggest not buying a Jawbone rod.

 

P.S. - I still landed the fish thank the lord

5 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

You want this:  TCS-C-691MHa

I believe it is exactly what you are describing.  I own two of these and a Heavy TCS model thanks to @J Francho who recommended I give the "all-around" a try.  It's perfect for 1/2oz lipless and squarebills.  Parabolic tip that casts a country mile and good backbone for pulling them out of the vegetation.  I have not tried the M+ but my personal opinion/preference would be that lighter than the MH would not work for me for 1/2 lipless/squarebills.  

 

If you want something similar but for vibrating jigs/large spinners I love the Duckett Terex (no longer made) that has similar characteristics but fishes heavier.  I'm told by the people at Duckett that the Jacob Wheeler series is a good replacement for the Terex.  

Thanks for the suggestion. I’m going to try to get out to my local shop in the next couple weeks and see if he has this model or maybe the 13 fishing bulldog is suggesting. I also purchased 2 Okuma rods based on the suggestions/reviews on here and have been very pleased with price point and performance.