Cheapest rod I have ever owned, and I actually like it.

[Kirtley Howe]

Late last year, just for kicks, I bought a Shimano FX series baitcasting rod. It is a glass/composite rod that I paid $12.99 for. I see that they are selling now for $14.99 at Sportsmans Warehouse. Anyway, I bought it to use with crankbaits. Much to my surprise, I actually kind of like it. Is it a great rod? Of course not. It is heavier than I would like, and I am sure it will not hold up in the long run. I would not dare run braid through the guides on it.  However, it is perfect to toss into the back of my pickup truck and take anywhere. If it breaks, I am our almost nothing. If someone steals it from the truck, who cares? (I don't keep a reel on it..that is kept in my tackle bag I keep locked in the cab of the truck). It does do what I bought if for, and does it better than I expected. Anyone else ever tried one? Or have a similar super cheap rod that you kind of like? Inquiring minds want to know....

[bowhunter63]

The old lighting rods when they first came out. Good rods not high priced  

[Pat Brown]

I like my Ozark Trail baitcaster combo for crankbaits and weightless plastics and walking topwaters with treble hooks.  Caught many big fish beating less than ideal banks with that pole.

 

I caught my only truly big fish out of Santee Cooper from the bank on that pole on a weightless junebug UV speed worm last summer after everyone had gone to bed at the campsite.  A memory I'll never forget.

 

I often fish from the bank and I tend to favor my cheaper gear when I do that.

 

I also often catch my PB from the bank.

 

My biggest bass, a 9.1 lb prespawn female I caught from the bank this past February, came on a Abu Veritas PLX 7'6 MH/M with a Daiwa Fuego baitcaster 8 speed.

 

Not exactly a high rent combo.

[LrgmouthShad]

Lew’s KVD Composite Cranking Rod one of the cheapest I own and is A-Jay endorsed. Great rod. Got to fight a few catfish with it on my last trip and it really performs well. Casts good, fights great, sensitive, comfortable albeit heavier because of composite material. Nice rod

[MN Fisher]

I still recommend Aird-X rods. Despite having Victorys and Mojo Bass in my arsenal, I still have 2 Aird-X in rotation.

[MediumMouthBass]

I have had my Dobyns and St Croix rods from $130-$275 stored in the fishing room so far this season but almost every time i go fishing i take SEVERAL Daiwa Aird X rods, i have 14 of these rods from ML/M spinning rods to M/MH/H casting rods, have fished for trout, panfish, bass etc.... these rods have handled every lure and bait ive throw on them and have handled every fish from a 7inch trout in a shallow stream to a 6-7lb bass out of a extremely grass infested lake. These are great rods especially for the price of $55. To anyone that is on a budget this rod is for you, and if you have expensive rods and have a higher budget, then still buy one and try one, for $55 use it as a truck rod.

Only problem with these rods are they dont offer a casting rod in moderate for crankbaits.

There is a very big and very well known fishing/tackle store that if you go to there promotions page the Daiwa Aird X rods are buy 3 Aird X rods get 20% off, buy 5 Aird X rods get 30% off ($44 and $38.5). Hint recently people have been complaining about how long it takes to get the order shipped.

[Spankey]

For a long time I’ve been a St. Croix and Abu Garcia rod fan boy. It’s just how things developed. 
 

BUT, I’ve fished Mitchell, Lightning Rods, Rapala Rods and Ugly Sticks for many many moons. Have caught countless Smallies and Trout with them from the time of being a kid. I’m gonna say the Rapala branded rod is probably the best of the lower end rods I’ve ever used. Would like $0.10 for every smallie taken with it. That rod and the Browning reel I bought with it at the time is now days a wall hanger in my back room. I have an old UL Mitchell set up from back about ‘71 or ‘72 that’s a wall hanger, countless amount of trout taken on it. 
 

I’ll give opinions on rods I fish these days but I’ve never have been one to push an opinion on what someone else should buy. I can’t do that in a world where everything is overpriced. A St. Croix or Loomis is not a low $$$ rod and guys should not have to feel that they are necessary to catch bass. There are plenty of good/very good moderately priced rods out there. 

[WIGuide]

I've got an old Vortex rod that was a Gander Mountain house brand. I think I picked it up on clearance for like $15, I believe they were only in the $20 range before closeout, and it actually still gets use. It's listed as a medium power, but I feel it's a slightly on the lighter side of it and action wise I'd say it's more of a moderate to mod-fast. It loads up pretty well with a ned head and little finesse baits and some light crankbaits. It's held up thus far, and although it's nowhere near the quality of the rest of the rods I fish I don't mind using it at all. 

[Eric 26]

2 of my favorites I speak of quite a bit are my Lews Hank Parker rod which is still available at my local Wal Mart and my favorite being myEagle Claw Brent Chapman “Insight Pro Advantage” rods. 

[MontclairDave]

Falcon HD casting rods for about $80. I always have the Medium 6’ 8” or 9” near at hand. Cranks, small Texas rigs, finesse paddletails, 1/4-ounce mini-max chatterbaits, finesse jigs, small topwaters, it can do it all. 

[Captain Phil]

Some time ago Bass Pro Shop offered their Graphite Series brand IM6 casting rods for $39.95 each.  I believe they are still available for around $50.  I used to buy them 3-4 at a time.  I still have two of them.  They are pretty decent rods for the money.

[NYWayfarer]

Lew’s Lazer HS rods from Walmart are surprisingly good for the price.

[optimator]

I’ve got a couple of cheaper Okuma rods for the rare times that I trout fish. I don’t do it enough to worry about upgrading them. 

[MN Fisher]

29 minutes ago, optimator said:

I’ve got a couple of cheaper Okuma rods for the rare times that I trout fish. I don’t do it enough to worry about upgrading them. 

Ya, I've got a couple Celilos for panfish - like you, it's not an all-the-season thing. They work fine for what I use them for.

[wisconsin heat]

9 hours ago, WIGuide said:

I've got an old Vortex rod that was a Gander Mountain house brand. I think I picked it up on clearance for like $15, I believe they were only in the $20 range before closeout, and it actually still gets use. It's listed as a medium power, but I feel it's a slightly on the lighter side of it and action wise I'd say it's more of a moderate to mod-fast. It loads up pretty well with a ned head and little finesse baits and some light crankbaits. It's held up thus far, and although it's nowhere near the quality of the rest of the rods I fish I don't mind using it at all. 

Have the same rod 6’6” M spinning. Very light, not super sensitive but it is a great rod nonetheless, just feels really good in hand, I can’t believe I got it for a $20 bill.

[BrianMDTX]

On 5/4/2023 at 7:06 AM, MN Fisher said:

I still recommend Aird-X rods. Despite having Victorys and Mojo Bass in my arsenal, I still have 2 Aird-X in rotation.

I still have two Aird-X’s in my rotation as well. A MH/F and a M/F baitcasters. Both paired with Black Max reels. I enjoy fishing with both of them. 

[Dangerfield]

Love my 6' 9" MR Daiwa Feugo casting rod (topwater) so much I bought a 2nd for jerkbaits. 13.5" handle is phenomenal for walking the dog and should be a winner for twitching a jerkbait or shallow crank or squarebill. Surprisingly light too for $80. I should look at the Aird-X.

[Skunkmaster-k]

20 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

2 of my favorites I speak of quite a bit are my Lews Hank Parker rod which is still available at my local Wal Mart and my favorite being myEagle Claw Brent Chapman “Insight Pro Advantage” rods. 

I have a few of the Hank Parker rods . They are fantastic for the price. 

[Bigassbass]

Buying cheap rods is like WHY?  Usually they are no good, they break and it's like fishing with a broom stick or a cane pole.  Buy you a Major Craft, Lew's, ALX, St Croix, the list goes on, then you'll have rods that will let you feel a fish poop.  

[Kirtley Howe]

14 minutes ago, Bigassbass said:

Buying cheap rods is like WHY?  Usually they are no good, they break and it's like fishing with a broom stick or a cane pole.  Buy you a Major Craft, Lew's, ALX, St Croix, the list goes on, then you'll have rods that will let you feel a fish poop.  

Here are a couple of reasons to buy cheap rods.  1)On a trip and get a chance to go fishing, but don't want to, or can't, spend a bunch of money on an outfit. 2)Just plain can't afford anything better. 3)Want a cheap rod to throw into the truck or car trunk that you won't get upset if it gets broken. 4)Want a cheap rod you can give to a kid if you are out fishing and see one who doesn't have a rod.  5)You may find a hidden gem of a rod. 6}Even cheap rods can catch fish, and that is what it is all about.

[Eric 26]

@Kirtley Howe I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments. I’ve had a ball fishing my Eagle Claw rod and although I have better rods there is just something about the rod that just feels right.

[Motoboss]

I like my two piece Shakespeare 5’ 6” Light creek rod for $24.00. Keep a $180.00 BFS Curado SLX reel on it! 🤣

[msgf91]

My dad has an 8 ft Shimano FX spinning rod that he would use as a light surf/catfish rod. 3.5 ft shark almost pulled it in over the railing. I lucked out and grabbed it before it went in. 

[Striper9]

Years ago had a $29 quest spinning rod made by dicks sporting goods. It had all Fuji components. Loved that rod

[Mbirdsley]

.

The Berkley shock lighting rod. the older generation with orange and black blank with cork handles.  I paid $50 for it from Walmart in 2017.  I’ve caught a lot of fish with it.  I’ve moved on to making my own rods now but, I still keep it in the rotation.  I use it now as a Carolina rig rod or frog rod. 
 

It kinda has sentimental value as it was my first bait casting rod that I bought. it will probably be replaced this winter when I build a dedicated Carolina rig rod.  I’ll probably keep it around as a frog rod though, untill I build a frog rod.