Many brands make great rods but some make special rods within their line.  But that's a personal thing too.

 

Evergreen 

St Croix 

Megabass 

Mine (NFC blanks)

I own Kistlers, St.Croix and Diawa but GLoomis, the originals by Gary Loomis are the favorites. Most all my rods are IMX and GLX MBR with two new Edge rods on the way,,,,,,eventually.

 

Although I still have an ‘80’s Slistar that I just can’t replace. It’s a spinner blade machine.

Megabass and Shimano Expride B

Hey all - yall know what’s funny? I asked a question the other day in this post. Me and @GReb got to talking. I live in Alabama. He lives in Mississippi…on the same street as my mother and sister…kinda small world…

 

Oh, forgot to add that his wife works with my sister too…

Diawa or Bass pros Carbon light 

Gloomis.. Shimano.. Megabass.. If I had to pick only one... Gloomis because they have the best warranty of the 3...

USA-made/small manufacturer - Kistler

Trey and Reuben are super helpful and seem to be solid people trying to deliver a great product. I have something like 12 rods from them.  Go-to for anything with a fast or xf tip. Haven't been able to find a better bottom contact rod this side of $500.

 

And their nitranium rod is probably my heaviest used rod at this point. MBR-style action, LMH for flatside 75x or keitech/owner underspin, MH for 1/2oz chatterbaits. 

 

Mainline - Daiwa

exceedingly good customer service which is the opposite of their main competitor. Never been disappointed. 

 

Special situation - St Croix has a 7'5" mod-fast in the SCV (maybe SCVI? It's a legend x) blank that is absolutely amazing for mid-depth and deep cranks. I don't like fiberglass, feels like everything is dead. This thing is wicked sensitive. The rod loads up right with a wide range of cranks and big 7M+ cranks too, and pins fish really well. 

 

Megabass.  the rest of my other rods appear to be simple placeholders. 

St. Croix or Dobyns, both are epic!

A few years ago I would have said my Shimano Exprides were my favorite. Then I started adding St. Croix to my arsenal and I favored those rods.

 

But lately I've been mainly using Kistler rods in the Helium and KLX series. I still use my entire arsenal, but before I head out for the day I've been setting my Kistler's s my primary rods.

I have mostly Dobyn's with a few St. Croix mixed in.

Since last year it has become Studio Composite. No idea why they're this niche.

G. Loomis, Shimano, and Daiwa, but I just want to say my PB was fought and landed on a Okuma Reflexions…