It's tough to pick a favorite but if I could only have one brand, it would be G.Loomis. Warranty, quality, and service have been great for me. The rods themselves have taken a beating and continue to hold their value. 

Loomis

Edge

Kistler

St Croix

Lots of St. Croix and G Loomis. I’ve never heard of Edge but I’m going to check them out. 

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I try to use a variety of brands now. For years I was all St. Croix until I found forbidden fruit of other brands. After using other rods, it was tough going back to anything Medium Heavy or Heavy in St. Croix.  They are just heavy, tip-weighted rods to me. High quality rods, but fatiguing and cumbersome IMO.  Still like some of their ML and Medium rods though. 

That lesson taught me not to get too caught up with any one brand, it’s good to compare. 

I agree. Anything > 7’ is tip heavy. The remedy to this is to go to the legend rods. I have a mix of st croix, dobyns and shimano. I prefer my dobyns rods for baitcasting and st croix rods for spinning.

I've never been made of money, but in the last decade I've acquired a couple of Falcons, a Lowrider and a Bucoo SR that I can't seem to break. Also, I have a Cabela's frog-specific rod that is indestructible. That's about the extent of my "expensive" rod collection. I actually bought the Lowrider used for $50. Real cheapskate, I.

Majority of my rods are a mix of Falcon, ALX, and Cashion. Although the one I never leave home without is a Kistler.
 

There are a few brands I’ve all but sworn off and many more I’d love to try. I miss when I could ship rods for $11 because it made trying gear sensible. Now if you don’t like a rod you really suffer a financial loss selling. 
 

If money was no barrier, G Loomis is probably the best across the board covering all techniques. Other brands really seem to have niche rods that really standout and a bunch that are meh. 

Kistler or Daiwa

St. Croix for bottom contact baits and BPS for moving baits.

Shimano

G. Loomis

Loomis & St. Croix are all I have but way more are Loomis rods.

My majority is Falcon, all price ranges, fresh and inshore salt. That said, Loomis and Kistler always go with me for bass, and a Crowder in the salt.

Mine.  I use MHX blanks and build what I want how I want.

When I was working I bought only G Loomis.  When I retired and relocated the local tackle shop talked me into stocking up on Duckett Rods, micro guides were briefly popular.  My mistake, now I've gone back to Loomis;  anyone in the market for some used Duckett's?  I do have to give some kudos to a couple of BFS from Daiwa, matched with their reels they are really sweet.

Fenwick Techna... original models 

Fenwick Aetos

Fenwick Elite Tech... smallmouth models

Fenwick HMG... some of them 20 (ish) years old

 

 

11 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Fenwick Techna... original models 

 

 

 

One of the best fishing rods ever made by anybody 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Right now, Daiwa is getting my money for rods. I really like their actions. Particularly their regular action. 

28 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Fenwick Techna... original models 

Fenwick Aetos

Fenwick Elite Tech... smallmouth models

Fenwick HMG... some of them 20 (ish) years old

  

 

Have at least 2 of each model.  More Smallmouths than the other models.

6 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Custom builds are going to be the best rods you can get, because you can get everything the way you want it, and the balance is spot on.

The most impressive production rods I've ever handled is between Zenaq and Century.

 

Little above my budget.  

 

OP, not set on just one brand.  Have approximately 25 brands.  I research and try to buy rods that have excellent reviews.  Never could force myself to pay $200 or more for a rod.  However, I probably could have bought 10 rods in the $250-$500 range and still have plenty of money left over from what I've spent on the rods I have.

 

All my Smallmouth rods were purchased new for less than $80 per rod.  Why pay $250 per rod when these catch just as many fish.  I will admit that fishing a $350 rod might give me more pleasure.

Man… to pick just one would be a sad day, it’s like picking a favorite child, but if I had to I’d go with Loomis. A lot of good models and great warranty.
 

I rotate rods a lot because trying stuff is fun. I’ll hold onto the favorites and sell the redundant rods that I don’t necessarily need. What I’ve consistently noticed is Loomis rods hold their value the most and tend to sell the quickest out of the various brands.

Own Bass Pro: Bionic Blade, Pro Qualifier and Johnny Morris Carbon Lite casting rods. 

Good Fishing

Four years ago I would have said Dobyns and left it at that.  The fact is I’ve found some really great models that are gems from NFC Edge, Megabass and alpha Angler.  

I'm agnostic, but shimano and major craft lead the way with dobyns losing share.

 

scott

 

didn't read OP's original post closely enough....I'd say major craft has made major strides for me in the last 18 months.  The fishing experience for the cost can't be touched by other brands that I own, making them my current favorite.

St Croix

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

Have at least 2 of each model.  More Smallmouths than the other models.

Little above my budget.  

 

OP, not set on just one brand.  Have approximately 25 brands.  I research and try to buy rods that have excellent reviews.  Never could force myself to pay $200 or more for a rod.  However, I probably could have bought 10 rods in the $250-$500 range and still have plenty of money left over from what I've spent on the rods I have.

 

All my Smallmouth rods were purchased new for less than $80 per rod.  Why pay $250 per rod when these catch just as many fish.  I will admit that fishing a $350 rod might give me more pleasure.

 

The highest end stuff I have fished with is the Loomis IMX Pro rods and I have to say there is a big jump in sensitivity and casting distance with these rods compared to my lower end gear. They are rocket launcher casters (granted they are the 7'6 model spinning and casting ones) but still

JB Custom rods out of Erwin NC. 

 

I was a hard-core Cashion rods guy for years. A buddy suggested JB Custom and I have never looked back.