So I have been using a St. Croix Bass X Med Fast as my do all rod for anything not finesse like. Well after 4 years, I still find it not to my liking for topwater, and sometimes when it's get used for jerkbaits as well. Basically, anything with trebles, and I feel I would be better off throwing my ole two piece ugly stik. I think my personal preferences require a rod that is more parabolic in action than this rod is. It's likely user error of course, but I find I end up losing more fish than usual with this rod. If I switch to throwing keitechs or finesse jigs, problem goes away. Any suggestions on rods? Price range would comfortably fall in around $200, up to $300ish. 

One of the Levante rods? 

Firstly, welcome to BassResource.  

 

If you're looking for more of a moderate than mod-fast action, I'd point you towards Douglas Outdoors LRS-S704F or Kistler's KLX line.  The Douglas rating is fast, but it's not a fast I've ever used.  I use it for topwater and lighter crankbaits.  Kistler's KLX rods are a mod-fast action that's very linear.  The KLX is a tad lighter than the Douglas, and is made in Texas, where the Douglas is made overseas.

 

Of the two, the Douglas is softer & more parabolic.  Those are the two brands I have the most experience with.

 

Best of luck picking out your topwater rod, and like anything, try to handle the rods before you make your decision, if you can.  

 

Here are a couple Douglas dealers in New England:

1. Ben’s Tackle Shack  1103 Main St  Leicester, MA 01524
2. Sportman’s Connection15 N. Main St.Kent, CT 06757

 

And being from CT, are you RED SOX or YANKEES? 😜

22 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

And being from CT, are you RED SOX or YANKEES? 😜

Oh, so right out the box you wanna start a fight! 😆
 

 

 

And I suggest a Kistler KLX as well, very light, nice action and at your $200 range

1 minute ago, Motoboss said:

right out the box

 

ANYONE from the northeast knows Connecticut is that middle ground .... its ONE or the OTHER.

I’m not really a spinning rod guy but I realize sometimes you need have one available.   I spent well over $1500 in spinning rods over the last several years that were disappointing,  including some $200-300 models.   
 

I have finally found Dobyns to be the spinning rod for me.  They just have a perfect action.  Give them a look and see if they have something to fit your needs or style.  

14 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

ANYONE from the northeast knows Connecticut is that middle ground .... its ONE or the OTHER.

I'm near the Mass border, so I should be a Red Sox fan apparently. But my grandfather was a Yankees fan, so here we are. That said I'm more of a hockey fan than anything else, so the baseball beef is something I stay out of.