I have NRX+, Conquest, P5 Destroyers, etc... but I don't like them any more than my cheap $50 Daiwa Aird X Medium 7 foot Medium casting rod. They say it's a "Fast" action rod - but it's a moderate/regular at most.

Funny thing, I bought it by mistake on an Amazon order to a place I was going to fish once and leave behind to use if I ever returned. Liked it so much, I ordered another as soon as I returned home.

I use it mostly for Spinnerbaits, but it works well on 3/8 oz Chatterbaits and small/mid crankbaits.

The magic of this rod is when it loads up with a big fish. It isn't a noodle, but it bows from tip back to the butt section as well as any rod I've ever used, and always keeps fish pinned. It's a blast of a rod!

I've got Victorys and Mojo Bass' (pre-Trigon), but two still in my arsenal are a H/F and MH/F Aird X's. They do what I need them to and still perform well.

I have two Scheels Outfitter Pro Angler casting rods picked up in 2023 and 2024 for $49. Both are medium power and 6"-6". One is "fast" and the other "extra fast." Great rods!

In 2024 picked up two Fenwick HMX casting rods, medium power, one is 6'-6", the other 7'. Think I paid $55 each. Again, great rods.

An Okuma Reflexions Rx-C-701MH is the rod that fits the criteria for me personally, as this is the rod responsible for fighting and landing my Personal Best largemouth bass. Still does the job for what I want it to do while providing a certain amount to nostalgia…

9 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

An Okuma Reflexions Rx-C-701MH is the rod that fits the criteria for me personally, as this is the rod responsible for fighting and landing my Personal Best largemouth bass. Still does the job for what I want it to do while providing a certain amount to nostalgia…

You might have to hang that rod on the wall next to the fish replica!

8 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

An Okuma Reflexions Rx-C-701MH

I have the Rx-S-701MHA for bobber fishing, and I have the Rx-S-701MLA for lure tossing for panfish.

13Fishing Omen Green 7'1" ML - when this rod was closing out, I bought a 2nd for $75.

I love my Daiwa Aird X 7’3” MH rods. I bought 3 a few yrs back when they were only $50. Great rods for using with multiple techniques!

My cheapest rod is a Lightning rod but the one affordable rod I own that I wouldn't part with is a 13fishing Omen gold that gets heavy use.

This is an easy one for me. The Leeland TCB Rod ($80). Designed to throw very small jigs (1/64 oz) a long ways. Super sensitive, but capable of standing up to big fish in a fight. The nicest ultralight I've found for how I like to fish when I'm just trying to have a good time.

I've never been able to answer this type of question.

Without a doubt for me is my 7’-0”Wright & McGill Brent Chapman Pro Insight Advantage medium powered casting rod. I paid $55.00 pre tax at Wal Mart and it can handle single hook baits as well as treble hooked baits.

I have a matching pair of LEWS Speed Sticks I purchased in 1979. Both are 5’6”, pistol grips and are “medium” powers.

Mine is a 6'10" Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth MHM. Bought for about $60 on clearance and worth every penny.

I’m an advocate of cheaper rods to begin with, but I do have a favorite really cheap one - Bass Pro “Graphite Series” 6’ MH. Have a whole $35 invested in it. Bought as a “throw it in the Jeep” bank/pond rod, it has become the frontline weapon for pinpoint targeting spinnerbaits.

14 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

You might have to hang that rod on the wall next to the fish replica!

I let her go just after that picture with hope she would provide generations of future big bass. My only thought over the years with all the spraying and increasing numbers of sea lions was she able to do so.

*I still throw the AC Minnow that caught her and an A-rig on that rod.

Ark mh/f Lance Pro

Mike

ALL STAR T40X; the first rod I ever paid $100 for, still in use.

The 7' M Shimano Clarus spinning rod is my oldest stick in use

and easily a true fan favorite in the Pro-V Bass.

Both performance-wise & sentimentally speaking.

They were at the end of their run when I purchased it and I think I gave the salesman

$1.52, a box of Tic Tacs, and some pocket lint for it.

A pretty good deal, really.

Never really bought into the idea that certain sticks are lucky and/or have the ability to send out

some type of special big fish-attracting magic, until this one came into my life.

Needless to say, I have no choice but to handle it with kid gloves.

Besides the mysterious ability to put plus-sized brown bass in the net,

The old-school blank materials used combine to impart a next-level style action into a jerkbait.

(especially in cold water).

Perhaps it's the fact that the old Clarus and I have spent so much time on the water together.

Either way, it sure shows up in the background of a plethora of big fish photos.

A-Jay

Lew's Custom Pro 6'8 Topwater; my popper rod with a short handle, almost a pistole grip. I'd say I've caught 75% of my fish on it. The Winngrip outer layer is peeling off...I'm going to need to do something with it soon.

I have a 25 year old Shimano Scimitar that I use for targeting small fish like perch and crappie. I think it was like 20 bucks back when my dad bought it. It’s not the most refined rod but it gets the job done and has caught me thousands of fish.

It surprisingly has zero issues after all those years. I’ve had much nicer rods that broke, had guides pop out, and every other problem.

The cheapest rod I just can't get rid of would be the Ugly Stick I bought somewhere in the early '80s from BraWey Sports. It has a Shakespeare Sigma spinning reel under it. I've kept it because I've just had it since HS.

It's just too bad I can't be that simple anymore with just one rod. . .

15 hours ago, Bird said:

13fishing Omen

I have a couple 1st gen Omen casting rods. They were a great $99 rod.

The cheapest combo I have is a Zebco 808 that costed 13$ at KMart in Raton New Mexico , when it was still open. I bought each of my family one and we went trout fishing at Lake Maloya. That’s the trip I was untangling lines when a bald eagle swooped down to grab a fish and I missed it. I’ll never get rid of that rod.

My least expensive rod that I have and use often - a 7' Med./Mod - Abu Garcia Veritas Winch spinning rod with an Abu Garcia reel - it is the white version with red lettering - it had some scuff/black marks on the grip area - so the shop had it as 50 percent off (the rod only) - so for $54 I have a rod that comes with me virtually every trip on the water - bonus is if I hook a fish it is coming in the boat (I believe I have only lost one fish to a jump off when using this rod) - not sure what it is about the Moderate action of this rod but it is magic for me

I've now got two rods like that. The first is an old (very) Convergence ( 49$) from Shimano. It's in a heavy action, a bit longer than 7 foot that I use for frogs. I've tried to get rid of it and get rods more expensive to replace it, but I always come back to it half way through the season. The other is very new. It's a brand new Sellus seven foot spinning rod that I got to loan out on the boat but it ended up in my arsenal and will not leave it for a long while.