What are the advantages of boron over graphite? I've heard a lot of good things about boron and how much more sensitive it is than graphite. I'm just wondering if boron lives up to the hype about it's sensitivity and lightness

What are the advantages of boron over graphite? I've heard a lot of good things about boron and how much more sensitive it is than graphite. I'm just wondering if boron lives up to the hype about it's sensitivity and lightness

Boron is really sensitive its been around for i think 25 to 30 yrs seems noone can make a rod durable enough,and with all teh technology they have now makes u wonder why arrius,loomis ,ect havent capitialized on borons strenghts  YET

 Had a Daiwa 5'6"M for a number of years (got it new in 1982). IMHO It was great!! Was as sensitive as graphite, maybe a little more. Here's what I thought was so good about them, it was nowhere as stiff. After joining here, I read where they couldn't take the abuse of graphite. Like I said I had mine for a number of years and never had a problem and I'm not near as careful with my rods as I should be. The reason I don't still have it, we got a new dog and he ate my rod all down to the handle :'(! Iasked the gods of fishing to make boron splinters to come out in bad places ;D. Did no good >. Read from someone's post that if they had worked out the problems with boron, we wouldn't have graphite...

                                                 As Ever,

                                                  Skillet

The boron has long intrigued me, but I always assume that if it were actually better than graphite, all the major rod manufacturers would be using it.

I've been considering making the plunge.  I've wanted one since I was a teen back in the 80's

LAO162,

 If you do take the plunge, be sure and let us know all the particulars. I for one would be interested. REALLY miss that rod :'(and have never forgiven the above mentioned dog

                                                As Ever,

                                                 Skillet

A good friend of mine got a boron rod about ten years ago and that's all I heard about. It was a very sensitive and light.

He had a major stroke a few years ago, and can't fish any more. I've been trying to find a tactful way to ask him if I can take that rod off his hands. I just don't want to sound like an insensitive JERK.

Falcon

Had two about twenty years ago both were fenwick boron-x's,had a 6' med action baitcasting

rod and a light spinner in 5'6",the spinner was given to my ex-father-in-law and the casting

rod shattered in a kazillion pieces one cold winter day setting the hook with a jig and pig.

I mean that thing splinttered like dust,never saw anything quite like it.

In my opinion it was a heavier rod and stiffer than graphite in the same actions.It was sensitive

but the other cons offset it's plus'.

Update: My 6'6" MF 2-piece Browning Midas arrived yesterday. It's a Fathers Day gift so I can't use it yet :'( . But, I had to take it out of the packaging to make sure it was in good shape ;D

I don't have experience with expensive rods, but this one is a beauty. It's seems to feel about the same weight & size as the St. Croix MLF Premier & Triumphs that I was handling earlier in the week, but is less whippy. It FEELS much lighter and less stout that my BPS Extreme MF.

Giving it the "tap test" (tapping the tip on different objects), it is substantially more sensity that the Extreme, Premier or Triumph. In fact (once I stopped holding the handle by the paper work that was still under the plastic wrap ), it was as sesitive or more sensitive that the Avids & Loomis GL2's that also received the "tap test" earlier this week.

I don't get fishing often as I would like, but by the end of the season I hope I can give it a fair review. However, assuming it is reasonably durable, the Mida appears to be a substantial upgrade from the Extreme for only $40 more.

Leon

I have 3 or 4 Lew's Boron rods that I bought maybe 25 yeas ago. Still my fovorite go to rods. Very sensitive. Had 2 of them out on the lake today.

Hans

If I remember correctly, boron is more sensative than graphite but it is very brittle.  The boron had to be combined with other less sensitive materials (fiberglass??) to make them practical for fishing.

I think the next "space age" rod material is titanium.

On a practical note, I think rods can be too sensative.  With a GLX and braid, you can feel your line brush up against a weed.  I was setting the hook on so much millfoil I thought it was a new species of fish.

I have 3 or 4 Lew's Boron rods that I bought maybe 25 yeas ago. Still my fovorite go to rods. Very sensitive. Had 2 of them out on the lake today.

Hans

Lew's used to make some awesome rods back in the day! I used one for well over 15 yrs.

... I was setting the hook on so much millfoil I thought it was a new species of fish.

The first time I fished a jig with a decent rod (BPS Extreme) I set the hook the first 10-12 times the jig hit the bottom before I figured out what was going on  ;D  The transition to my Loomis jig rod wasn't as difficult because I knew what to expect.

There's definately a big difference between a decent rod like the BPS Extreme and entry rods.  Today I used spinnerbaits for the first time with my Extreme.  At first I thought I was getting hits, then realized I was just feeling more sensations than on my "practice" rod.  It was a huge difference.

Unfortunately, my Midas remained a Father's day gift so I couldn't take it out.  

I finally had a chance to use my new Midas this weekend.

After using the Midas for about an hour, I switched by to the BPS Extreme.  The Extreme felt like a broomstick in comparison  (They are both 6'6" MF, the Browning is a 2-piece.)  Now I understand the pleasure of fishing with a balanced, lighter rod  I think that the Midas has a softer tip.

Regarding sensitivity, I do not have experience with "high-end" rods, so I probably have not developed "fishing hands" yet.  However, with crankbaits and spinnerbaits I could feel more vibration.  However, with 1/2 oz spinnerbaits the Midas had more bend to it.  I tried fishing a 4" weightless Senko for a while.  I did not actually feel it crawling over the bottom, but when my mind drifted and I took my eyes of the line I felt a couple ticks that I would have missed with the Extreme.  I didn't cast that well this weekend, but I don't think there was any substantial difference in accuracy between the Midas and Extreme.  The Midas may have gotten a few more feet in distance.

In terms of backbone, the Midas handled a fat 18 incher with no problems.  (I'm a new fan of the X-Rap  ;D)  It was probably the 2nd largest I've caught.  I was surprised to see it come out of our town pond.  I was using 6 lb Floroclear on a Stradic 2500.

Overall, I'm very please with the Midas.  While I can't compare it to higher end rods, so far I believe it to be well work the $30 to $40 over the BPS Extreme.  Definately worth the $99.99 when it was on sale.

Leon