I was just looking for some advice on a good mid-priced casting rod. I'm going to be using it with a Daiwa Viento reel, and I've narrowed it down to 4 choices in either a 6'6" or 7'0" MH Model. I will be using it mainly for soft plastics and jigs. My finalists are Fenwick HMG, Kistler Graphite Plus, Shimano Crucial Series, and GLoomis GL2 series. If anyone has firsthand experience good or bad with any of these rods, your input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Welcome To The Fourm!!!

mdowns63,

I'm going to be using it with a Daiwa Viento reel, and I've narrowed it down to 4 choices in either a 6'6" or 7'0" MH Model. I will be using it mainly for soft plastics and jigs. My finalists are Fenwick HMG, Kistler Graphite Plus, Shimano Crucial Series, and GLoomis GL2 series.

If you have the ability to hold each of the rods you have listed. I would take my reel and mount it on each of the rods no matter what brand, to see how the combo feels and balances in your hand. Especially if I'm using it for plastics and jigs.

Just my .02¢

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!

From those I would choose:

1 st the GL2

2nd it 's a tough call between the Crucial & the Fenwick

3rd the Kistler.

Welcome aboard!

Thanks for the replies, have you guys ever tried St. Croix rods...I've also heard that as a suggestion.

Take a look at the St.Croix Avid AC70MHF.  

$153 at Reed's.  No sales tax, no shipping charge. (Click "Add to cart" to view your actual cost)

http://www.reedssports.com/Product.taf?_function=detail&_ID=670

I appreciate that link, because that's the one I was getting closer to deciding on and I think I was going to end up ordering it from cabelas or bass pro for $170 before shipping.  OUCH!!  Thanks for the help.

Yeah I've heard of them but they are pretty spendy. I was looking at one last night at a specialty store and the cheapest one was like $129.99 I had a hard time believing that because don't have too many combos that are worth that but I have only had to buy 2 rods and 2 reels I got 1 baitcaster and 1 spinning the spinning was a Daiwa combo and the Baitcaster was a pinnacle reel that I put on a Quantum Bill Dance American Series that I bought off of my buddy for $15.

With the Viento reel I would go with a 7' rod. I have a viento and really like it but it doesn't seem to cast as far as my other Daiwa's or Shimano's. The extra length will help the casting distance. I also really like the St Croix Avid rod RW suggested.....it's a very nice buy at $153.

riskkid,

While longer rods do give you more in casting distance..

Sounds like it's time for you to have the spool bearings cleaned out and re-lubed. You will see a 100% improvement on your casting distance...

Tight Lines!!!

7' St Croix