So I used my winnings from yesterday's tournament to get a good flip/pitch rod and reel.  It was a little local tournament so I only had about 115 to play with.  I picked up a 7'6" Field and Stream Telescopic Tec Spec rod and married it with an Abu Garcia Black Max.  The reel I know is not the best Abu out there, but budget...  I know nothing of this rod.  I know it fit the budget and the telescopic feature is nice because it shortens the rod by about 6-8 in and my rod storage on my boat is only 7ft long.  Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on this rod?  In the end its a stick that will work for getting some reach.  If you want to see it, it's sold at Dick's http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3986143.  I actually am kind of worried since it's a Dick's exclusive.  Does that mean no one else will market it?

I have handled those rods at my local Dick's store and they don't feel too bad for the price. I have never fished with one, so please let us know what you think!

From the looks of it I think I will be the first here on the site to use em.  Unfortunately I won't be able to give you an answer on that until mid June.  No fishing till then  :'(.  Work calls.

I don't know if this will help at all but I have and use a Dick's  Field and Stream 6'6 medium action baitcasting rod. It's good rod. I use it all the time and have caught many fish on it. I also owned the Abu Garcia Black Max. Worked fine for me. I gave it to my father in law to use when he wanted to get a baitcasting set up. He loves it.

I bought the crankbait version a few weeks back. I think it's  same blank material but in a different action/power. It seems alright for cranking but it is nothing to brag about when it comes to sensitivity.

link doesn't work ........

Here's a link

Bought one a week or so ago and took it out Sunday and was pretty surprised by how much I liked it. I bought the 7'M-XF and paired it with a Fuego and 10lb fluoro for the time being, now it has a Citica 200e. It balances decently well with the fuego, better with the citica, it's alot lighter than some comparable rods, mojo, triumph, tessera, and the BPS extremes and bionic blades. The sensitivity is probably the best I've seen in a sub $100 rod. I fished a little bit of everthing on it from a crankbait to a 1/8 oz shakey head and a 5/16oz jig without a problem. I plan on using it for jerkbaits, shallow cranks, and smaller plastics and finesse jigs from the bank. I haven't had a chance to catch a fish on it yet, only fished for an hour with it in 30mph winds with the water about a ft high and muddy, but I don't think it'll have any trouble when one hooks up.