Im looking for a new rod for christmas. i want a good all around rod. My price range is probably up to 75 dollars. Ive been looking at the Berkley Lightning Shock Casting Rod, and i think it would be a good rod.

May I suggest a medium or medium-heavy power, fast action rod in your choice of length?

With 75 bucks to spend, you can even go for a Shimano Clarus, a St Croix Triumph or a BPS house rod. Plenty of options.

Shimano Sellus! It will come in under budget and outperform rods above its price range.

If I only had one rod it would be a 7' MH/F. The lightning rod is a good option, the new Clarus looks good for that price range, haven't tried the Sellus but it looks good for $50. Get some of them in your hands if you can and decide what you think feels best.

What presentations do you fish the most?

Casting or spinning?

Spinning- St. Croix Triumph 6'6" Medium Action 8-10 lb. test

Casting- St. Croix Triumph 6'6" Medium Heavy Action 12-17 lb. test.

-gk

Im looking for a new rod for christmas. i want a good all around rod. My price range is probably up to 75 dollars. Ive been looking at the Berkley Lightning Shock Casting Rod, and i think it would be a good rod.

The shock is good for only one thing (crankbaits) , it's too soft for anything else.

When I was in VA, I picked up a 7' MH Berkley Lightning Rod (not a shock model), and a Pinnacle Platinum reel. Spooled it up with 12# fluoro, and I gotta say that was a great combo for the money. I caught dozens of bass and pickerel while on vacation with my family. I fished shallow cranks, traps, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, and even a spook with it.

all around good rod would be a 7' medium heavy / fast.

For the money I do like Berkley rods, but I'd really consider spending just a little more and picking up a Falcon Wendlant from *** which has them on sale for $100, awesome rod for that price.

What presentations do you fish the most?

Casting or spinning?

Spinning- St. Croix Triumph 6'6" Medium Action 8-10 lb. test

Casting- St. Croix Triumph 6'6" Medium Heavy Action 12-17 lb. test.

-gk

Great question, gk. What do you fish the most from a percentage standpoint:

Horizonatal presentations? - spinnerbait, crankbaits, swim jigs etc: M-MH Power and M-F Action

Bottom bouncing? - T-Rigs, C-rigs, Jigs, Tubes etc: MH-H Power and F-XF Action

Shore fishing or boat? To me it does make a difference.

Answer those questions and your rod choice would be easier to answer.

I like a MH Power/MFAction for my all around rod

The berkley lightning Shock rod blank is a combination of graphite and fiber glass tip. It's good for crankbait since it has a slow action but the over all weight of the rod is on the heavy side and the glass tip makes it tip heavy. Just like what others recommend there's other rod options for all around application to look at, unless you wanted a crankbait rod.

bass pro shops pro qualifier on sale for 69 bucks.has fuji alconites and really can't be beat at this price.

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Pro-Qualifier-XPS-Trigger-Rods/product/98314/148172