inexpensive shakyhead rod

[yourkiddin]

ok so those of us that would love to have a g-loomis but cant afford one are looking for an alternative. anyone on here that can recomend one. im really wanting to try this type of fishing.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

Check out the 7' Cherrywood rods from Walmart. The limber action helps take some of the shaking work off of you and you can feel a fish fart on them. Just make sure to set the hook AT LEAST twice if you feel something out of the ordinary. A lot of the time your line will just go slack when one hits.

 

[John_S]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

I can't say I do allot of this technique, but thought a shorter rod was prefered because it is generally used deeper, more verticle, and a long rod would tend to put too much action in the suttle presentation. Anyway, I use my verticle jigging rod: St Croix Avid AVS63MXF. They run about $150. If you are just experiementing at this point a 6' or 6'6" MF spinning should be close enough.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

Inexpensive? depends on who's buying it. You don't need a Loomis for shakey head at all.
If you want a loomis like rod but don't want to waste your money. Get a Basspro Shop CarbonLite 6'9" ML, fast action rod. For 100 bucks you can't beat it at all and I promise you it will be your favorite rod in no time.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

I am not a bass guy- that's the truth. But a universal principle that has worked for me is this: it's not always about brand or model. Know the action and characteristics you are seeking, then buy a rod that does what you need it it regardless of the "model."

If I was a tournament guy whose living and standing depended on my fishing success, then a high-end rod might be what I would go after. Are the expensive ones better? Probably, usually. But after finding where the fish are, 95% of fishing is getting a fish to hit your presentation and lure- ANY rod that helps you accomplish that goal will do that. The high-end stuff will help in that aspect, but if you (I) have not accomplished that 95% which is angler skill, just buying a good rod won't get you there.

IF I- or anyone else- have honed my skills to the point that my tackle is in the way of me catching fish I have used my skill to contact, or I am not landing fish and it is not my ineptness that keeps from boating it, then a better rod is in order.

So my suggestion is to evaluate what you need the rod to accomplish, and then find one that fits that goal-set.

I have watched guys come in to my buddy's tackle shop to buy new tackle, often times a new rod, who are trying to compensate for poor fishing success with "better" equipment. Most often they don't even know why they have failed that day. The guys who come in to buy new rods when they a) don't have a current failure they are talking about or b) are looking to perfect their success after realizing their existing tackle has become below their skills are the ones who benefit from high-end rods.

I have very few high-end rods. My tackle-shop buddy has quite a few- he won the state bass championship when he fished competitively. But he was doing stuff that made that last 1% difference, like NASCAR guys trying to get that .1-second last-five-laps advantage. 10,000 other drivers wouldn't be able to take advantage of that gain, but the top-20 or top-50 can.

For most of us- well, we can't take full advantage of that high-end rod.

But that doesn't mean buy cheapo rods either! Identify the characteristics from the good info here, and find a rod that accomplishes that goal. BPS and small tackle shops usually have quality staff who can help you.

 

[dingbat]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

While I agree with quite a few of Mark's points, I disagree that the average Joe wouldn?t benefit from the custom rod.

I'm a custom rod builder so I'm a bit bias on the subject, but here is my two cents anyhow.
1. Just like a dress suit, there is factory rod out there to suit just about everyone. You just have to compromise on a few things. If you don?t mine the pant legs being a little long, the sleeves being a little short, and the collar a little tight, you?re good to go.

2. A rod built specifically to your body build, your hand size, and your specific way of fishing, can and will improve anyone?s skills. No matter what their skill level was in the beginning. There are numerous applications when you will not get to the next level without going custom.

3. Customs are typically much higher quality rods. Over the long hull, custom rods tend to be a better value than your factory all things considered.

4. Most of the guys who go out and buy expensive factory rods are often surprised to find out that I could have built them a rod of equal or better quality, to their exact specifications, for about the same price.

As far as the G. Loomis rods go, you know they are by name only don?t you? Gary Loomis has not had anything to do with Loomis rods since Shimano bought the company sometime ago. If you want a real G. Loomis rod, you need to find a builder and have them build you a rod on a North Forks Composite blank.

 

[John_S]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

In general, for factory rods, the more the money, moves you up the line to a better blank, which is generally lighter, and more sensitive than the line below it (within the same power/action). The higher end rod typically will have lighter, more durable guides to complement the blank. Many people expect high-end rods to be indestructable, but the truth is, the thinner, lighter blanks can be more succeptable to mis-use or abuse.

Customs go into another whole area, as Dingbat points out. I don't have any, but wouldn't rule it out for the future. I would see that happening over going up to the next level in the St Croix brand. I have held some Legend Elites, but have been happy with heavily discounted Avids. Full price Avids start to get you in the custom range. Finding a good local custom rod maker that's not booked a year in advance, can be tricky.

 

[yourkiddin]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

ive heard others talk of the cherrywood rods at walmart. i have always dismissed the idea of even trying one. but maybe theres something to them.

 

[dingbat]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

ive heard others talk of the cherrywood rods at walmart. i have always dismissed the idea of even trying one. but maybe theres something to them.

They call them Cherrywood rods because they snap like twigs.

I had a guy bring me one for repair a couple of weeks ago. He said it just snapped the first time he used it. I typically do not believe the ?just snapped? stories but I do in this case. My BIL snapped one on his first outing and a good friend of mine snapped his on his second outing.

The rods are light and feel good in hand, but after what I've witnessed, I pass.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

While I agree with quite a few of Mark's points, I disagree that the average Joe wouldn?t benefit from the custom rod. ......4.Most of the guys who go out and buy expensive factory rods are often surprised to find out that I could have built them a rod of equal or better quality, to their exact specifications, for about the same price

And I get that. BTW: inexpensive to me is under $65. Cheap is under $30

I personally would probably relish a custom rod- I get the "fit" points. I can see the advantage, and I love tweaking stuff, so getting a pre-tweaked item holds some allure.

I don't, however, get too pumped over $100 factory rods that don't deliver much differently than my selected inexpensive rod choices. BUT if $100 would buy a "custom" I am more likely to consider it. Next time I break one and need a replacement, I will look into it. But I think when you say "expensive factory rod" you are referring to $175 to $350 rods, aren't you? Or are you referring to the "Mr Walleye' -type rods that go $60-$130 or so?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

Why not a Shimano Compre (or even Clarus) rod?

Good rods for off-the-shelf, plenty of options on length, handle, and action, relatively inexpensive (compared to some of the options already mentioned in this thread), and if you buy from an official Shimano dealer they have lifetime, no-questions-asked, walk-out-with-a-new-one replacement warranty.

 

[yourkiddin]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

heres an update of my inexspensive to me rod or set up in this case. i went to wally world to look at the cherrywoods. they are very light, i decided not to go with it though. i went with one of the abu garcia conolon premier rods. (43.00 dollars) i was a little hesitant because of the metal guides. i prefer the fugi guides but took a chance. then i bought a plueger president for it. im going to have to tell you that im truely amazed at the quality and the castability of the setup. its sensitive enough for the shaky head. i even caught a fish using this method. im not that great with it though i will get better. anyway i have a hundred dollors in it and i would buy more.

 

[dingbat]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

i was a little hesitant because of the metal guides. i prefer the fugi guides but took a chance.

Why do you prefer Fuji? What series guides are on the rod?

Fuji is just one of many companies that makes guides in the world and like everything, they produce guide at different "value" levels. I would not pick one rod over another based upon the guide manufacturer unless there was a substantial quality difference.

Certainly, nothing wrong with Fuji guides. I use a lot of their products, but there are quite a few other companies out there as well that build product just as good, if not better.
Ever hear of ReCoil guides? Better than Fuji entry level guides.
http://www.reelseats.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=29_40

 

[John_S]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

i went with one of the abu garcia conolon premier rods. (43.00 dollars)

I am curious to what length, action, and power the rod is.

 

[yourkiddin]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

im not an expert when it comes to these rods. so please forgive me when i refer to the guides. all i know as a fugi guide is the ones that are grey in color and look to be plastic. other companys may make the same looking guide. im not sure. those are the only style ive ever used. this is the first rod i ever bought with the metal looking guides. to me i guess it looks cheap. the length of rod is 7ft and medium action. my buddy i fish with has one of the g-loomis rods and i had never picked it up. when he got it i was thinking i need to get one of those. mostly because of the weight of it. grant it he never bought it,his son got it for him for fathers day. he also has it paired up with a middle of the road shimano. well since i bought this rod and reel i finally threw his a few times. like i said im no expert but i could control mine better and evencast mine farther. i like my hundred dollar set up just fine. i know his blank was close to 300. then the guides and customizing by the bait shop. not sure what that cost. and the reel was like 110.

 

[skrillz78]

Re: inexpensive shakyhead rod

I use lots of berkley's brand rods.I do not care for the Cherrywoods,but The lightning rods feel pretty good.Also th Abu vendetta rods are under a hundo and they are very light and sensitive.