New Fishing Rod

[mikeymjr23]

So, I realized recently that my fishing pole had the tip broken off. It is an older pole and the reel is an older spinning reel.

I am in the market for a DECENT rod/reel combo. Is the Ugly Stick combo a pretty decent buy? A quick glance at some stores has them going for about 40-50 bucks...

I don't do a LOT of fishing, but I do like to do some...mostly spring time. I am just looking for an "all purpose" rod here...I don't need the worlds greatest bass rod or something.

Any advice?

[hunterdeneugene]

G Loomis.....6 to 7 foot medium weight rated for 6-12 lb test. Lifetime warranty....last rod you'll ever have to buy. I am looking for a walleye rod on E-bay for the spring and you can find good deals on there. For a little cheaper try the Berkley Lighting rod. I have 2 and love them both. Forget the combos, the reels are usually junk. Find a Okuma spinning reel. Decent price and great quality....Check out the Avenger. decent price, 6 ball bearing drag. Should suit you fine.

[ICDUCKS]

I have an Okuma spin combo and absolutely love it!

[hunterdeneugene]

I have a couple Okuma spinning reels, have caught salmon and steel on them. That is a test on any reels drag and they handle it just fine. I've seen pricier Shimano and Diawa reels that the drags couldn't handle the runs of salmon and steelhead, though they should be able to handle an eye or bass. I aslo have 2 Okuma fly reels, same thing. I passed my steelhead reel on to my kid, and have a SLV on my salmon set-up. You've seen the pics. i have caught hundreds of salmon on it and it still is going strong. Good quality for the money. I put a new Diawa Regal on my steelhead noodle rod. I ended up with this as fishusa didn't have the Okuma I wanted. I bought the steelhead combo from there 2 years ago, and the reel that was on it was a little big for steel. The Regal is nice, 10 ball bearing drag I believe. Got it on the 10 1/2 foot noodle rod, loaded it up with 12 lb Maxima on one spool for salmon and the spare spool with 4 lb Maxima for steel. Killed 2 birds with one stone and my kid uses it mostly. He caught plenty of salmon on it this last fall and I actually used it a couple times for steel and it has a super drag. Just telling you what woks for me. Here's the Regal...
http://www.fishusa.com/Daiwa-Regal-X...g-Reels_p.html

[mikeymjr23]

I have an Okuma spin combo and absolutely love it!

Is this good for all around fishing???

[mikeymjr23]

G.Loomis...looks to be beyond my price range right now...haha. Love their site though...just bookmarked it!

Thanks guys!

[hunterdeneugene]

Mikey...you in town? Walmart in Warren had all their Lightning Rods marked down to $19.00. They had a couple 7 foot medium actions on the rack that were really nice. I almost bought one. Probably should have.

[Snookman]

Ugly Sticks are pretty good rods. I've found their eyes to hold up better than most. I'm a sucker for the graphite rods though. 7 ft for me, light to medium action. I do alot of casting and need to pull strong fish away from structure. Really depends on the style of fishing you would be doing most. IMO Quantum makes some solid inexpensive spinning reels. For me they hold up just as well as the hundred dollar ones. (saltwater kills them all sooner or later so I get the cheap stuff at a quarter of the cost)

[mikeymjr23]

Mikey...you in town? Walmart in Warren had all their Lightning Rods marked down to $19.00. They had a couple 7 foot medium actions on the rack that were really nice. I almost bought one. Probably should have.

I am...for the DAV and such. Maybe I will go get one or 2. Thanks Denny!

[$$$JR.=FLY==FISHERMAN$$$]

the ugly sick is a good rod there real durable

[mikeymjr23]

Well...I picked one up at the DAV dinner. Its a Cabela's Proguide. I like it. Looked it up online...the price I paid is on par with what it would have cost me on their site...plus, it went to a good cause!

[hunterdeneugene]

what did you do Mikey...pick it up in a silent auction. Never made it to Wally world to see if they had any of those Lightning Rods left huh?

[The Boat Guy]

Mikey, If your in Punxsy stop over or give me a ring sometime. I'll give ya a good deal on a new Okuma reel for your new rod. Or if your up north I'm Sure Grizz or TST can set you up at there new shop.

[Gilligan]

Lightning Rod that HDE mentioned are nice inexpensive rods. Gander also usually has some winter sales, I bought 4 of their $80 Guide series rods last year for $40.

Also those Okuma spinning reels are nice. I own at least a half dozen of them. Wish they knew how to make a good line counter.

[mikeymjr23]

The Boat Guy...where are you at?

What kind of deal are you thinking?

[mikeymjr23]

what did you do Mikey...pick it up in a silent auction. Never made it to Wally world to see if they had any of those Lightning Rods left huh?

just a regular auction. I will be getting at least 1 more rod though.

[Snookman]

Picked up a rod this weekend at Wally World. Made by Berkely. 7 foot graphite, light to medium. What I really liked is the eyes are all medal. No plastic insert gimmick, which usually fall out in time. Cost was $26.00 so pretty good on price. Course rods don't catch fish and lately neither do I. Hopefully weather this weekend will warrant an outing to give it a test ride.

[John Lorenzo]

Just picked up one of the lightning rods from wally world for 19 bucks, very good rod for the price , tough to beat

[The Boat Guy]

Mikey, if your in Punxy yet I'm about 20 or so miles away. You can go 36 north to Brookville then about 6 miles south on 28, or you can take 36 to 536 to 28 north. About the same difference. Sometime you have some spare time stop over just to BS. if nothing else.

[Bryan Hoffner]

Just picked up one of the lightning rods from wally world for 19 bucks, very good rod for the price , tough to beat

Can't bring myself to do it!!!!
Pride, ego, self love and the disgusting hatred of what wally world is doing to America. Only fishing rod i'd even look at from that place is one of those 3 foot snoopy or barby poles with the zebco 202 for the relitives 5 year olds for 4 or 5 bucks. That way nothing lost when they ruin it. and if Gary and Tim would have them I'd spend a couple bucks more at their place, just not to go to that place.
I get sucked in there for enough junk, ain't tainting my fishing with it, even if I have to spend a few dollars more.