Need help finding a new rod.

[TicTicThump]

I need help finding a new rod for topwater, fluke, swimbaits, etc. I've been looking around but there are so many brands it's mind boggling trusting one single brand. Especially on a budget. I need a rod that has a limber tip yet strong enough to pull fish from cover easily. Now the hard part, I don't want to spend more than 75-100 max. I've looked at the St.Croix Triumph series but haven't been able to actually get a feel for one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[BigBassin144]

If you plan on throwing flukes on the same rod as swimbaits, I'm assuming you're throwing small swimbaits.

I have an Abu Garcia Vendetta VTC76-6 that I throw my swimbaits on. I only use smaller swimbaits, so this rod sees Spro BBZ-1 4" Shads, 4-6" hollow belly swimbaits, etc. Nothing too heavy. The rod has a tip that I find is what you would find on a MH rod, with a lot of backbone. IMO, this rod excels with lures in its upper lure weight range. It can cast down in its lower weight range as well as above the stated max lure weight.

I have used the rod for topwaters as well as swimbaits. With topwaters, fishing a 7'6" rod takes some getting used to, but it is doable. From 3/8oz poppers to walk-the-dog baits that weight 1/2oz+ it handled everything I threw on it. The VTC76-6 is a very versatile rod for a rod probably intended as a flipping stick (which it also does well).

BB

[TicTicThump]

Thanks, I actually looked at the AG Vendetta today at Dicks sporting goods. The only ones I found had foam skeleton handles. I'm new to the skeleton handles and don't really know if I would like the feel of them. What is the major benefit of them?

[Bassboss]

Depends on the kind of swimbaits. If you're tossing real heavy ones, more then 1 oz, then I'd would go with a rod specifically for them.

And is this going to be an all around rod? Or just for the spinnerbaits, flukes, and topwaters mentioned?

75 - 100 bucks will get you a lot more then it used to a few years ago.

I'd recommend looking at the Vendetta, and veritas line of rods from Abu Garcia. They how top notch components, for the money. I've never used one my self, but the people that have them really seem to enjoy them.. I heard much anything bad about them yet. And IMO they feel much better then the St. Croix MOJO, and Triumph rods. The only rod I've used in that price range in the St. Croix Premier, and it's a great rod for the money. But I'd still recommend looking at the Abu Garcia rods. The premier is great, I just think you can probably get a little bit more rod for your money.

As far as action and power....

A MH F rod will do well if you're fishing around hang ups, plenty of power and still good casting distance with most things over 1/4 oz, so it might not be the best for tossing flukes. You'll also be freer to throw heavier things upward an ounce.

A M F rod will do better if you casting distance, will lighter lures but will be somewhat limited in with heavier lures (say over 3/4 oz), also you wont have the back bone as you would from a MH F so it might not be you're best choice if you're fishing around lots of cover.

To some it up.
MH F around moderate - thick cover, tossing heavier lures (1/4 - 1 oz )

M F around sparse to moderate cover, tossing lighter lures (1/4 - 3/4 oz)

Hope this helps, good luck on the search.

[TicTicThump]

That helps a lot, thanks! To specify about the swimbaits, I mainly use the new zoom swimmin' super fluke. The only thing that worries me about the AG Vendetta series is the skeleton handle. I've never used anything other than traditional straight cork handles. What are the advantages of the skeleton handles?

[lilmule]

By skeleton do you mean thru the blank as in exposed?
It is or makes it lighter and more sensitive to feel bites etc.
Just about any mh with some med as no real standardization with a fast to moderately fast tip action will do or throw that nicely .

[BigBassin144]

If you're talking about the actual handle, they are generally called split grip handles. They can take a little getting used to, but I personally don't mind them.

They do reduce the overall weight of the rod, but they reduce the weight of the rod behind the reel seat, which affects the balance of the rod. Which is why many split grip rods feel more tip heavy than their full grip counterparts. However, the Vendetta and Veritas rods are weighted to improve balance, rendering any functional aspect of the split grip pointless. In this case, it's basically for looks.

The VTC76-6 could handle weighted swimming flukes, but you may be better off going with a slightly lighter rod, as the VTC76-6 is more powerful than it is rated IMO.

Check out the VTC70-6. (7' MH F). While it is rated as a MH power with a F action like the VTC76-6, I've heard it performs more like a MH rod than the VTC76-6 does.

A 7' MH F rod should work great for you no matter what brand and model rod you go with.

I haven't used a whole lot of rods in the $100 range, but a few I'd look into are the Abu Garcia Vendetta or Veritas (I've used the Vendetta), Falcon Bucoo, Lamiglas Excel, and BPS Carbonlite. I've also used the St. Croix Mojo Bass rods and while the craftsmanship is probably the best I've seen in a $100 rod, the rod just seems to fall short in performance compared to many of it's competitors.

BB

[Fish30114]

I just tried a Veritas for a couple days and it is going back. The handle setup is VERY uncomfortable--spinning rod--I liked the actual performance of the rod, but it is not in the league of a St Croix triumph. I actually have several Castaway rods from Dicks, that are half the cost, and better rods IMO. I like the look of the skeleton rods that are just fine, but be careful about the area where you will actually be holding the rod/reel. The Veritas just has a hard edge of the seat screw down, which don't cut it for me!

I did not like the St Croix Mojo Bass BTW, it felt very mushy, even it a MH fast action.
I will say the BPS Carbonlite is pretty good, I'd even go for one of their Tournament Series IV's over the Veritas, which will save you about $30

One other one I would look at is the Shimano Crucial, you can find them on close out a lot of places at 100 or less, and they are really a notch up, close to a St Croix Avid IMO.

[Z-Man]

I have two Shimano Crucials and absolutely love them. One is my M spinning rod and the other in a MH caster. For the price they are very hard to beat. Look locally as many places will price match the online deals and may even take a few more bucks off.

[keithdog]

If I were you I would seriously consider the Garcia Vendetta in a 7'0" MH/F. I like my Vendetta so much I just talked my brother into one. I really don't think there is a better rod out there in that price range. Another rod I own and love that is in that price range is the BPS Pro Qualifier rod with the same specs. I find mine light, strong and pretty sensitive. It would give you the full cork grip if you don't like the split grip.

[islandbass]

If you're at dick's take a good look at the field and stream rods. They feel good in my hands, are reasonably priced at about $60, and if aesthetics were important they look really good. If I were in the market for a rod, these would be one I would consider.