The Search Goes On......

Still hunting a longer rod for 2 to 4 lb line. Along the way I have found a couple of rods on the shelf of interest, one being the Duck Commander 6' ul. Not a bad rod but I found it tip heavy. A real find, that I would have bought and still might just to have one, is the Abu Garcia Vigilante. 5'6" light action one piece and a featherweight in your hand. Well built and good action with just enough backbone in the lower part for better casting and control of the "SURPRISE" fish. Found it on the rack in Wal Mart, only 2 in stock. Like it as much or more than my new Lightning Rod 5'6".

I am admittedly "thrifty", some call me cheap. That being said, during the Christmas season I received an email that Gander Mountain was offering free shipping, no minimum. That click bait worked, and I saw their Vortex UL 5'6" on sale for $12.99. I couldn't pass that up because who doesn't need another rod? Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun with it!

You is right bro .....top heavy and to whippy on the duck rod and I got the same Vigilante in my truck as I type with a Shimano on it and it IS ALL that .....fast strong sensitive and about one of the best I ever held ....got mine off a clearance rack for 25 bux and I have 2 other versions of the Vigilante line as well ......man is the shorty a killer rod ....love mine and it gets used hard ......of course I am running 6 mono on mine right now and was testing a 6 fluorocarbon with a few visits to the lake until I realized that brand of fluorocarbon line was for sure junk ......
Bet you end up being real happy with that choice for sure on the rod

And it is better than the Berkley for sure , even though the Berkley is a decent rod ......and Kaboom :biggrin

Have you looked at the B n' M 7' SHSS? I have two of these rods plus 2 of the 9' B n' M's. All of them cast 2# test Fireline Crystal with no problems. And I find they balance perfectly with the #6920 President reels.

okuma celilo , best rod for the money I own . Only reason I use the browning" air stream" was because they were used and price reduced .

I haven't found a SSHS in 7' to handle yet, but I will. Work schedule is tough on me and have to work Saturday. Same story on the Okuma. I'm doing a lot of looking before I buy a longer rod. I have so many now, and I have sold some too. I'm just about past the point to have stuff just to have it. If I haven't used it in a long time, it's gonna belong to someone else. I have already gotten some use out of every one I own and the therefore owe me nothing, and I'm sure not married to em. Well, Maybe one or two. But anyway, I'll keep y'all posted on what I find along the way. Don't we all learn something that way?

The ultralites are a bit too whippy for my liking, especially in the longer versions.
I have 2 Fenwick Eagle rods, one a 5.6 ultralite, the other a 6' light/moderate for 2/6 lb line.
I like that rod, and would like a longer version so I could both cast and jig with the same rod.
I have ordered a Fenwick 7'6" hmg7.6 l-mfs-2 which is a 2 pc. 1/16 3/8 lures, 4/8lb line.
Should arrive before the weekend.

As eagle1 noted, you can't go wrong with an airstream rod. They are balanced perfect with a good price.

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Check your Walmart next time for the Shakespeare micro series. 7' light for around $13. Was really impressed for my 1/32 jigs.


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tellin yawl find one of these on the clearance rack .....and then ...thank me later ....LOL :Rofl

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

tellin yawl find one of these on the clearance rack .....and then ...thank me later ....LOL :Rofl

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Being curious, I did an online search. Most of the places that sold it were from other countries? I added one to a cart, $24.99 with $52 shipping to U.S.! Where did you find yours?

I found the one I looked at in a walmart towards Orlando. If you pass a wally that you don't normally get to, it pays to stop. None of the stores within 10 miles of me have much in the lighter rods cuz I'm close to salt water. Whole different set where I saw that Vigilante.

The old cabelas fish eagle 11 1/2 foot is correctly rated for 2 -4 lb line and is hoot to cast and catch with. The new one has a little too much power for my liking.

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I found that one at a local ft worth Walmart , I have 3 different versions of them , all 1 pc rods and found them at different Walmarts along my many paths around Dfw

For a short high performance rod I found the 6' Temple Fork Outfitters an excellent choice. Not whippy, good backbone, and guaranteed for life. Wife stepped on one and broke it. I sent back it to them and they sent me a new rod. I am running 6 pound Nanofil and it throws 16th oz jigs far and accurately. I really like it.


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Originally Posted by dhaire

For a short high performance rod I found the 6' Temple Fork Outfitters an excellent choice. Not whippy, good backbone, and guaranteed for life.

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Just so that everyone's clear, TFO has several 6' UL rods, and one model is VERY whippy. (I know because I used to own one). It's made from a 2wt fly rod blank and has the softest action I've ever seen. It was too soft for my liking.





Just FYI ...

Yep. Like most purchases one should try it out before buying.


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Which is why I have stated that I have to feel before I buy. The difference can be drastic.

if you cant hold one and play with it some you best not buy it ....sight unseen is a bad idea for sure on a stick to ketch fish

Picked up a new Wally Marshall 6' one piece UL. Im impressed.

I went to a walmart today in Kissimmee just to see what was different on the rack. I got 2 Mitchell Avocet 500 reels last week, and still look for the ultra light, but I'm a sucker for a cheap rod that feels real good. I picked up a 6'6" Shakespeare Micro w/light action and gave it a shake. Felt much better than a lot of the other rods that I've looked at, and a ton better, to me, than any of the ultra light rods found lately. Long story short, I put one of the reels on it tonight when I got home, and spooled it with 100yds of Vicious 2lb and tied on a 4lb leader. Still looking for the right UL, but I'm looking forward to trying this one soon. I think it's really going to shine, casts a 1/80 pretty well in the backyard.

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Originally Posted by eagle 1

okuma celilo , best rod for the money I own . Only reason I use the browning" air stream" was because they were used and price reduced .

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Just bought 3 -6' love them, super light with just right amount whip and backbone.

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Originally Posted by Red190

Check your Walmart next time for the Shakespeare micro series. 7' light for around $13. Was really impressed for my 1/32 jigs.


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I second the Shakespeare graphite micro series. I have owned 4 rods I consistently cast 1/64oz with a 1in cigar float or .75in cone float a good 35ft+ distance on 4lb mono. Will require more snap of the wrist toward the end of the cast than anything heavier than 1/16oz. but you already know that if you're asking for rods to cast light line[emoji3]


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Had a rod once that was fairly stiff for all but the last 6"(think it was a Browning). The last 6" was much thinner and was whippy. It was fairly long for a trout rod (around 6-1/2'. I bought it for trout fishing, and you could straight launch a 1/64 oz jig with it. Easily cast 20-25 yards depending on the wind. Unfortunately my youngest daughter shut the end of it in the door, and broke it 5" down. That was a sad day. I loved that rod for everything. Found it at a gas station 8 years ago. Fished with it for 2 months. Haven't been able to find one since.

Lots of good info here, Thanks

I still haven't found what I'm looking for, but as I said earlier I have bought a couple of the Shakespeare Micro series to hold me over til I do. They're doing a good job and have handled some really good fish in fine style. I did get to handle a couple of St Croix rods yesterday, one was a 60lf and the other a 66ulf I think. As I had envisioned, the UL started to bend just in front of the handle. Good rod that caught several good fish yesterday but not to my liking. The 60lf now was a whole different story. Just the right balance of backbone and light weight and a soft enough tip for what I like to do. I've liked the 66lf for a couple of years, just a slightly longer version of this one, and this just made it that much more likable. I tried some Wally Marshall signature in 7' this week and found the tip section too soft for my liking, and no spinning guides, so that's out. So I'll keep looking, still a few to look at and feel before I pull the trigger, and it's kinda fun not knowing which one to look at next.

I found one Of the Vigilante's that Ketchin was talking about. Get this hay cutting out of the way, and I am going to go try it out!

Redge Where did you find the rod? I want to try one if I can find one. I checked local walmarts with no luck.

Not sure if they still offer it but the BnM Sam Heaton signature series 7' spinning rod is a pretty nice one.
I didn't care for the handle personaly, or I would have bought one at the Fast Break tackle shop in Okeechobee a couple months back.
The 2017 lineup of their rods on line dosent show the Sam Heaton models however.

Dollfly, I found mine at Walmart.

Headed to Chattanooga in a few days will check all the WM on the way Thanks

Yobuck , that's one on my list. But the list is getting smaller. Thanks for the heads up.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Yobuck , that's one on my list. But the list is getting smaller. Thanks for the heads up.

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Invite me to come fishing, and you can try my new Fenwick. lol

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I went to a walmart today in Kissimmee just to see what was different on the rack. I got 2 Mitchell Avocet 500 reels last week, and still look for the ultra light, but I'm a sucker for a cheap rod that feels real good. I picked up a 6'6" Shakespeare Micro w/light action and gave it a shake. Felt much better than a lot of the other rods that I've looked at, and a ton better, to me, than any of the ultra light rods found lately. Long story short, I put one of the reels on it tonight when I got home, and spooled it with 100yds of Vicious 2lb and tied on a 4lb leader. Still looking for the right UL, but I'm looking forward to trying this one soon. I think it's really going to shine, casts a 1/80 pretty well in the backyard.

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Found a micro series light action rod for 9 dollars and change . it is my float/fly set up for bream .

I had two Abu vendetta's in the 6' and 6'9" light version and really liked them, they both got broke in kids tourney I helped with a couple of years ago. I replaced them both with vigalante's and like them as well as the vendetta's. BUT what I really like is my 7' medium light Fenwick Eagle with a moderate tip, that has become my go to rod with a pfluegar trion reel. Man, that is the best rod I have ever fished with. I have some more on order, another just like the first one, and a 6' light with moderate tip. The first thing that amazed me was the casting accuracy with 4 pound test mono. Some might say that the rod doesn't make that much difference in accuracy, but believe me it does. I have a micro light, a lightning rod, and the two vigalante's, and I can't do near the stuff with them that I can with the Eagle. I am pretty sure I will being going all Fenwick soon on my pan fish. I am going to get one for another worm rod for bass and see how it is also. Just my thoughts, but I really like the Eagle's. Also, I caught a 6 pound catfish today with the Eagle, had to play him a little, but got him in.

later...don

I had a 4'6" fenwick that went for a swim with the help of a friend and just never replaced it. I have enough short rods but look for the longer options. Haven't gotten to a fenwick dealer yet but they are also on my list.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2fa0566eac.jpg
Biggest test of my Shakespeare micro so far. Handled like a champ but I was easy on her cause I would've swore it was a 3-4 pound bass[emoji16]


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I found a vigilante 5.6 at my local WM. It was 36.00 and my granddaughter was with me and guess what she claimed it. How could I say no, it really made her happy. I liked the feel of it really well and will get another for me. Oh she said I could use hers when she's not with me.

Red---Stud crappie and a cute little fishin buddy.

Dollfly---That's the price I find them for here. I hear that they are offered in longer versions and I'm waiting to see if I can get my hands on a 6'6" one piece.