Favorite Inexpensive Rods

Last night while pulling my rods out of my boat I found out that I've broken another rod (that makes 3 this year, I've never broken one prior). :banghead Hadn't even caught a fish on the darn thing.

The rod that broke was just a Shakespeare Micro Graphite. I've had one of those for probably 15 years that has proven to be extremely durable, but I guess the quality has gone down. Not sure how it broke, there are no pinch points in the area where my rod holder is.

I have a medium lightning rod that I like quite a bit. Should I grab one of those in light action, or is there anything else worth looking at in that price range?

I like to have two crappie rods, one rigged with a slip float for live bait, and another for jigging. If the new rod is more sensitive, I will use it for jigging and retire my old Shakespeare to float use.

5.5 or 6' rods store best in my boat.

I can break any rod with my big feet in the boat. With that said my southern crappie rods, B&m rods, and ht rods have all stood up well under normal usage. I’m sure any length rod from these manufacturers will do fine. Usually in their brick and motor store, grizzly jig always have a box of over inventory rods on sale. Give them a call. However, my best inexpensive rod is the one I use of my buddies. :biggrin

Hard to beat ugly stick elite for the price

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Lews Mr Crappie won't break the bank and are top.quality.

Sent from my XT1565 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Everyone's definition of "Inexpensive" is different and variable. What is your budget like for these rods? In this day and age, with some rods going in excess of $100.00 or more (sometimes a LOT more), it's difficult to find a rod capable of performance, durability and cost effectiveness.

Everything is a compromise, but if your budget can afford about $50.00, then I do not believe you will find a better solution to your search than a B n' M rod. I'm partial to the SHSS model (Sam Heaton Super Sensitive). But there are many rods on the market for a lot less. These rods have not let me down in many seasons of crappie fishing. JMO! :)

Grizzly Jig Company has a Quantum Teton Trout Rod that I like a lot.
Worth a look.
https://www.grizzlyjig.com/p-585-teton-trout-rod.aspx

You might take a look at the 6' PowerLite or 5'6" UL ESP rods in the Grizzly Jigs online catalog (pg 31):
https://www.grizzlyjig.com/skins/ski...es/catalog.pdf

I have 5 of the micro series rods and have good service out of them all, and I'm tough on them. I would try again before I went spending more money.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skeetbum

I have 5 of the micro series rods and have good service out of them all, and I'm tough on them. I would try again before I went spending more money.

---

I have one from 05ish that is still my main jigging rod. I've put the thing through heck and back.

I'm really not even sure how this one got broke. Its been sitting in the rod holder since I bought it.

I have alot of crappie rods (60+) and I have never paid more than $30 for a rod. I like a medium light rod for crappie and the best cheap rod I have found is a Shimano Sojourn 6 footer I found on EBay for $14. The rod was so good that I quickly bought another. The Okuma Celilos is also a great rod for around $25 apiece. I am sure there are more but these are the two that come to mind for me.

I found a Abu Garcia Viglante at Walmart for 36.00 dollars. 5.5 foot and my granddaughter took it away from me so I bought another one because I like them so well. Everybody is happy now.

I have a cheap bass pro rod that I like alot. $30 dollars is near the bottom of rods that could be called good I would guess.

Ugly Stick........hard to break.

West Point rods fro BNM are good. Anywhere from 20 to 28 dollars!!

Okuma celio

I bought 3 of these.
http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-...ductextensions

For less than 20.00 you can't beat them for a good inexpensive rod. :twocents

i have several of the Bass Pro micro lite rods I use for crappie , dont think any cost over $50 except for the 9'6" ones. And they were maybe $59

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dollfly

I found a Abu Garcia Viglante at Walmart for 36.00 dollars. 5.5 foot and my granddaughter took it away from me so I bought another one because I like them so well. Everybody is happy now.

---

I like that, everybody is happy now. I once asked my son when he was going to start buying his own fishing stuff, he said why do I need to. I guess everybody is happy here too.

pro angler rods. learned about them on here. tried one and then ordered more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by punchy

pro angler rods. learned about them on here. tried one and then ordered more.

---

I have 3 and am Very Pleased. Have some Friends that fish a lot, and could buy anything they want. They fish Pro Angler.

I could show you how to repair the broken rod but you've probably already chucked it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

I could show you how to repair the broken rod but you've probably already chucked it.

---

I still have it. Its broken a foot from the tip so I didn't figure it was repairable.

Perfect!

Note: a break too far down and the balance is changed for a medium action rod.

materials needed:
super glue
braided line (8-10 lb test (small diameter) or around that for easy winding similar to that used for a jig head)
2 wire zip ties

1. add super glue 1" in length to the tip of the top of the rod part that goes to the handle .
2. overlap the tip parts, 1" each and add two zip ties near the ends of each rod segment.
3. apply more super glue to rod ends, top and bottom where the overlapping segments are.
4. wind line around both segments making sure line guides are still aligned.
5. once the middle of the segment is tied, you can cut off the wire zip ties and wrap each end of the segment.

The repair will do as well as the original length - even shortened by 1" or so. No need to overlap rod pieces by too much in order to maintain rod action.

https://i.imgur.com/xvWWAqM.jpg

You may use more super glue, nail polish or the lacquer used when tying feather or hair jigs to coat the line wind.
Note: the repair pictured uses too much of an overlap, too large a line test, but is still sturdy. The main rod and attached tip are from two different rods - one broke too far down the shaft, leaving the last foot for a repair.

I've used this and three other repaired rods for three years and caught some pretty decent fish on them after noticing how the line guides were attached using thin braid.

Wife gave me a light action Lightning Rod many years ago and it is not just my favorite inexpensive rod, but my favorite overall. I don't know if Berkeley still makes them, or if they are the same now, but I love mine.

zebco crappie fighter rod and reel combos are under $25 which is dirt cheap. I used them last year not expecting much, I started off with 2 of the 8 ft combos now I have 4 of the 8 ft and 4 of the 10 ft combos because I liked them so much. I have caught a lot of fish with them from crappie to nice catfish and a boat load of nice stripers and they have done great so far. I mostly use mine for spider rigging so the reels do just fine for that, just a great combo for a better price.

I like ACC and B&M.....I've had pretty good experience with durability!!

My favorite budget rod is the Berkley Lighting rods. I get them for under $30 from ffo tackle.

I'm on board with Skeet on this one. I have 3 of the 7'-0" Shakespeare micros and have used them for about 3 years now. I too am rough on equipment but these have held up exceptionally well. If they all broke tomorrow, I would replace them with 3 more of the same. Good action and sensitivity for the price.

When I ask my youngest son to go fishing, the first thing he asks is do I have a rod and reel or 2 he can borrow. I guess he is happy, I am learning to deal with it. So now I give him fishing stuff for Christmas and his birthday, this makes me happy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by etexbasser

I like that, everybody is happy now. I once asked my son when he was going to start buying his own fishing stuff, he said why do I need to. I guess everybody is happy here too.

---

Quickly becoming my favorite is a Lew's Wally Marshall Signature 7' light rod. This is very sensitive and casts light jigs a mile. I found it for $22.00. I also like the Shakespeare rods at Wal-Mart for less than $20.00 I have a 5'6" and 7'. I also have 2 of the Mitchell Avocet combo's one in a light and one in a medium. Now can I have more than 1 favorite?

Cabela's Whuppin' Stick Spinning rod... a jewel, $20-25.

Southbend..