I’ve been fishing a good bit with my friends and absolutely love it and i think it’s about time i get my own rod. i don’t mind spending this much money, i just want to know if this is a good rod because i know nothing about them. i do mostly lake, pond, river, and reservoir fishing around my town. i live in northeast ct. we catch mostly things like bass, crappie, bluegill, etc. thank you!
Posted by Limp_Wall_8179
32 Comments
Id get an ugly stick then spend the rest on spinners and crank baits.
Holy overpriced. It better be.
What are the specs? You can probably get a rod and reel separate for half that price and spend the rest on lures
215 bucks is insane for freshwater.
Sure it will work but price is to much. I’d say a shakespeare gx2 does the same thing for less then 75 bucks. Just my opinion 🤷 its yor money.
As a beginner i wouldnt go that crazy, also for combos id look at shimano, or lews
$25-50 is all you need for a rod in ct.
St Croix rods are a treat, I bet the reel is solid but for my two st croix rod set ups I found other reels I liked.
This may be overkill for a beginner, but if you have the money you’ll enjoy this long term.
Holy Crap that a lot. I did read that your more discerning, upper echelon fish will not bite on any lure thrown by a rod under $200
Before you buy something with a price tag like that you should really be doing your own research on if it’s the right rod and reel for you. Watch some videos/read some articles. Why ask randoms on Reddit? Everybody fishes differently and has their own opinion. To be honest you should also be matching your reel to your lure retrieval speed also, so there more that comes into play than you think. Me? I’d never spend that much to fishing (and not even catch anything at times). I bought a $70 rod and reel and it’s been treating me well for two seasons now.
Note that it is a 7’1” rod and a single piece. Make sure you take storage and transport into account.
Also, you could get an equivalent UglyStick combo at Walmart for less than half that price.
Okuma Ceymar, Ugly stick elite. In it to win it for about 100 Bucks.
Amazon has the Penn Battle combo on sale for 140 right now.
For that price, I’d buy a few Ugly Stiks.
More expensive does not equal more fish.
For bass, I run a St. Croix Mojo Bass with a Shimano Sedona. That said, I bought them with a steep employee discount when I worked at a sporting goods store in college, and I fish almost every day with it in the spring, summer, and fall.
Almost every other rod I have is an Ugly Stik or something comparable in price. Beginner or casual fishermen alike should look no further than a medium weight [Ugly Stik](https://www.scheels.com/p/04338850112/?store=&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=23623659256&cq_con=197689419110&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23623659256&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-pHPBhCdARIsAHXYWP8JyBbTpItFZOSEOZFeiRo3f72qyiM4LuyY0rf7kVFCvPr8WxJBCp4aAoNkEALw_wcB). I prefer a 7’0″, but 6’0″ will be just fine as well.
Edit: spelling
If you want something nicer get like a daiwa airdx and like a daiwa regal or something. Don’t make the first one too crazy. Learn some more and get you some lures. If you really wanna spend that much there are better options.
as someone who bought an ugly stik for their first rod, i’d just get the daiwa aird x
If I were you I’d go to Walmart and get a 4’6” ugly stik and a 6’6” ugly stik. Those two will handle most of your fishing needs for what you described. Used the saved cash for tackle and a box.
You can honestly get a similar combo for less than $50. Save the money and buy other stuff needed to fish with.
Jmho
Bro just get a $50 ugly stik combo from walmart the fish don’t care what kind of rod you have
St croix is awesome. I have many. I paired my mojo bass with a pflueger president reel and it’s a great setup.
If you want a great pole/setup that will last a long time, then go for it. Instead of buying crap and replacing it every few years. You can buy this and if you take care of it, it will last you a long time. St criox quality is great. If you’re a beginner? You’re spoiling yourself. If you. An afford it….. this will make you happy.
Ugly sticks are probably the go-to for beginners for their quality:value ratio, although St. Croix are amazing rods that will pretty much never fail you. I’ve been using the same st. Croix that my father handed down to me, so the rod is still going stronger for atleast 20 years of usage, mind you with very good care.
Buy 2 cheaper set up, you’ll be happy you got an extra one. One light and one medium light
It is a good combo. Others have mentioned the price, and I agree. Ugly Stik are also good, durable beginner rigs. If you have a BassPro, Cabela, or Sheels near you, the house brands are usually priced mid way between and the quality is pretty good. I think you are beyond the Zebco 303 that someone else mentioned. They are good, cheap spincast reels better suited for an absolute beginner, which you are not.
The St Croix will have a more sensitive tip. The eyelets will be ceramic and not plastic. They are fantastic rods and those small differences make casting and detecting a delicate bite just a tad easier. If you buy one, get a sleeve/rod protector for it at the same time. Then put it back in the sleeve any time you are not actively fishing with it.
The St Croix will not be as durable as the Ugly Stik, they do not take kindly to laying in the bed of a truck, being stored leaning against a wall, getting dock/boat rash. Ugly Stik break, too, but they are a better choice while you learn to protect and take care of your tackle.
All that said, here is a pro tip:
I recommend going to a local baitshop and buying a rig from them, if they aren’t over priced. It is a good way to start a relationship. Small, local baitshops are a goldmine of info for tips on local hot spots, techniques, baits, and all things regarding local angling.
ugly stik rods piscifun reels you could get a UL and MH setup for about the same price as that single combo you listed
Just get an ugly stick as a first rod/reel. I still have mine from 10 years ago
Bait or lures?
If sittin and soaking worms etc, a few ugly sticks is the way to go but running paddle tails spoons etc you really want a better rod for the sensitivity and ability to make small actions, feel little nibbles and firmly set the hook, none of which you *need* bait fishing because circle hooks generally set themselves and the bait just sits there.
That said I think there are better deals to be had and I always avoid combos as it always comes with some comprise that you can avoid by buying separately. A good Falcon, just for one of many examples, may run you $125 and is a great rod, then couple with a Diawa legalis for $80 and you have a killer setup with no compromises.
St. Croix rods are great, maybe start with one from their triumph line, they are great but a little more entry level priced as far as St. croix rods go.
So I know a lot of people are recommending ugly stiks but honestly comparing a decent St. Croix to an ugly stik is like comparing horse manure to ice cream.
That being said, price wise you could buy a St. Croix Triumph rod and a shimano sedona reel and get a combo that is 10x better for the same price.
This is what I would do.
Get a a Abu garcia max x combo or for that price range get a shimano DC reel and a ugly stick