Wasn’t totally sure where to put this so hopefully it’s in the right place…looking for a new inshore spinning rod for 3-4” plastics, mirrolures, spooks kind of baits. Ideally I am wanting either a ML or M, fast action. I have some Bull Bay and some older Loomis rods (Bronzeback, E6X) but looking to update my go-to.
Currently I think I’m between a Avid Inshore and the GCX inshore. Was looking at the Expride but hate the small guides on them for braid to leader. Plus with the recent price increase I would rather pay a little more to jump to the IMX line from Loomis, just not as familiar with them and which would be a good action as they seem catered to the bass world.
I got this rod a couple of years ago - SFR-BCS3-I-764-1-S and it is my favorite rod I’ve owned. Don’t let the MH scare you. I throw small (1/16 oz) jigs and small baits on it. I also have a couple of the 6 ft 10” ML rods from them which I would not recommend. In a skiff you can’t carry a bunch of rods so I’m a fan of the 7’6” because it can handle the small stuff but also has no issue with juvenile tarpon or big jacks.
They also make 1 piece fly rods which are hard to find although I have not personally thrown one.
I haven’t bought an off the shelf rod in many years, but when I did, it was Cajun Rods. Back then they were built in Jacksonville FL. But have since been sold and moved to Iowa or where out in that area. At any rate. Every single casting rod I currently have is built on CFX blanks, which are Cajun rod blanks. At the end day I think it’s hard to go wrong with any well known mnf in terms of performance. If I were buying off shelf, I’d probably lean more towards Warranty, and TFO is hard to beat in that regard.
Almost all my off the shelf rods are St. Croix. I prefer their action, grips, and feel over others. I like the avid but find they are a little slow compared to the legend series rods that I use. At the mid price point I think the Shimano rods are better than G Loomis, but at the higher end price point I prefer G Looms.
I would recommend going into a tackle shop and holding all the rods rather than buying online, I look for a fast twitchy rod that gives me good feedback when bumping bottom. The small guides reduce the weight at the end of the rod which allow for a faster action. I just tie an FG knot for all my connections to get through the guides.
I fished Loomis nearly exclusively for a decade. Now, I own 8 St Croix Avids, In 7’3” 2 each of ML, M and MH and in 7’6” 2 H.
I use the MLs with Stradic 3ks and 10lb and Ms with Stradic 5ks with 20lb. Never an issue, good action for anything you want to toss. For big topwaters or structure I’ll use the M, or in the flats, w paddles usually the ML. The M is a beefy M IMO. Either will do well for years - if you are stuck between the two, consider mostly the weight of lure. I’ve landed monster jacks, beefy reds on the ML no problem, but heavy stuff/bigger lead is a bit scary to toss. On the M, very light paddles or twitchbaits…it’ll do fine, but you wont get the casting distance. As BMahoney said, the grips are incredible - the aglom cork is comfy, easy to clean, and shaped very well.
I have, and have been through a lot of different rods… always looking for that perfect rod in my eyes. Best rods are very subjective and opinion will vary greatly from one person to the next depending on what characteristics they like and need. For spinning, inshore, primarily light soft plastics, my favorites are the Falcon Expert 7-6 M-F, and the Falcon Cara 7-3 MH-XF. I like a stiffer fast to extra fast action and find the “inshore” labeled rods among manufacturers always seem to be too soft and far from what I consider a fast action. I’ve got some rods that are 3-4 times the cost of the Expert and Cara but don’t like them nearly as much… If I’m fishing an exposed hook, or using something like the VuDu shrimp where I don’t have to get the hook through the plastic, I also love the St Croix Victory 7-3 M-XF, or the Phenix Feather 7-7 M-F. These just have a softer action than what I like for fishing weedless plastics… All of these rods are extremely light and have great sensitivity imho. Some of my least favorite are the TFO Professional and the Coastal Clearwater which others rave about…
Owned a bunch as well and then I broke a few over the years…bought them when they first came out…I thought WOW, $150 for a rod…now they are like over $200 last time I looked…I find the St. Croix Triumph’s are a nice rod for my guide clients and they are good for popping corks and jigs…
So many to choose from…You’ll see all the hype from the sponsored guides…and, yes, they are really nice, especially on the high end…
For me, the key is always have the same reel - for me Penn 2500 on my personal rods and St Croix Avid so each time I change lures or jigs, it has the same feel…same braid…on client rods, they are all St. Croix Triumphs, Penn 4000’s, 15 lb braid so they always feel the same for them…
OP - buy two nice rods and reels at your best budget, then cast cast cast…as a kid, I would spend hours casting into a Hulu hoop at varying distances out in a field…then, I worked on putting lures in bucket…as American Sniper said…AIM SMALL - MISS SMALL…SAME WITH CASTING
As Lefty Craig would demonstrate…the man did not even need a “fly rod” to cast better than most fly fisherman…
Good recommendations but I have to throw one in for Bull Bay rods. They are made in Lakeland, FL and I just took in a broken one (totally my fault) that I’ve had for years and they replaced it for $40. I like the Banshee for soft plastics and the stealth sniper for topwater.
I have a pair of 842 IMX Pro Blues. Might be a bit stiffer than some like but work well for a “do it all” spin rod throwing 1/4oz bucktails, 1/8oz heads with a paddle tail, topwater, weightless flukes, or twitch baits.
In that price tier the Star Plasma 2 is a fantastic rod. Their VPRs are a little more but still in line with Avids. The VPRs are a little stiffer and faster, while I feel the Plasma has a little more feel, and I kinda like those a little more…I also have a couple Avid, and the plasmas are more in line with those in terms of action where as the VPR is a fast stick…
I have had a few star rods. Two of them being their top end VPR models that I use on larger reds and a few other models for my offshore stuff. They are good rods
However, I will never buy another one. I had a guide slide right out from under the wraps on one of my VPR rods and I can not get in touch with anyone about warranty. I have submitted multiple forms on their website, called, emailed, and they will not respond. They are completely ignoring me about a $300 rod.
They are owned by Calcutta now and their service is nonexistent.
Another vote for Avid Inshores. I have 4 of them mainly for guests that can’t cast conventional reels. I’m a long time St Croix user. I have over 20 Legand Tournaments for my bass fishing too.
