I bought a spincaster reel and rod as a combo, and I first used the combo with a minnow this past saturday evening. Prior to this, i have been using a wounded minnow on an old zebco push button release. What I quickly noticed is that this rod is WAY to light for me. I barely detected a hit on the line because the entire pole was flexing from the lure retrieval before the bass even hit the bait. The combo itself was maybe 25-30 bux, and so I would like to keep the cost of a newer stiffer rod to 20 bux or under. Is that possible? What are decent rods in the 20 dollar or less range that are around medium stiffness? Thanx for any ideas guys!

thats tough....

best thing is to head to walmart...play with a couple rods and see what you think will fit the bill....

i picked up a really nice ultra light trout rod at walmart for 20-30$...graphite, cork handles etc...nice rod...stay away from the rods that look like wooden dowel rods where they connect...


best advice is if your serious about fishing and fish regularly, buy a good rig....it took me YEARS to learn that...i broke MANY 20-30$ reels....ive broken numerous dowel rod rods...ive had guide shoot off cheap rods fighting a fish...

sure, i spend a little bit of money on my gear now...but since i started spending a little extra, i havent had to replace anything. im actually saving money at this point compared to cheaper stuff...the initial hit of a decent combo might sting a little, but if you fish alot, you'll be glad you spent the money...not to mention how much better the better gear actually fishes...

i wish i had the money from all the gear i broke...id be able to buy a couple really nice rigs with the money...

then again if i add up the money i got into my good setups, it does seem kind of expensive...but i fish alot and get my use out of it...and like i said, some of the stuff is aging and still holding up great so im saving money at this point...

I have quite a few "nice" rods and reels and do fish with some regularity. I am well aware of the value placed in good tackle, and I normally wouldnt hesitate to buy something nicer, but i bought it a while back for my young boy to use and he doesnt like it, so I kept it as a light tackle fishing setup. However, I did not realize that it was this light of a rod, and it isn't conducive to my style of fishing, which means that if I dont change it, i will get zero use out of it and have 25-30 bux down the drain.

I just hate to have tackle that I cant use, and in its current form, I can't use it. With an additional 20 dollars wrapped into it, i can use it and still keep the combo under 50 dollars, which isnt bad considering its for a rod and reel that I will rarely use. A 50 dollar rod and reel combo that i sometimes might use, is better than a 25-30 dollar combo that I will never use.

got ya now....

didnt mean to offend you or step on your toes or anything...hope you didnt take it that way....i just know it was a hard lesson to learn buying countless cheap rods n reels over the years and wasting money...

but yes, in your case, id say throw a decent inexpensive rod on it...so long as the reel is somewhat worth being put on a rod...

ugly sticks are good rods for the money...

and im sure walmart or another sporting goods shop will have a rod that will work for 20$ or so...even if its a dowel rod rod, they are stiff and dad and i both had a rod like that that we both used ALOT...wasnt too heavy...wasnt too light...we used it for river fishing and fishing minnows n such when we didnt know what might hit...it was just a decent powered rod and wasnt very expensive...

good luck...just gotta look around and see what you can find...i dont know anything off the top of my head...im certain i could find something suitable at my local walmart...not sure if yours sales fishing gear and such or not...probably your best bet though..

20.00.tough order..BUT if it was me for under 20..I'd get the Walmart Cherry Wood Berkley rods..they are the best IMHO for under 20.00

thanx for the suggestions guys, I appreciate it.

Either the Cherrywood or the AMP, both by Berkely and both good rods

Cherry fishes nice..but all of mine have broke ...die to my carelessness..to be hinest,,.they seem to break easier than most rods..If they were carefully used they would be fun .I'm kind of rough on them..tossing them in the boat etc. etc.


Aaron if you lived near me I'd give you a few rods..I got more than I need. I was thinking about ya while fising today..A while ago { 4 years} I bought a cheap2 piece spinning rod for under 20.00 by Shakesphere..It's my favorite shiner rod..not to flimsy yet flimsy enough to where the bass inhales the shiner instead of spitting it out..My favorite medium action rod..

Well, I appreciate all of the suggestions guys, so I am going to head to walmart today and see if I cant find one of the above mentioned rods. I was looking at the rod and its an Ultra Light, no wonder it felt too soft, haha.

Did you have any luck this morning Chuck?

Best morning yet..I'll tell you fellows.the 5 days prior of the new moon is HOT ..
here's a cheap 19.95 Shakesphere 2 pice I got this 4 on this morning GREAT FIGHT!
with an OLD Syncapate Shimano reel.