Need some input on a rod purchase.

hey all, i have about 600 dollar budget to buy a new rod. needed some input.

I have been fishing for about 16 years for salmon and trout and about 13 with a centerpin and much longer for other fish. currently i am using the Raven IM8 13' and extremely happy with it. i can chuck spoons, spinners, bottom bounce, jig or float fish with a centerpin. tip is moderate enough for light leaders and to play the fish. also the most crisp hook set, with a flick of a wrist you fully set the hook.
now one may ask why would you want to buy a new rod?! with all the injuries inside and out side the gym i don't mind getting something lighter with the same goodies. as i was looking at new stuff on one of the sites i buy things, i saw raven has a new rod called RPX, did a bit of digging, and it is the upgrade version of the RV9 for fraction of the weight. i fell in love, can you imagine, same backbone as im8 with as crisp hook set and better response time for fraction of the weight? then i decided to get that, since Raven has not failed me yet, everything excluding centerpin reel i own is raven, all my connection to the fish are raven and i have never been disappointed yet.
after i mentioned recently about the raven, everyone keeps telling me it is not worth the money for a factory made rod. people suggested a cts, i went to the cts site and excluding colour i have no idea how else to choose the components. all i know is, the pieces, colour, height and action i want. i don't know anything about reel seat, guides and so on.

some people suggested sage, but there was a guy that had issues getting his rod fixed. some people are suggesting glx? is glx as good as once was before being bought by shimano? how much better is the glx from the rpx.

are there any other rods, that can have solid backbone, moderate/slow enough tip to use 4.5lb leader and light enough to be held all day? also i don't like very whippy rods, not sure if that is a good thing for chromes though. i handled RV9 and it is fine as far as whip. also i don't want a steelhead specific rod only, but what i target the most is stealheads.

So what do you think is best course of action? Thanks in advanced for your input.

Honestly I would go custom tie raven !!! Kingsway in Guelph has a rod builder named tom and he does amazing work !!! +1 (519) 824-7223

w_ boughner said:

Honestly I would go custom tie raven !!! Kingsway in Guelph has a rod builder named tom and he does amazing work !!! +1 (519) 824-7223

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thanks. i don't hear too many good things when something bad happens to custom rods when it comes to repairs. not this this person, just over all. i heard rpx was stiffer than im8, which is not something that i want. i think more than likely i invest in an rv9, unless someone can tell me if glx power 2 is a light rod.

thanks. i don't hear too many good things when something bad happens to custom rods when it comes to repairs. not this this person, just over all. i heard rpx was stiffer than im8, which is not something that i want. i think more than likely i invest in an rv9, unless someone can tell me if glx power 2 is a light rod.


You still have warranty in the blank with custom rods you just have to pay the builder to re tie the section you broke .. But I think tom gives you a warranty on his builds for a year but I'm not positive

too much headache, i just want to walk into a specific dealer of w/e rod and give them the rod and be on my merry way. too much hassle mailing, waiting, ordering. i am hardcore, but not custom rod hardcore yet lol

I have always been a great fan of G-loomis blanks. They seem to produce high quality rods that will take a beating on a fish/rod and not yourself. It's always nice to come home and be able to lift your arm after an awesome fight with a steelhead. If you really want to treat yourself to a rod, check out there NRX series. hehe

Henry Nguyen,

Legend Boats

Legend Boats said:

I have always been a great fan of G-loomis blanks. They seem to produce high quality rods that will take a beating on a fish/rod and not yourself. It's always nice to come home and be able to lift your arm after an awesome fight with a steelhead. If you really want to treat yourself to a rod, check out there NRX series. hehe

Henry Nguyen,

Legend Boats

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nrx is like 800 for factory rod. for 800 i can get top end cts made by jc himself. also old loomis and new loomis are not the same. Thanks for the input though.

RV9 is what you need I told ya ,I'm extremely happy with mine....

well i fish with im8, to you rv9 might feel different than to me. meaning it was super upgrade to you, but minor upgrade to me.i am picking it up soon and i will report on it.

I wish I had a $600 budget….lol

you easily can, save for 2 years, i have been fishing for trout 16 years. save your money and buy good quality stuff. 40 a month/10 a week or even 5 a week, that is two coffees from most coffee places, save it toward a new rod could get 600-1200 after two years, then go nuts.

Being in university is kind of getting in the way…..I wish OSAP funded my fishing needs..lol

I'm sure food at the cafeteria for one lunch costs more than a week of saving for the rod. I'm a personal trainer, I've heard every excuse in the book why people can't lose weight or be more fit. Called will and discipline and having a long term goal. Well good luck with school.

Its funny because I don't eat at a cafeteria and I actually live in an appartment on my own putting myself through university. Nobody is making excuses here man, trust me I know how to set goals for myself. You must be a pretty brutal "personal trainer" if you can't take a joke and then and put someone down telling me I'm making excuses lol, blows my mind. Thats why this forum is just a mess, I can't make one simple post making a joke without someone responding being an idiot

it is a written form of text. unless you put lol or say jk or indicating you are making a joke really hard to understand. and yes i am a brutal personal trainer, but that is what it takes to look good and be truly fit. talk to a pro fitness model or one of those jacked guys at the gym, specially fit women, and their life style will make any average joe cringe.

If you have that much budget to spend, better buy three different rods,

1, For floatfishing, 12-15 ft rod and noodlish. 4-10lb rating. someone has a used one for $80 posted today.
2. For casting lures especially on fast waters of niagara, Use no more than 10 ft. medium light, from 6-12lb ratings. Fenwick HMX 5 yr warranty and only $75. price actually starts at $50 for 9' at Peter's tackle at saint catherines.
3. For casting lures on salmon- shimano convergence 10-12ft rod- rated 8-17lb. lifetime warranty . great rod to fight that 25lb salmon pier chucking spoon, cost around $85.

Rods are getting better quality and cheaper made compared to 10 years ago. Also across the border fishing store has many long rods from $60-90.

I own three different rods for 3 application. just cannot have the perfect feel for fishing different conditions. After owning three different flex rod, I can't go back to using one rod for all application, especially the rod are not expensive to own.

CTS.

i am hardcore, but not custom rod hardcore yet

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If you're not custom hardcore yet, then CTS is out of the question as there are no factory built rods available (your only option would be too buy a used one, which would still be a custom). If I was to buy a factory rod right now it would either be a Raven IM8 or RV9. Nicest all around factory rods on the market IMO.

I know Mike from fishheads is fishing the RPX now and loves it. Send him a pm

thanks for all the input all. JC wont make cts under 700 and i need to to go there to look at. budget was 600 tax and shipping in. I bought an rv9 looks a lot softer than im8, which i think will do the job. i am proud owner of rv9 and im8 and they are both good rods. if i buy a new rod. will be a 3-6 cts maybe for spring.