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Posts: 200
| So I am looking for a new 8’6” rod and need some advice. I live in Washington and there are very few rods I can buy in stores. What are some good rods under $200? Also hoping for something that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to ship. Thanks guys |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Tackle Industries telescopic |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Tooth tamer. Right around 200 and uses quality guides that won't fray line. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Another vote for Tackle Industries. |
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Posts: 82
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | TI no doubt. |
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| I like my TI rod, but you may want to consider the Okuma telescopic rods as well. Good quality and being telescopic, they should be easier to ship as well. I have several and like them. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | For the money I agree that TI is hard to beat. The Chaos rods look nice as well, and are similar to TI. I haven't used a new one, but Okuma would be worth looking at as well. |
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Posts: 318
| Fenwick Elite Tech Predator. Very Nice Rod. Can typically find them for 160-180 bucks if you are willing to look. Great Rods. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | I did put my vote in for Tackle Industries, but I also really like my Okuma rod. I also have a Bulldawg rod I like.
Don't think you would be unhappy with any of them. |
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Posts: 219
| ToothTamer 8'6" MH is great! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | The Cabelas Predator musky rods are actually very nice for the money. I know 2 guys that have them and they like them. they are also on sale right now for 97 bux... |
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Posts: 678
Location: Duluth | Shimano sojourn or compre. Yea they aren't as light as some of the other rods but I've had several and love them. Can't beat the price either. |
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Posts: 782
| I'm kind of bias toward St. Croix, been using them for nearly 30 years. But for the price range u mentioned, that puts u in Mojo and Premier categories. Kdawg |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | I have always said TI, but we have now broke 4 in the last 2 years. Stuff happens, I guess. If i was to buy new I would try Chaos rods.. |
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Posts: 3157
| Washington??? Do you steelhead fish,,a nice medium action 9 ft 2 piece rod like the tackle industries medium heavy would also make a good drift rod for northwest steelhead and salmon. |
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Posts: 54
| I second the Cabela's rod. I have one spinning and one casting. Nice rods...davemp |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Tackle Industries BEST ROD for the $$$$$ Plus the Best Warranty |
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Location: ontario | X3 on the cabelas rod. |
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | I’ve never broke a St Croix premier. Excellent customer service too
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Posts: 106
| tooth tamer or choas tackle rods are both good rods. |
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Posts: 5193
| I like the bulldawg rod for the money.I dont have a t.i. or chaos rod.I had a problem with st croix service center.They had a defective product on a new rod I bought,and they wanted me to pay the shpping charges,I said are you guys crazy?I paid less to get it fixed locally, I hope this is not the case there anymore.The old gander mountain rods were great rods,too. |
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Posts: 992
| chaos tackle |
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Posts: 1752
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | St. Croix Premier gets my vote. I have put these rods to the test over the years and have never broken one. |
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Posts: 63
| I’ll also say the Cabelas rod. Really good for the money! |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Check out the new Vexan Big Game casting rod. Priced right, a sister company to TI, and superb quality. Strong buggers too, people have caught huge sharks on the rods. One of our favorite 9' models is a Vexan. Nice looking rod, too. |
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Posts: 203
Location: Germantown, WI | I have Tackle Industries 9' XH Telescoping, Okuma 8'6" XH Telescoping, Okuma 9'3" XH Telescoping and the Cabela's Predator. I like them all. The Cabela's rod is not telescoping and it's handle is about 6" shorter than I would like, but the blank, guides and reel seat are fine. I broke off the top 5 inches of my TI rod a few years ago so not it's more like 8'7". I still use it, but not as much. I use both Okuma rods a lot and really like them. You can't beat the price of the Okumas. Buy them through Amazon and you will get free shipping. |
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Posts: 200
| Right now I have the 8 foot medium heavy Cabelas predator. I am looking for a 8’6” and all they have is x heavy. 3 1/2-10 oz. Not sure if that would be overkill. I don’t throw many heavy baits, would be throwing mostly lures a little below the rating. Do you do well with baits under their rating? |
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Posts: 340
Location: Lake County Illinois | Okuma + a lifetime warranty . |
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Posts: 983
| Bigbucks1985 - 9/13/2018 1:12 PM
Right now I have the 8 foot medium heavy Cabelas predator. I am looking for a 8’6” and all they have is x heavy. 3 1/2-10 oz. Not sure if that would be overkill. I don’t throw many heavy baits, would be throwing mostly lures a little below the rating. Do you do well with baits under their rating?
You will be fine with lighter baits. I have way too many rods but when I have my Big Nasty in hand I can pretty much throw any bait in the boat with it well. rated 3-9oz I believe |
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Posts: 619
| Cabelas now. Used to be TI but there prices have skyrocketed the last 5 years. Used to be less than 100 bucks for a 9 ft rod. |
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Posts: 101
| If you watch St. Croix, certain times of the year they have some discounts...
I have had fair luck with TI rods, broken a few... not bad for the price- warranty on broken ones becomes a lil dicey- costs almost $75 (fees and shipping) to replace a rod that you paid $120 for (and will be re-purposed)- so now your into it for almost $200.
The Okuma EVX I have one of, and after a year so far I had to replace one guide...
Get the best rod you can afford! |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Slow Rollin - 9/13/2018 9:39 PM
Cabelas now. Used to be TI but there prices have skyrocketed the last 5 years. Used to be less than 100 bucks for a 9 ft rod.
TI has not raised prices in over 4 years??? Skyrocketed??? They are $179.99 for a 9ft rod...
Not tried a Cabelas but my guess is they are using China reel seats vs Fuji and the guides are low grade ceramic rings. With any low quality rings you will be paying $20 a guide to replace them. That is why TI rods went to a 316SS ring insert.
At the end of the day, get what makes you happy fishing on the weekends 
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Also take a look at the new Vexan Big Game rods. They are great. Caught up to 1400lb sharks so far and many gators up to 800lbs in Florida. Same actions as the TI musky rods. The blanks on these are nearly indestructible...
https://vexan.com/product/vexan-inshore-rods/
Check them out. |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tackle Industries - 9/14/2018 2:47 PM
Also take a look at the new Vexan Big Game rods. They are great. Caught up to 1400lb sharks so far and many gators up to 800lbs in Florida. Same actions as the TI musky rods. The blanks on these are nearly indestructible...
https://vexan.com/product/vexan-inshore-rods/
Check them out.
As I said before, this. One of the nicest muskie rods I have tried. |
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Posts: 54
Location: Madison wi | Couple weeks ago i just picked up a bulldawg 8'6" med heavy rated for 2-10oz lures. Been working great as a med size bucktail rod. Caught 3 fish on it already. For $99 at my local Cabelas, its hard to beat. I actually like it better than my mojo musky so far |
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Best value rod?