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| Diamondback? St. Croix Avid/Premier? Fenwick? etc. I have the money but can't make up my mind! Need your opinions. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | 8'0" Xheavy All Star. Great for everything. 120 bucks. done deal. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | St Croix Premier 6'9" around 110-120 |
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | If you have the money....have Frank Bottiliergi of Frank's Custom Rods make you a 7'6" Custom Diamond made to your specs. I have an 8'5" that is perfect for big dawgs - med. bucktails, and a 7'3 that is perfect for heavy topwaters (weagle?) and big wood. I would guess that a 7'6 made to fit YOU (# of guides, butt length) would be made to fit everything you need it for. If you need his number/contact info, I am sure I can find it for you. |
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Location: Des Moines IA | Premier 6"9 no doubt best all round!!!!!!!!! With a C5 6600..... Even better.................... |
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| St. Croix Premier 7'6" MH paired with the Big Game C3 7000 winch of a reel. For more coinage, go with the Avid Rod and Shimano Calcutta 400 TE  |
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Posts: 502
Location: Lincoln UK | Really depends on what you mean by "all purpose"- I really don't think it can all be done with one rod so it depends on how much you want it's function to be limited in each discipline. I think you have to choose a rod for it's main purpose and expect limitations on it's other uses. I am a big St Croix fan but have just taken delivery of an Axiom which looks like it is going to be better than the St Croixs. Over here rods from Dave Lumb have an almost cult following try www.dlst.co.uk for a very honest look at what his rods do, no hype, no "this is the best rod" advertising. Very refreshing. |
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Posts: 2089
| If you have the cash......Have one built.Custom.You can discuss with the builder EXACTLY what you're going to use it for, and the 2 of you can come up with the best option.For the cost of some of the production rods today, you can have a custom.My favorites are Thorne Bros.(been using their stuff for over 20yrs.) and Franks Custom Rods of Bartlett,Il..Great product and great people too. Steve |
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| St. Croix Avid 7'6" MH
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Posts: 155
Location: North Metro | I absolutely love my diamondbacks, but I have to tell you that I still have my first musky set-up which is a st. croix PM70 fast action with a calcutta on it. That rod has been given some serious beatings and still comes back for more. I have snapped 2 diamondbacks during the time I've owned the croix. Not saying the DB's are bad, they are a bit sensitive (Super high modulus is known for that) to abuse and sometimes rods get knocked around even when you are careful. Custom rods are great because you can have the handle length set to your liking and everything is balanced and fit according to the way you fish. Have thorne's build you a croix if you want to save money, have them build you a diamondback if you want the lightest and best action muskie rod on the planet. One other rod that is often overlooked and very reasonably priced is the cortland CTR graphite rod. Retails for around 80 bucks and I believe it carries a lifetime warranty. |
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Posts: 2361
| Two things come to mind durability and adaptability. Both are the key to value and usability in your rod.
It has to be made well and be able to take a beating. Some specialized rods may be a little on the fragile side, as mentioned.
It should be able to handle a large range of baits and retrieves well. Some specialized rods won't.
Other considerations.
It can be any price from $60-$250 and perform extremely well.
It should fit you sizewise under varying conditions, short people and tall people sometimes prefer a little different length, and boat positions sometimes make it hard to use short or long rods at times.
It should feel good in your hands.
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | A rod is like a golf club put the golf club down if you think you can hit it then buy it. Pick up a musky rod and if you think you can catch fish with it buy it......Simple as that....
pga |
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Posts: 4266
| 7'6" Avid Heavy |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | another vote for the 7'6" avid heavy. ive thrown everything big and small with this rod, i even bought another one to put a different speed reel on it so now i have all the bases covered with 2 rods. both being the 7 6 avid heavy!!!! |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Another vote for the 7'6" St Croix. |
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Best All Purpose Rod for any price?