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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I'm looking into hopping on the bandwagon and buying an 8' stick this year. I am looking to keep it fairly low cost, under $100. I was going to buy the Gander Mountain IM8 Pro Select, until I got to thinking about it.
I got curious about the Fig Rig Carbon Classic as well.
The rod would be used for a lot of bucktails and tail rotator type topwaters mainly, along with walk the dog topwaters and Suicks and other jerkbaits if I decide I like the longer rod for that type of stuff.
Probably 75% of the time it would be casting bucktails and tail rotators, but I do like walk the dog stuff too. I throw "typical sized" bucktails like Mepps Musky Marabous, etc. in the 1-2 ounce range. Topwaters would range from 1.5-4 ounces.
Here is my dilema: I know I like the gander rods. I know a guy that has one and it throws bucktails GREAT. But does it have enough power to throw and work a 4 ounce walk the dog bait, or have enough power to move a wood bait through a musky's jaw? The 8' rod is rated for 1/2 to 3 ounce lures.
So, I know the Gander rod will do great with bucktails, but how about everything else?
The Fig Rig Carbon Classic. I don't know much about this rod. I hear a lot about the more expensive Toothtamer version, but not alot about the Carbon Classic. How light is it? What would you compare the quality to?
This rod is rated for 1.5-4 ounce lures. It should do a good job of throwing the 4 ounce topwaters and have good enough hooksets, but will it still launch my 1 1/4 ounce bucktails REALLY well at the same time?
I can hold a Gander rod in my hands, but right now nobody near me has a 8' Fig rig in stock. Right now I only have a 6'6" Gander IM7 and should have a used 7' Shimano Compre on the way, so I don't have a lot of experience with the longer musky rods.
I would also be open to the idea of a 7'6" rod, or different brands if you think they have a rod I am looking for. I have considered the Shimano Compre as well.
I would sure appreciate any opinions you guys have!
curleytail
Edited by curleytail 2/14/2007 5:36 PM
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Posts: 273
| Maybe you can get the best of both worlds, I heard that Fig Rig will be making some of the Gander guide series rods. I have not been to Gander lately to confirm this. Can anybody elso chime in on this?
Jeff |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | As a former employee of Gander, I was in the store a few months back when one of the fishing guys handed me one of the new Guide Series musky rods. I told him that it looked like a Fig Rig. He didn't know for sure who made it, but it definitely looks similar to a Fig to me. I did see it "confirmed" on another site awhile back, so I believe that is correct.
Aaron |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Peaches, I think the IM8 Pro Select IS made my Fig Rig, at least from what I have heard. However, even if they are made by Fig Rig, that doesn't necessarily mean that it is the same BLANK Fig Rig uses, right? I always just figured that a company made a blank for companies like Gander Mountain and Scheels, but they didn't necessarily use the same blanks they use for their own rods.
If there is a different Gander Rod coming out I would be interested to hear about it though! The nice thing about the Gander rods is I could go grab one off the shelf, and if I have problems with it, I could just grab another. I would probably have to order a Fig online, or through Gander or Scheels.
curleytail |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | the newest gander rods are made on fig rid blanks i think but made over seas in china.
my first rod a few years ago was a 6'6" mh im7 gander rod like you. then i got a 6'8" shimano
compre xh and a 7' gander im8 mh last year. i planned on
using the 7' gander for light lures and the compre for heavey stuff. the compre was definetly the
best of these rods and i started using it for all my lures. this show season i got a 8' mh premier st.
croix and just from testing it in my backyard i like it alot. if you can spend the extra $60 get the
st. croix premier, if not look into the shimano compre. at my gander all they have are MH and they
seem kind of weak for lures above 3 ounces. |
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Posts: 663
| Buy the Fig Rig. At the very least you will know who made it.:) The Carbon Classic is a very good rod at that price point. Shimano Compres are priced right but the action is a little too soft for my taste.
Edited by Pete Stoltman 2/15/2007 1:30 AM
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Posts: 128
| Both of my brothers work at gander Mountain..and yes, the new tournament series rods are made by Fig Rig. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | It sounds like the Gander Rod is a Fig Rig. I looked around on some other sites, and it looks like the Tournament Series is different from the IM8 Pro Select I found at my Gander. Would anybody be able to tell me the lure ratings on these Tournament Series rods? I also heard they are the same price as the Pro Select rods. Any truth to that? Hopefully my Gander has them in stock this spring.
curleytail
Edited by curleytail 2/15/2007 12:46 PM
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Posts: 128
| I've got a 7'6" sitting here at work..rated for 1.25-3 oz. |
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| I have the 8' Gander tournament series and it is a fig blank (made in China). I think (its at home) it is rated for 1.5-4oz and sounds similar to the carbon classic. I broke my 8' gander pro select last July and got the tournament series when I took the broken rod back. They are the same price. The few months I used the tournament series last year I liked it better than the pro select. It is a little stiffer and has more backbone than the pro select (which I thougt was too light). I throw mostly bucktails and spinnerbaits with it and like it for that, but it can also handle bigger stuff which is why I like it better than the gander pro select.
All that said,I would agree that if you can afford the extra money get a St. Croix premier. I wouldn't trade one of my St. Croix's for a lifetime of the Gander 8' tournament series rods.
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| I own 2 fig rig tooth tamers a 7' all purpose muskie inc series, and a reg series 6'10" for jerkbaits, big gliders. I was at the gander off 94 by kenosha looking at the fig rigs. I needed a 7'6" rod with my 7000 hsn for tossing grinders and big bucktails with the #10 colorado blades. Well I never heard or held a gander mountain tournament series rod before untill that day. Must add I also own 2 pete mania rods, 2 st. croixs, 2 daiwa (one old saric team diawa with blank trough handle), newer shimano compre that just came out, falcon cara big flippin stick, and the tooth tamers by fig rig.
I held the tooth tamer in one hand and the gander rod in the other for a long time justifing the gander rod which was $90, to the tooth tamer $160. They where the same #*^@ rod! Same guides, same cork shape, same fuji reel seat, same balance! The gander rod felt even a little lighter, and built better! I put the fig rig on the shelf and bought 2 tournament gander rods for the first time ever! one 7'6" and a 7' all purpose model. Hey $180 for 2, one fig rig for $160.
I was holding the two gander rods and talked to a salesman at gander and asked if fig rig made these for gander, and he had know idea. The made in china sticker through me off.
Two weeks later I caught a healthy 43" musky on silver lake with the 7'6" gander rod, and had no problem bring him in! The gander rods are very light and comfortable fishing with on a long trip on the water. Used em both all last year inconjunction with the fig rigs which I also like using.
Check em out! |
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Posts: 128
| Not trying to pump the Gander rods by any means.. I could give 2 S@#ts less. But for the money and the product you cant go wrong. Chaep rod with nice components! |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I sure appreciate all the help guys! I will be pretty interested to look at the Tournament rods Gander gets in this year. Right now they don't have any on the shelf. Like I said, the nice thing about buying a Gander rod is if I have any problems with it I should just be able to get another one.
I have thought about getting an 8' Premier, but decided at this point (only started musky fishing last year), the extra money would be much better spent on another rod, a better net, more lures, etc. You have all made my decision a lot easier. You guys rock!
I have a pretty good idea what I will be looking for, but I would be happy to hear anyone else's opinion.
curleytail
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Carbon Classic vs Gander & others