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Posts: 203
Location: Minnesota | I am currently in market for 4 new rods... So far I have narrowed my choices down to Shimano Compre and Pro Edge (Edge Series)... I have talked to Keith himself about his rods and I am intrigued...
But at the same time, I am equally intrigued about Shimano Compre rods... I know that they're worth every cent of the price tag... same goes for Pro Edge...
My choices would be the following:
Shimano Compre: 2 8'0 Heavy, 1 8'0 EHeavy, 1 7'6 Heavy
or
Pro Edge Edge Series: 3 8'0 Heavy, 1 7'6 Heavy
I do know that the total for 4 Shimano Compres is half less than the total for 4 Pro Edge... Right now... my thinking is that both would perform excellently...
If anybody has a feedback on Shimano or the Pro Edge rods that I need to "read" or know about... please post it up!!!
Thanks!!! |
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Posts: 32890
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I've run the Shimano, nice stick but just a bit heavy when compared to the customs. I have an ice stick from Pro Edge, he builds an excellent rod. |
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Posts: 108
Location: Toronto, ON | Frank Bottiglieri's custom rods ('Frank's Custom Rods) have a tremendous reputation....so much so that I just ordered one. I know a lot of people that really like the MI "Bulldawg Series" rods, particularly the SuperMag action/power--price is sort of in between that of the Compre and the Customs..... |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | something to really consider as long as you are talking about a custom-built is the cork. you won't get that larger cork in a rod that's bought across the counter. you won't know til you try one and there may be people it doesn't make a difference to but as soon as i started throwing with the larger cork on my custom professional edge rods ... all the others came out of the boat and sit in a line in the garage ... i simply won't throw them anymore now that i have the pro-edge.
i was a die-hard st. croix guy (stickers on the truck to prove it) ... now, keith will also build off of the st. croix blanks so this is in no way a ding on st. croix.
his offering of the edge series rod that hit a different price point gives you some great options of having a more reasonable budget and still getting some of the custom features not available elsewhere. |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Sounds like you have quite a bit of money. If that's the case buy them all and give us a review. Then you can sell the ones you don't like. But I'd do that before I'd do the review. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Compre rods vs. Pro Edge rods...
The Compre rods are NO where near the rods that Keith makes. Compre rods are heavy, have to think of cork them and have just the feel of them isn't anything I would want to throw all day.
You can't go wrong with a rod from Professional Edge and do not even come close to comparing to a Compre rod. |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Rebel
I love Kieths rods, he has built my last 3 rods for me and will my next rod, the diamondback black are light great action, thus less fatigue when casting all day. Like Sled said once you use Keith's fat cork you will not want to back to your other rods and his longer butt section is great leverage for casting.
My one question is why 4 rods with pretty much the same lenght and action. What application are you looking to use these rods for?
Troyz |
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Posts: 121
| What about the Tica brand rods?? Anybody use them?? I was thinking about the 8" ex-heavy with the telescoping handle. |
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Posts: 203
Location: Minnesota | Tanman- Well, from what I have checked into, MI Bulldawg Rods are similar in pricing to Pro Edge's Edge Series rods... so I would rather go down the custom path...
Jonny- Yeah, I've been hearing whole lot about the cork Keith uses... I talked to Keith himself... and pretty much Im sold on the cork thing... but its the overall thing I need to be convinced on... I also agree with what you said about the overall choices Pro Edge offers...
Muskienuts- Well I've saved up over $1k just for the Expo... and there are few things I really do NEED badly such as a net n etc... plus all those new lures and lures I want to get (mostly DCG's, DC-10s, Super DCGs, and more topwaters)... and included are rods...
Mike- You've said the same thing few others have said about Pro Edge... Hope to see you at the Blaine show... Im looking around for a guide for either Sept or Oct, and you're the one of the several I have in mind... I would love to have an opportunity to talk with you then... thanks!!!
Troyz- Actually... Right now I have 5 reels (1- 5600C3, 2- 6600SSC3, 1- 6600C3, 1- 7000iC3) and I plan on getting one or two more at the Blaine Expo... I am looking for a 7'6 so I can mate the 5600 with that as I have several female friends who are intrigued about muskie fishing and would feel comfortable using that set-up seeing how it would be for their first time... Right now... I use three rods (7'6 Cabela Fish Eagle II MH, 1 7'3 Grandt EH, and 1 7'3 St. Croix which is a loaner from my brother) and from what I learned last August when two of my C3's went out of commission and I wasted some time switching the reels around and etc... I would like to have some back-ups that I would be very comfortable with... and not have to worry about switching around to use specific length and action...
Based on all the advices I have gotten from this forum and others... I have decided to order two Pro Edges... One would be a 8'6 MH Diamondback and other would be a 8'6 Edge Series... I'll wait til Blaine Expo to figure out what to do regarding two other rods...
Again, MANY thanks for all of your insights... I really appreciate it! |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Sounds like you have somewhat made up your mind, but I'll tell you what I was thinking when I read this thread earlier today, but didn't have time to reply.
I have one 7' Compre, and have an Edge Series rod being built for me. I haven't used the Compre a lot, but it seems like a nice enough rod for the money. Nothing OUTSTANDING, but a solid rod that will serve you very well for the price. I'll have to let you know about the Edge Series when I get it. I'm pretty excited about it - have heard a lot of good things about that blank.
One thing is - it sounds like the Edge Series will throw most any bait other than really light stuff. Maybe the Diamondback, or heavy Compre would throw lighter twitchbaits, Ghost Tails, and Mepps Marabous better.
So, in the longer lengths, one heavier rod (Edge or XH Compre), and one lighter rod (Diamondback or H Compre). Then do the same for the 7'6" rods.
OR (I feel like I am rambling here...) get your main lineup that you will use all from Keith at Pro Edge. Then the other one or two rods for backups could be Shimanos.
What types of baits are you going to be using the most?
curleytail |
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Posts: 311
| What kind of warranty do the custom guys give????????? I broke a St. Croix Legend Tournament rod at the P.I. outing, sent it in and got a brand new one, no questions asked. Rods do break and it is nice to know that I can get a free replacement with St. Croix........................ |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | another reality that i think both mike and troy would echo ... you can buy one rod (an 8'6" pro-edge diamondback) and do absolutely everything with it ...
... and then have a better overall combo and money to spend on some other things you might need or want more ...
good luck and have fun at the shows shopping! |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Rebel
I understand your issue and I would do like you did, Order a Diamondback for personnel and a Edge for backup of that action or for a friend usage. Like Sled sade the Diamondback blank H-action can work everything, I only run three rods, have a bunch more sitting around collecting dust.
8 Heavy- Dawgs, 10's, Cranks, Spinners, topwater
8'6" 2-pcs- Lighter Bucktails, spinners, topwater
6'10" Jerkbait- Jerks, Gliders, Walk the Dog top.
Good luck see ya at blaine
Troyz |
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Posts: 401
| One year on the Edge and Diamondback. Manufactured sticks are covered under their warranty.
If it is after a year on DB and Edge there is a rebuilding fee.
Hope all is well.
Keith
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Posts: 16
| The warranty is something to concider. I have 2 compre rods. I busted the tip off one due to a casting error. While casting, my lure hooked the tip (not the rod I was casting) and busted it off. I called customer service. They said cut the rod in half and ship it to them. A week later I got my new rod, no questions asked. These rods (shimano) have a lifetime warranty. I never thought warranty would matter much but accidents happen when you put your rod where it doesn't belong.
Edited by weiland13 2/5/2008 12:00 PM
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Help me decide which rod brand...