Top 8 Casting Rods of 2018 - Buyer's Guide

This Buyer’s Guide looks at the best rod and reel combos in the “mid-range” category. We’ve already covered combos under $200 and High-End combos. This breaks down the best "bang for the buck" rods on the market. The market is saturated with rods, let us do the hard work and find the best deals for you.

If you're looking for a last minute holiday purchase, today is the last day that ground shipping will arrive before Christmas. Whether your rod budget is $200 or $500 there is an option here to give you the best quality, sensitivity, and responsiveness for the price point.

Below is a break down of the rods and reels discussed in this video. They are sorted by price from highest to lowest to make it easy for you to see the the best values based on our review.

Casting Combos…

Rod- G Loomis GLX: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL 150: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Favorite Models… 853C JWR, 854C JWR, 893C JWR

Rod- Dobyns Champion Extreme: http://bit.ly/2ab2kRX

Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL 150: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Favorite Models… 745, 746, 7’8” Heavy

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro: http://bit.ly/2R4f2Ud

Reel- Shimano Curado K: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Favorite Models… 845 CBR , 966 , 854C JWR, 874C CRR

Rod- St. Croix Legend Tournament: http://bit.ly/2Ap51x5

Reel- Shimano Bantam: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Favorite Models… 6’10” Medium, 7’4” Medium Heavy, 7’5” Heavy Moderate Fast, 7’8” Medium Heavy Moderate (big cranker)

Rod- Dobyns Champion XP: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

Reel- Shimano Tranx 200: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Favorite Models… 805 CB, 765 Flip, 764, 734

Rod- Shimano Expride: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Curado DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Favorite Models… 6’10 Medium, 7’2” Medium, 7’2” Heavy, 7’6” Medium Heavy, 7’11” Extra Heavy

Rod- Shimano Zodias: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Curado K: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Favorite Models… 6’10” Medium. 7’2” Medium, 7’2” Medium Heavy, 7’5” Extra Heavy

Rod- Daiwa Tatula Elite: http://bit.ly/2yLDr9z

Reel- Daiwa Tatula SV TW: http://bit.ly/2xALqpz

Favorite Models… 7’1” Heavy, 7’3” Med Heavy, 7’6” Medium Heavy

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Buyer's Guide: Best Rod/Reel Combos Under $200

Looking for the best gear this Holiday season? We've got 5 rods and 5 reels that you need to take a look at. They're light, sensitive, and best of all they won't break the bank! Whether you're a new fisherman or just looking for a deal, we've got you covered!

In the past we've struggled to locate any rods below the $100 mark that we felt were worth a mention. That mark seems to be the cut off for purchasing quality equipment but we searched high and low and found 2 options that are worth trying. Additionally

Below is a break down of the 5 lines of rods and 5 models of reels we recommend trying. For your convenience we've including some of our favorite models from each line of rods. The Black Friday sale begins today at 8 AM Pacific time so be sure to check them out! If you were hoping for high end tackle for Black Friday keep in mind the sale will run Friday through Tuesday so be patient, high end content is coming!

The Rods...

-Dobyns Colt: http://bit.ly/2lU0LfV

Favorite models include 7' MH, 7' MH Cranking, 7'3" Heavy

-13 Fishing Defy Black: http://bit.ly/2Ak3F3M

Favorite Models Include 7'1" Medium, 7'1' Medium Heavy, 7'6" Medium Heavy

-Dobyns Fury Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Favorite Models Include 7' Med/Heavy, 7' Heavy, 7'3" Mag Heavy, 7'6" med Heavy.

-Shimano SLX Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Favorite Models Include 6'10 Medium, 7'2" Medium, 7'2" Medium Heavy, 7'2" Heavy, 7'5" Heavy

-Shimano SLX Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2AdvIC1

Favorite Models Include 6'9" Medium, 7' Medium Light, 7' Medium

-St. Croix Bass X Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Favorite Models Include 7'1" medium, 7'2" Medium Heavy, 7'4" Heavy

-Dobyns Fury Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2e7HZPF

Favorite Models Include 7' Medium Light, 7' Medium

The Reels...

Daiwa CR 80 Casting Reel: http://bit.ly/2Cgk5Nh

13 Fishing Origin TX Casting Reel: http://bit.ly/2NUHiej

Shimano SLX Casting Reel: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Shimano NASCI Spinning Reel: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Daiwa Fuego LT Spinning Reel: http://bit.ly/2yDmdtQ

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G Loomis Conquest Rods - Are They Worth The Money??

We got the opportunity to check out the G Loomis Conquest and you need see what we found! This rod is a true hybrid between Shimano and G Loomis. For year's Shimano has been at the forefront of rod technology. With the Conquest we get all the advantages of that technology coupled with the build quality and sensitivity that G Loomis is known for. 

Shimano's Spiral X and Hi Power X technologies both make a huge difference in rod performance. Never before has this technology been mated with the incredible sensitivity of a Loomis blank. You've got to feel the difference for yourself!

The Rods...
G Loomis Conquest Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2iL1PAY
G Loomis Conquest Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

G Loomis NRX Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2hedqsq
G Loomis NRX Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

Reels we recommend pairing with...
Stella 2500 Spinning: http://bit.ly/2zT8C66
Exsence 300 Spinning: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Antares Casting Reel: http://bit.ly/2ha2zNI
Metanium Casting Reel: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB
Aldebaran 50 Casting Reel: http://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy

The Conquest is in a league of its own. The only rod that comes close is the NRX, also by G Loomis. Both rods are unbelievably sensitive but one (The NRX) is built for ultra-light weight sensitivity while the Conquest is built for Power and Sensitivity. Be realistic about your fishing style as you choose between these two amazing rods. 
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Shimano Curado Rod Review | Worth the Money???

Have you seen the new Shimano Curado Rods? We all know about the new Curado K Reel but now there is a rod to match! We got the opportunity to fish them this Summer and really give them a test run. Here are our thoughts...

If you visit Shimano's site they'll teach you about UD Carbon, NanoResins, and quality of cork. That's not the style of review we are interested in. Instead, we're going to give you a quick rundown of the rods, how they fished, and whether or not we'd purchase them again in the future. 

New Shimano Curado Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2gUWTft
New Shimano Curado Crankbait Rods: http://bit.ly/2zCjAtd
New Shimano Curado Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2ydQjbi

Stand Out Models...
7'2" Heavy- Frogs, Light Flipping
7'5" Heavy - Frogs, Flipping, pitching
7'6" Med/Hvy Moderate- Jigs, Texas Rigs, Light Flip
7'6" Heavy - Heavy Flipping, Frogging, Pitching
7'8" Medium Heavy Crankbait: Crankbaits with size 2 or larger trebles
7'2" Medium Crankbait: Size 6 or larger trebles
7'1" Medium Spinning: All-around Spinning Rod

Shimano Curado K Reel: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

High End Rods with Comparable models- Expride Series: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Price Point Rods with Comparable models- Exage Series: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Other rod options with "moderate actions"...
Dobyns Champion 765 Flip: http://bit.ly/2afyhHp
St. Croix Legend Elite 7'6" Med/Hvy Mod: http://bit.ly/2z2qdHc
St. Croix Legend Tournament 7'2" or 7'6" Moderate: http://bit.ly/2bPOSpx

Line Recommendations for various applications...
Frog and Flip- 65 lb Sufix 832: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
All-around fishing Braid- 50 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
All-around fishing fluoro- 15 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm
Crankbait Braid- 20 lb Sufix 832: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Crankbait fluoro- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm
Leader Material- Maxima Ultragreen (8-30 lb): http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Lure on the rod- Strike King 8.0: http://bit.ly/2dzeCUk
Rod Racks on the wall: http://bit.ly/2cNSBkA

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