What is the best $200 and below spinning rod?

[stingray23]

My brothers are looking for spinning rods and want to stay below $200. I need some suggestions. I was thinking St Croix Avid-X, new Loomis E6X, but dont know what else. One is gonna pair it with a stradic 2500-3000 Ci4+, the other is going with a 30 series Pflueger Patriarch. What about the Phenix M1? No clue, hope you guys can help out.

[JerryC]

If you plan on pairing it with a Stradic then take a look at the Shimano Zodias lineup..

[a1712]

Places closing out the HM-1 Cumara's at $175+-. They don't get mentioned much, but it's the Cumulus blank(painted) w/a better guide train and people will pay $300 for a Cumulus. Brian.

[cornmuse]

I'm not saying its the best under $200, but I have a 7'1" Medium OBS71M 13 Omen Fishing Black matched with a 2500 series Daiwa. I've also used a 35 Patriarch on it. Both are a good match, but I like the way the heavier Daiwa balances on this particular rig. I use it for general purpose applications with a 15lb braid. Everything from 4" wacky Senko to Rapala SR07 Shadrap. I like it better than the St Croix Mojo it replaced, but its not in the performance range of a Legend Extreme (my primary spinner). It is similar to an Avid in feel, imho. You can do a lot worse and its half the budget you specify.

Joe C.

[Chode]

maybe look for the discontinued fenwick elite tech smallmouth rod

[cndbasshunter]

Zodias matches with the CI4+ like a glove. Very light and the handle is super comfortable

[Teal101]

That looks amazing!

[stingray23]

Thanks guys. They prefer cork handles.

[Teal101]

Thanks guys. They prefer cork handles.

Elitetech Smallmouth (if you can find one) has cork and goes well with the Patriarch.

[GOOD YEAR 71]

For $200 or less, I vote Dobyns Savvy 703

[DavidSA]

Thanks guys. They prefer cork handles.

Elitetech Smallmouth (if you can find one) has cork and goes well with the Patriarch.

x2 on the Elitetech smallmouth rod. Only $100 and competes with my +$300 rods. Only Fenwick I own or have ever held. bought sight unseen. If they are all as good as this rod I don't know why they don't get more talk.

[BucketHunter]

Places closing out the HM-1 Cumara's at $175+-. They don't get mentioned much, but it's the Cumulus blank(painted) w/a better guide train and people will pay $300 for a Cumulus. Brian.

TiSic on the Cumulus and Alconite on the Cumara.
They also said the black Cumara was the same blank. Having fished both, I don't believe if for a second.
Nice rods, but not the same. I don't know if paint would make that much difference or or something else is at work, but if it's the paint, sign me up for naked blanks for life.
My 6'3" in noticeably heavier in hand and tip heavy compared to my 2 inch longer 65M Cumulus.

[a1712]

Black Cumara was IM-10 same as the black Crucial. Brian.

[BucketHunter]

Sorry that's what I meant. Same as the Crucial. I've owned all 4, and there is no comparison.
Just because it's the same material involved, doesn't mean it's the same blank. It's like the old million modulus wars. There is so much more that goes into making blank than just the grade of graphite. Scrim, construction, design of wall thickness and taper, quality control etc. Trust me, I am a Shimano fan. I am not digging on any of the lines. The only one that really failed to me was the Black Crucials. I have fished and enjoyed the rest.
Have you owned any of them? Just asking.

[a1712]

Ya, Cumulus, IM-10 Cumara, IM-9&10 Crucial, HM-1 Cumara. Still use 5 HM-1 Cumara's, I agree the Cumulus is a more sensitive rod, prob the most sensitive I've used. Brian.