07-15-2017, 05:50 PM
Hey Chris, how ya been? Hope the bees are well.
Sportsman's carries Maxxon, which are really nice rods for the price.
With a rod- like most things- it doesn't matter what the brand is; it matters how it feels in your hands. Allen has a great reputation, but, its hard buying a rod you haven't felt first in your hands.
Technology and materials have advanced in rod making in the last 20 years, and with that has brought higher end feeling rods into more affordable price ranges. I also think one of the biggest advantages to the way rods are made now is that the consistency is a lot better. When I worked at a fly shop 20 years ago, you could pick up two of the same rods (same brand, model, wt, color), and feel a difference between them (not a lot, not all the time). My point is, that is a lot less common now.
In the end, I doubt I have been any help. I just recommend feeling the rod first. If you have a reel you plan on using, bring it and make sure it fits in the reel seat well and the balance feels good on the rod with the reel on it.
Good luck, man! Hope the fam is doing well.
Joshomaru
[signature]
Sportsman's carries Maxxon, which are really nice rods for the price.
With a rod- like most things- it doesn't matter what the brand is; it matters how it feels in your hands. Allen has a great reputation, but, its hard buying a rod you haven't felt first in your hands.
Technology and materials have advanced in rod making in the last 20 years, and with that has brought higher end feeling rods into more affordable price ranges. I also think one of the biggest advantages to the way rods are made now is that the consistency is a lot better. When I worked at a fly shop 20 years ago, you could pick up two of the same rods (same brand, model, wt, color), and feel a difference between them (not a lot, not all the time). My point is, that is a lot less common now.
In the end, I doubt I have been any help. I just recommend feeling the rod first. If you have a reel you plan on using, bring it and make sure it fits in the reel seat well and the balance feels good on the rod with the reel on it.
Good luck, man! Hope the fam is doing well.
Joshomaru
[signature]