Brawler Rod!!!!!

[Pferox]

I saw one of these in the Bass Pro Catalogue, it was pretty cheap, and I needed a rod for one of my Pro Qualifiers. The salt is rough on the guides even when cleaning the rods every trip.  So I finally just bit the bullet and ordered one.

I have had my eye on this rod for a while now, just dragging my butt on pulling the trigger.  Every time I have been to the Bass Pro around here, they didn't have one out or around, so I couldn't even get a chance to fondle one.   

The description sounds like it is an older style ugly stick, but I'm not real sure.

Has anybody tried, one of these rods, even seen one? I'm kind of curious as to what I got myself into on this.

[bigjim5589]

Jim, after reading your post I looked them up on the BPS site. For $20 how much trouble can you get into with it? 

Never heard of them before now, but might turn out to be a good buy. I've got a couple of cheap rods that were surprisingly better than expected.

Let us know how you like it once you get the chance to try it some! 

[Pferox]

Most of my rods are pretty inexpensive, and some have been well worth more than I paid for them.

Shimano makes the FX series in rods, their spinners run from 6.5 feet to 9 feet. I can get a 7 foot medium which is sensitive enough for what I need for around $10, the longer ones still come in less than $25.  No matter what I do to those rods, they refuse to break. Of course, now that I said that I will snap every one that I own. 

I don't do much in moving baits anymore, so my style of fishing has changed a lot. Ugly Sticks origonaly sold for around $20, so I figure to rate this one in that line of rod, based on what the description is.

Which is what I'm looking for, you don't know how many times I have gone out targeting panfish for a fish fry only to hook up on to a 30 or 40lb beast. Thats why glass rods and ugly sticks are so popular around here.

After I get it, I'll give an initial review, then a more in depth one after I get back on the water, which may still be a few weeks away.  The healing process this time around is kind of slow for my tastes, but we have to do what we have to do.   

[EricPond99]

A buddy of mine has one and he likes it. It's pretty sensitive for a 20 $ rod and it's a beast in strength.

[hunter34]

I bought two of them at BPS in Orlando, and except for being slightly heaver   they fish as good as my "better" rods _ certainly worth the money , incidentaly I have never been able to justify the cost of some rods

[Pferox]

I bought two of them at BPS in Orlando, and except for being slightly heaver   they fish as good as my "better" rods _ certainly worth the money , incidentally I have never been able to justify the cost of some rods

I agree, I have broken so many rods on unanticipated huge fish that I am very gun shy about buying anything that is over $50 in a rod.  I make up for it in what I pay out for reels, although most of them are under $150.  I don't need that kind of sensitivity in the salt around here, when the fish hit, they don't play around.

[Oldfart9999]

I started by buying cheap combos, then inexpensive rods and reels, then started with BPS Bionic Blades on sale and Quatum reels. Several years ago I bought a Carbonlite rod and reel, again on sale, I fell in love with it, lite, sensitive good price. I bought a CL for dropshot and liked it so much I just bought another combo, 6'9" ML combo with their new carbonlite spinning reel, I really like it, one of my fishing buddies compares it very well to his G.Loomis dropshot outfit.
Rodney

[Pferox]

Graphite rods and piers just don't seem to mix.  When you hook on to a big fish, everybody wants to help you bring it in, most of them are so focused on the fish that the rod is put into the jeopardy of breakage, even from the gawkers that get into the way.

It is also the way I transport them in the back of my truck that doesn't help much either.  After the house is bought and then a boat is acquired, I will start using my few graphite rods I have again.  THEN we will see how long they last. 

I take care of my gear as best as I can, but transportation and other aspects of this portion of the Salt Life is sure rough on gear.

[bigjim5589]

Jim, I know what you mean, all of my surf rods are Daiwa Beefsticks, which are fiberglass, as are all of my trolling rods. They're heavy & not very sensitive, but they sure can take some abuse & I've never broken one.

I also have a couple of those Shimano FX spinning rods. 6'6" both of them. I bought them for my kids when they were younger. I think I paid about $20 for rods & reels back then & the the rods are still going strong. I've replaced the reels, but I think the rods are at least 20 years old now. 

[Pferox]

Some of those inexpensive rods are indestructible, for sure Jim.

Well, my first road trip after surgery was to pick up my rod order from Bass Pro Shops, it was an experience to say the least.

The best way I can describe the Brawler rod is that it is just like the old school Ugly Stix in red, black and white tip.  It is about the same weight, sports double footed guides, a similar reel seat.  It doesn't seem to be overly sensitive, the rod states that it is MH / Moderate, with 10 to 25lb line weight, and lure weight of 3/8 to 1 ounce, although I bet it will toss more than that like most ugly sticks can.

I put my lowest geared Pro Qualifier on it, and think it will be a good all around cut bait rod for both shore and pier, able to handle just about anything that will pickup the hook where I fish.  It seems like a very good rod for $20, more updates after I get it on the water a time or two, which hopefully will be soon.

Here are a few pictures of the rod, although I probably forgot to take enough of them.

[Pferox]

I finally got a chance to fish with this rod.

It is a 7ft MH baitcaster, Moderate action, line rated at 10 to 25lbs, lure weight 3/8 to 1 oz.

To put it bluntly, it is a great meat tossing stick.  I can see it working well catfishing, striper, or for other species where still fishing would be the norm. It is about the same weight as the old standard ugly stix. It just might work well tossing huge crankbaits or maybe even the occasional umbrella rig, but don't know for sure because I don't do those presentations.

I was throwing 1 ounce weights on it today, and it loaded up and casted well, but I feel that it can cast much more weight better than posted on the rod, although I haven't tried it yet.  I had it paired with a very low geared Pro Qualifier with 20lb Bullbuster Braid and with the stiffness of the rod and the gearing on the reel, reeling the weight back in was effortless, there were times that I thought I had actually lost the weight.

Sensitivity on this rod is more visual than tactile. Even though it is a stiff rod, the tip seems to have some sensitivity to it.  The small croakers that were hitting the bait were moving the tip enough to create a vibration of the whole rod.

Overall, I like the rod, I am going to pair it up with a Garcia 6500 C3 reel instead of the Pro Qualifier and use it for bull reds, black drum, and small sharks, which it will handle well.

Too bad they don't make a medium in this configuration, it would make a great all around fishing rod for what I would use it for, and would toss an ounce much better than it does now.