Buying Fishing Rods on a Budget: What You Need to Know

Do you really need the most expensive fishing rod for every technique? Pro bass angler Justin Lucas says no! Justin provides an honest and insightful breakdown on when an affordable rod (under $100) can get the job done. Conversely, he explains when pushing your budget a little will help you catch more fish. For an upfront base of comparison, you get a lighter and increasingly sensitive rod, the more money you spend.
BASS FISHING ROD SETUPS
Topwater Baits:
● Abu Garcia Vendetta Casting Rod, 7'4" MedHvy, Moderate: wired2.fish/VendettaCastingRod
● Abu Garcia REVO MGX Casting Reel: wired2.fish/REVO-MGX-CastingReel
Moving Baits:
● Abu Garcia Veritas Casting Rod, 7'3" Heavy: wired2.fish/AbuGarciaVeritas
● Abu Garcia REVO STX Gen 4 Casting Reel: wired2.fish/REVO-STX
Bottom Contact Baits:
● Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier Casting Rod, 7' MedHvy: wired2.fish/FantasistaCastingRod
● Abu Garcia REVO MGX Casting Reel: wired2.fish/REVO-MGX-CastingReel
Lucas selects rods based on the chosen technique. There are 2 categories, 1) moving baits like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, or topwaters, and 2) bottom contact baits -- think jigs, Texas rigs, drop shot, Neko rig, or shaky head. With moving baits, bites are usually aggressive, so you're not gaining much by using an expensive, super-sensitive rod. However, with bottom techniques, a sensitive rod telegraphs details like bottom composition and helps you detect subtle and delicate bites much more effectively.
At the end of the day, we're all on a budget, and fishing doesn't need to cost a fortune. This guidance provides good direction on how to spend your hard-earned dollar.
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[@mattalan6559]

Love this video. It’s nice to hear some transparency about sponsorship “allowance.” It’s nice to know that even the top level pros are sometimes faced with hard choices. I would love to hear more guys talk about this. It makes it easier to believe in the products they endorse

[@nathanhershberger1980]

Every person out there who think pro sports (any) is about riches and unlimited money ought to watch this .

[@Wired2Fish]

Couldn't agree with you more Matt. Justin has always been an honest and straightforward educator/communicator. Thanks for taking the time to tune in.

[@JustinLucasFishing]

Thank you Matt!

[@madd3237]

Thanks a ton matt I'm a young angler and love watching your guys is vids wired 2 fish best tip giving channel on youtube!!! Keep up the good work love seeing new ones come in!

[@RhinoJoeOutdoors]

Love this transparency. Love the strategy on spending more money for finesse technique rods. The berkley lightning shock rods and vendetta rods are great moving bait rods.

[@waynelagarde7956]

Love the transparency on this subject. Great video.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ebenwicks7054]

Great video! Nothing I can say that everyone else hasn't said. Great mindset for rod selection. Admittedly I used to be the guy that bought expensive rods for every application and fishing technique. But you don't need to and this is a great video explaining that. Best advice for young, old, and competitive anglers alike. Thank you for such a transparent video and for the great advice. Keep it up!

[@MaximilianTheBassFisherman]

Great content and perfect timing!!

[@gregoryburris6374]

Great content! I'm shopping for rods soon. Ty

[@northeastpac-man7652]

I completely agree about the Vendetta being a great top water rod, I have the 7’6 H for frogging and topwaters amd I love it

[@braydenjohnson8120]

I’ve broke a vendetta 3 times with top water

[@mikek3638]

This was refreshing to hear. Thanks Wired2Fish and Justin Lucas! Watching Live, I heard him, at a tournament this year, say that he loves the Veritas Medium rod for jerkbaits. He was having a lot of success using the Berkley Stunna and the Veritas rod catching fish on jerkbaits. Nice to get a little transparency from the pros!

[@todd3737]

WOW! What a fantastic "truthful" video JL. Huge insight on how things actually work in your world. AWESOME!!!

[@Wired2Fish]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jamesbarron1202]

Guides are one of the main things I look at in a rod. A rod that doesn't give any information on what brand the guides are I stay away from. I've got a stack of BPS rods I need to tie new guides on because they've lost the inserts. Live and learn.

[@q4life551]

Great break down!

[@johngullotta3987]

This might be the best breakdown of why and how to get into budgeting for rods and WHY! I love this video.

[@Wired2Fish]

Appreciate the comment John and seeing the content value here despite Justin being an Abu pro. He was very honest and clear about this.

[@johngullotta3987]

@@Wired2Fish yes, the content!! Replace Abu Garcia with "you're own brand preference" and now I will be rethinking my skeet reese/diawa aird setups!! More to tinker with! Thanks a lot.🤯

[@BOOTEDUPFLORIDAOUTDOORS]

Just got the Abu garcia veritas for froggin, heavy power extra fast action. Lookin forward to using it. Next rod I was looking at was the vendetta, specifically for the same purpose you use yours for, crankbaits and topwater, a medium power moderate action

[@bartgrider6895]

Awesome video

[@nybbhUSA]

One of my favorite fisherman, telling it how it is.

[@Trevlee74]

Appreciate the honesty.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks for the comment Trevor.

[@dougryker5458]

Thanks so much....I'm tired of seeing people telling that me I have to have 15 different rods for these simple applications!! Moving and sensitivity...I like your approach..

[@justgoofingoff]

It's great to hear a pro talk about price point. 75% of my rods are in that $100+/- range. Like he said, i do have the $$$ in rods where you want that sensitivity.

[@pine0981]

Good point!

[@braydenjohnson8120]

How have you had good luck with the vendetta i got one and got the warranty ive broke 3 on fish with a top water

[@jakarvishouston1429]

Amazing video

[@Wired2Fish]

Appreciate it, thanks for tuning in.

[@dagobertojimenez298]

Thanks very much

[@willtrax71]

You are still given an Allowance and given yes lol but truly enjoyed the video.. Semper Fidelis

[@caliyak_fishing]

Lews SG1 Laser is a great $50 rod. The old shock rods from Berkley were great.

[@bassnazi4713]

You can still get the lightning shock rods that aren't bad, guides are made more to hold up to braid and seem good. I only got the one I tried for like 80% off lol, so may be biased.

[@ivanradi4275]

Excellent, a lot of people should take an example of impartiality and honesty. Crystal Clear.

[@Wired2Fish]

Right on, he didn't hide the fact that he was sponsored by Abu, but provides the criteria on rod selection that can be extended to any brand a person is interested in. 6 rods on his deck that are < $100 is pretty cool.

[@baccoff3308]

Nice Fishing Poles!

[@noo123]

just snapped my abu garcia veritas 7 foot two medium heavy throwing a 2.2 ounce lure, the rod was previously cracked, but still stinks

[@shawnjohnson1693]

Just lost my ABU Garcia Vendetta VDTC63-5 in a kayak tip over this week. I am searching the internet over trying to find on anywhere, but they discontinued that model. I was my absolute favorite casting rod I owned, and I am throwing lines out everywhere I can to see if anyone know where I can get my hands on one again. I lost my phone, wallet and truck keys along with 2 other casting rods, and losing this rod was the hardest hit to me. Wired2Fish, or anyone on this comment section let me know if anyone has anything haha.

[@email16v]

shopping for rods...abu rods it is! Thanks!

[@luckylucky9006]

What the average Joe really wants is a rod that will handle any kinda baits as well as any size & any kinda fish without the rod breaking on us.. and outta all these vids on rods I have yet heard anyone give us that information oh and at a descent price.. and to be honest the only ones that have come close to giving us such info and product is the googan rods.. with that said I have also seen a googan rod break on KZbin. Becca has broken one of hers fishing off a bridge I don't know if that video is still up tho...

[@TheRabbit91476]

That particular vendetta doesn’t even show o. Their website any more

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks for the heads up. Must be discontinued. Not uncommon with some product lines. This video was filmed back in 2020.

[@rizalariffanani2751]

Always , ☝

[@BassNinja]

Abu garcia black max cant go wrong and cheap im7 rods

[@MRbassmasterman]

👍👍

[@kimmower6196]

Yesterday I bought a abu garica virtual 7 foot medium I got home put my shimano curado on it casted about 8 or 10 times with a 3 oz. weight went to go back in the shop gave the line a couple of tugs and the rod broke at the 4th or 5th eyelet not very happy person I'm 70 years young fished with a lot of different rods over the years and still have them yet today but I wanted a new one this year for a change that's not going to happen I ll be looking for a different brand sorry abu garica

[@efrainsandoval6480]

Yessir

[@davidbeaver9782]

Vendetta s are killer rods

[@zacpearson1878]

If you need a lighter flippin stick the duckett Silverado is great

[@dmillz23]

Under 100$ the rods seem too heavy. I stay in the 100-200$ range. I fish dobyns fury and Sierra series rods.

[@jimwarden9617]

$600 sensitive combo...wow...just wow.

[@birb3878]

In my country the butget fishing rods are about less than 50 dollar 🤣🤣🤣

[@fresnobassn744]

👏👏👏👏👍

[@geraldbalciarjr651]

Made me think I am spending to much on rods.

[@rodrigoelgu]

if you have the money why not not if you dont have it thats a diffretent story.

[@patrickwhitby5561]

Just a Garcia commercial

[@guerrillabassin6598]

Well... he is sponsored by Abu Garcia lol

[@patrickwhitby5561]

Obviously.

[@fauzanfishing2404]

👍👍👍🖐️🤙🤙

[@chadd5616]

I mean yea of you only buy abu Garcia. Tactical bassin’s budget video is much better

[@garywest2250]

Ain't no way I'm taking cheap rod advice from Lucas.

[@BlackMamba-lt8oe]

$100 rod $50,000 boat 😂😂😂😂

[@timmyjimmy593]

Do to inflation.. his "under 100$ rods" are now 200$ lol

[@jasonwalk4257]

$70-$100 isn't entry level, sorry to say. Not even for baitcasting rods.

[@tomacheteful]

Still a plug for your sponsor though.. way better rods from other brands under 100

[@Powerpickle68]

If you were sponsored, you would give a plug too. That is reality.

[@Bacnow]

@@Powerpickle68 - Yeah, give a nod to your sponsor, but you have to mention other rods within that price range in order to appear impartial! If not, then you lose credibility and come off as a corporate shill! As Tom suggested, there are many brands in that price range that are better!

[@nicocua3118]

Jesus is the way the truth and the life!!!!

[@christianchandler6973]

AMEN!!

[@sstanforddpt]

PTL

[@therecipe2367]

Amen 😊

[@tre_tha_beast6848]

Amen 🙏🏽

[@texczechbohunk2143]

Ugh.., buy abu… git it

[@thedrizzle6]

Literally doesnt recommend a single rod. Lol

[@H8er-Maker]

The more money you spend, the more feedback the rod is gonna give you.

[@fishingangler4315]

These guys don't know jack. Buy Berkley lightning rods and cherrywood. Can't beat em!

[@8.21productions9]

so this is basically an abu garcia ad. no thnx.

[@Wired2Fish]

No, it's not. There's solid info to extract regardless of rod and reel you choose to buy. His points: 1) don't need to spend a fortune on rods for moving baits. This bucks the trend of thinking you need super high-end sensitive sticks for all applications. As Lucas noted, he usually has around 6 rods that are < $100 on his deck. And 2) if you're gonna spend the money on a rod, do it for you bottom contact applications. He was very honest and transparent about his Abu being a sponsor, but a person seeking knowledge should be able to easily decipher these points (as indicated by most of the comments).

[@alias1180]

Buy whatever brands you like and they have the same price range vs quality option unless you got plenty of money to spend. This is just an honest & informative guideline in my opinion.