need advice on my new fishing pole?

[jason grimm]

I just bought a 2pc/8' spectra series graphite composite from a company called master from big 5 sporting goods, it was build like a fly rod. I'm going to put my spin casting abu garcia cardinal 101 on it, that i have spooled with 6Ib fireline crystal. My ? is did I make a good choice on the rod!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I'm gonna make an educated guess on this one.

 

The Master rods I'm familiar with are common variations on a theme. As far as I can tell, they are currently the "house brand" of an online tackle seller. Or at least that is where I've seen them.

 

Old-hand shooters will recall the store brand, or "house" guns, of many old-name hardware and department stores in years past. Names like "Revelation" (Western Auto), "J.C.Higgins" (J.C. Penny) "Ted Williams" (Sears) and "Glenfield" (Gambles) will ring a bell. These were 'bread and butter' shootin' guns, made by the big makers, but sold at "everyday prices" under the many 'house' names.

 

I'm fairly certain the Master line falls into that sort of niche. Like almost everything these days, they are made in China and often carry other names, too. I have some telescoping poles that are the same as those sold under the "Master" name - and they carry yet another name on them. I have similar ones that carry the Shakespeare name, too, so don't be upset by that.

 

In the price point they serve, I expect they are as good as anything. For most of us, that is where we are, anyway. You have to step up to some bigger dollars to get more. Someone will always say "You get what you pay for," suggesting you should only own $$$ fishing tackle. Like I said, that may not be where you are. So you fish with what you got, or can afford.

 

As long as you don't tie into too many monster carp or stripers, you'll probably do fine using the rod for brim.

[Dennis]

Who is to say what is good or not untill you put it to the test. Personally an 8' rod seems to be overkill for BlueGill but then too you can use a really light line and have a lot of fun. Myself, I like a 5.5. to 6. med-light rod with a soft tip for gills but that is just me. Take it out and try it, if it works you did good.

[Tom Beauchamp]

Just another opinion, you don't have to spend a lot to catch fish and have a good time. I have been using a 9 ft pinnacle rod for crappie and blue gill that I paid $25 for. It has a light action yet has enough backbone to handle a large fish. I can almost feel a blue gill breath on my bait, yet landed a 40lb flat head catfish with it three years ago. It is fairly light and pairs well with a small spinning reel. It has become one of my favorite rods even though I have rods I paid a whole lot more for. The longer rod also allows you to pick your line up faster which means fewer missed fish, esp when float fishing and slack occurs in the line. The best advice is use it and see how it feels to you on the one you just bought, if you're happy with it, that's all that counts.