>>2419602I've become a Whistytwig fan myself, after poring over many options. I still have small Shakespeare and Coleman rods that are like 2 decades old, and took a risk on some Hurricane Mako rods when they were on sale. They're cheap and well made, but kind of stiff. The ceramic eyelets will break off with ease, but I repaired them pretty easily. The Whistytwigs are much more sensitive, and I have had really good luck with them. I have 2 x 7 ft 2 in and 1 x 10 foot rod. The 10 footer is actually what I cast my popping corks or smaller rigs with, and it hooked me a tarpon...for 2 whole jumps before he spit the lure. I also got a bonnethead shark from the board with the 10 footer, and the 7'2"s I use with great success with topwater walkers and other heavier lures, as well as trolling. They're pretty solid for the money. 2+ years in and they're still going strong. Stainless guides are solid as well. I rinse thoroughly and then oil them before collapsing them to assure they don't snap when being collapsed, because salt and some granules of sand can make that a definite risk. I can collapse them down and get into some pretty inhospitable places as a result, while keeping them safe in my rod holders, without risk of dunking my reels by laying them flat to the board. Picrel is the rod fighting in a bluefish caught on a 3/4 oz spoon.
