Anyone try one of those fancy new Carrot Stick rods? Does anyone know someone who purchased a Carrot Stick rod?
I was thinking of buying a 6'8" MH Carrot Stick for pitchin' (I don't really don't do any flippin, and my pitchin' is at best, so-so). However, this year, I really want to master the pitch and assemble a rod that I will use for just that.
I've seen good and not-so-good comments on the Carrot Sticks. Best thing would be to try one, they're hot right now and if you don't like it I'm sure you could sell it easily. I have no personal experience. I do not prefer the split handle either, I have tried that. As for the ORANGE color - not for me. Examples:
http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=267343
http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=266321
The above are pretty recent. I can tell you that the other rod brand mentioned is very good. I don't use the particular model mentioned - again I don't like the split handle - but I use a couple of their other models with full cork handles and am very happy with them.
Final note: for pitchin' or flippin', a longer rod is better. Around here I like a 7'-0" rod. If I was doing it a lot in heavy grass, I'd move up to a 7'-6" rod. Longer rod gives you a better arc for swinging a bait and more leverage on a fish. You'll want a rod with a fast tip and good backbone in a MH to H depending upon which manufacturer you choose.
The Carrot stick is just another fad to hook your $$$$$.
lot of good rods out there, Falcon, St Croix, Loomis IMX, .
Falcon lowriders are a real good Value, 125/150 range, one of the best bangs for the buck in the mid priced rod market.
Listen to Bruce on the Flipping stick....Pitching you can use a 6' 6" comfortably........unless you are only 5' tall LOL.
I take a different approach W2BF...buy cheaper brands and upgrade as I become better and can master a techniuqe, getting the most out of a rod's intended usage.
In my mind, you dont need a 200 rod to catch fish...you might need $200 worth of lures though :)
Dan, I would disagree. As one who has gone that route, I have spent a LOT more money on my equipment through upgrades. If I had it to do over again - I'd buy as good stuff as my budget allowed, the first time. Even if that meant only a couple rods and reels each year. Good stuff lasts a long time, but I will not dispute your point about needing expensive equipment to catch fish - certainly you do not. Good stuff may make it a bit easier and less tiring, but you can catch fish with a Snoopy rod from WalMart. Being members of a Club like ours affords an EXCELLENT opportunity to get a good look at the various brands, grades, etc of rods and reels. I've said it before and I believe most of the other guys will agree - that if you're fishing with me for fun or pre-fishing a tournament you're welcome to try anything in my rod locker to form your own opinions. I won't let you during a tournament - but any other time - you just have to ask.
Maybe I should have stated that differently...I too agree with buying the best your budget will allow, and for me that means the $50-80 rod deals. But, that can buy some nice stuff if you are a deal shopper :).
I will state that I have become a FIRM believer in you usually get what you pay for with reels, especially baitcasting reels. I bought a $70 Cabelas Prodigy for my first reel, and I do not know if I will use it for more than another season or two. When I bought the higher end, but not top end Quantum Accurist PT, my confidence and ability with a Baitcaster went through the roof...and I believe the Tournament PTs and Energy PTs are the same situation.
Anything above $300 for a reel though, my personal jury hasn't yet seen that case :)
i thought about picking up a carrot stick when they came out just so i could have a rod that matched my hair color.
if i had the money floatin around, i'd have no reservations about buying/trying one.
the guy behind the rods is ken whiting. he was the president of airrus rods until he went over to e21 to do the carrot thing.
he is a stand up dude, and seems to know his stuff. he walked me through buying a choosing a few of his rods over the phone last year (airrus). he then accidentally shipped me out the wrong rod. instead of having me send it back, he said "keep it," and sent me out the correct rod.
this doesn't really say much about the quality of the rods, but it says something about how much he cares about his customers. generally, when someone puts this kind of care into his customers, he'll put the same kind of care into his product. i would guess that he would put the same care into his new project at e21.
one of the four airrus rods i have is a 6'8 ultra xl. its my trigged creature and trigged tube pitcher and i love it. for jigs, which are usually 1/2 ounce, i use a 7ft mh st.croix avid. its got a little more backbone than the airrus and i love it too.
don't know if the carrot sticks are anything like any of his airrus rods, but the guy behind them definitely knows a thing or two about rod making.