I am fairly new in this wonderful would of competitive bass fishing. I have moderately priced gear. I am wondering are the expensive rods worth it? What are the advantages? I can't see buying a rod for over $100 yet when I can't tell the difference between it and one half its price. I guess that will come with time. Thanks for the help!

lighter, stouter, more durable, yes, there is a differance. i will say there is not much diff in a 350 dollar rod and a 400 dollar rod. use what you are confident useing.

Yes there is a big difference I was like you at one time and glad I changed.

Typical "higher end" rods have more specialty rods for special applications. This is where they really "out-doo" the generic rods. Spinnerbait Rods, Carolina Rig Rods, Finesse, Drop Shot, Fluke, Pitching all have a special place (like tools). But you can still do good with inexpensive (NOT Cheap!!!) quality namebrand rods.

There is a difference for sure... The more expensive rods are lighter more sensitive and have better guides. You will notice the differences once you start fishing with them. If you want to test the waters on a higher priced rod, I would get one that you will use the most. A 7' MH would be a good place to start.

Yes there is a big differiance. The biggest plus to me is sensitivity and lighter weight. Do you need them is another question. For some techniques like flipping or t-rigging it makes a bigger differiance then maybe throwing a spinner bait.

What is the entry level price on a high end rod? All the rods I have now are under $50.

I have a couple of low end rods! 49.95 Abu Garcia blac max combos, I recently bought a couple of duckett rods, $125 each and paired with Revo SX's and I can definitely tell the difference between the two!

I will never buy a low end combo again!

About $175-$200 will buy you a good entry level high end rod. Or just let txninja build you one and show up all the guys with the rods twice it's price.

I love my shimano cumaras...the 7'2" MH fast action.

I also have some nice falcons and a couple of gloomis. Cheap rods pretty much suck unless you want to have an ugly stick for catfishing.

I do wish I could feel the bite better....

Better than a rod for feeling a bite is using braid.

You can find a lot of good options at that $150 range.

I just bought the new shimano crucial (same technology as last years cumara) - and I love it - I swear to you with floro I can feel the claws on my jig trailer flapping when I swim it... and it's so light I guarantee I am making twice the number of casts with that jig in a day.

Kistler Zbone and you are hooked for life