I have had my Googan Go To rod gold series since March and love it. I have thrown spinner baits, texas rigs, underspins, etc. great feel in hand, loads up nice, has good sensitivity, and is pretty light. Plus I fish mine mainly out of a kayak and have no issues with hook sets.
I know many cut the hook keeper off of their rods no matter where they are and just store the hooks in the bait sacks or get a Fuji EZ Keeper. LOVE those things! The new Daiwa Steez AGS left the keeper off completely and gives you one you can attach wherever you like. Great assessment on the rod, fair and accurate. If anything, they gave their fans and shoppers at Karls a good rod at a good price. Not sure why many would care as much about the line/weight rating being on the rod. If you are shopping online, you're gonna look it up...
TJ you have always kept it real when its come to the Googans, but I myshelf will never have anything to do with the Googan Squad and thats just me I have never liked the Googans period, I will spend my money on other rods and fishing tackle thank you for the vid
I couldn't agree more. I won't buy a rod if it doesn't display the lure/line ratings. I find this especially important on my inshore rods...where you may have a range of 1/2-3oz. Same rod with a different power can be 1/4-1.5oz. And I refuse to give that gang a cent of my money. Thanks TJ!
@@mr.altricebell8299 Lol compared to other companies that have won more than just a "few" The difference is they aren't out there trying to rip off children
Literally have never paid attention to those ratings and have never had a problem...with that being said I am experienced enough not to have an 1 oz punching set up on a med light. I have exceeded or undercut those ratings by a relatively decent amount with no issues.
I own 3 of them. I really like them. But they keep breaking. Had finesse light rod 10 lb line, break on a 2 pounder. And the mh/f (go-to) break on a one pounder. Drag was set just fine. So I honestly would never buy one again. But they keep replacing them so I guess I can’t complain that much. But still. There is something cheap about them although they are very sensitive and feel great. And yes the hook keeper is a mother!
I personally love my gold series. Plus I only paid $100 from tackle direct. Love how the reel seat ratchet’s tight, love the feel, the weight. Imo for the money you can’t go wrong. I paired my go to with a scorpion dc. Looks killer and gets the job done
Line/Lure rating is extremely important as it’s the best way to gauge the power of the rod. As you stated not all MH are created equally because there isn’t an industry standard.
I agree with everything you had to say really , I have the reaction rod and love it . I pitch small jigs with it and the line has got hung on the hook keeper a few times . the lure weight isn't so much an issue for me as I tend to go light anyway but I can see where it would cause issues for some
Been switching between the megabass mad bull & tequila, but I’m always going back to my kastking speed demon rod. It’s survived countless wars with ceiling fans.
Let's be honest here- they didn't put the weight specs on because the are trying to at least push you toward buying their stupid box- this is the very type of underhanded bs that makes so many anglers hate the Goober Squad. I'm sure it's a sufficient medium heavy rod- not saying it isn't- but I'm never buying from a company that does things like this. The Goober Squad is going to learn that you might catch 15 year old kids and beginners with your little personality cult- and once you do you can trick them and use them out of every dime in their pocket- but you'll never win serious anglers, their money, or their respect doing things like this. I just bought a rod for 150 bucks- it's the 13 fishing Omen Black- extra fast action- and it has the best tip for soft jerkbait fishing I've ever seen in my life- or for stroking a jig or chatter bait through vegetation. You're right- generally speaking there's not much to separate one 150 rod from the next- but every once and a while you get lucky and find a gem like this that's technique specific (by accident) and still only runs 150 dollars. You just have to know what you're looking for, ignore brand names and trends, and be patient. I also picked up a Powell Inferno moderate/fast medium 6' 10" hard jerkbait rod- also 150 dollars. It took me years to stumble across a general purpose rod like this that just happened to have the right qualities to be a true jerkbait rod- but I found it. Moderate enough to pin the fish, but fast enough to work the bait efficiently. These gems are out there but- you have to be patient, know the exact qualities you're looking for- and don't buy until you find them.
@@stoneysdead689 Yes sir! The TCS line has more of a moderate action. The EVX and SX are faster actions. They have others, but those are the main series that I use.
@@TackleJunky81 I'm looking for a heavy mod/fast action for heavier chatter baits, moderate sized swim baits, etc. - any of the heavier moving baits. Plus if I'm in open water and not around cover I like a mod/fast for a jig rod. I'm definitely going to check out that TCS line- thanks or the heads up.
That’s strange that a Rod at that Price Point doesn’t have the Lure/Line Specs printed. I’m a tiny Budget Guy and checked my 28 dollar 7’3” Akataka MH and it has the Lure and Line recommendations printed. I will say the Akataka Rods are great for my Fishing needs, great action and especially the price. The 7’6” Heavy one piece I grabbed for 32 bucks just for heavy Topwater Frogs lol and it’s insane nice with a little flex but plenty of backbone. Man 150 bucks for just a Rod Blank lol wow. Stay safe my Friend Semper Fidelis
Nah, the “style” matters. Any of the “fold back” styles in front of the reel are problematic. I actually cut them off because of the very issue you described. The best design I’ve seen is a simple “D” type, sometimes a bit square, that is tied inline with the rod on both ends. There’s no open “hook” for the line to catch on. And another thing, if that line does get caught behind, and you don’t notice and reel a bit, it can abrade the line and cause weak spots that can and will come back to haunt you when it counts.
I’ve owned almost every top end rod in the bass fishing market. Megabass Evoluzion, Loomis NRX and NRX+ to the new Megabass P5s including some Diawa stuff (BLX and AGS Steez) honestly it’s all personal preference. I love the top end of the market do to the weight of the rods and the crisp actions. Sensitivity is so subjective on all rods and honestly it’s all in the line you use IMO.
I completely agree, that it is critical to have line specs and lure specs labelled on a rod blank! I even prefer to see the power in relation to a number. For example, a Medium Heavy may be a 3 power or may be a 4 power, and it is very important information to know.
I wish more US vendors would adopt the line keepers that come on UK carp rods. They’re kinda hard to describe if you’ve never seen one, but they remind me of the clip on a ball point pen’s cap. The main difference is it’s designed to hold the line around the hook not the hook. Itself.
Just to be clear. Line clips on a carp rod are meant to be used in conjunction with a bite alarm and/or open bail. I’ve just blundered my way into using them as a hook keeper too.
@@TackleJunky81 Don’t get me wrong, it’s not ideal for every situation or every lure. In fact for the long hauls to-or-from the car I would still use a lure wrap of some kind. And I know carpin’ isn’t bassin’ but whenever I get my line caught in the hook keeper pitching and flipping I think “this would never happen on that style clip” and wonder if I could install one DIY.
First googan rod (green "go-to") tube showed up empty. Shop Karl's came straight and replacement was sent. It came in with a damaged tip. Refunded my money and I just cut the end eye off at the second. Rod broke on a 4lber a week later. I wanted to like it....I really did. Won't get another.
I personally will not be buying another. Mine fell apart after only a few hours of fishing on my bass boat... not even beating it on the bank lol I get it, defects happen but catchco will not get back with me about the warranty after at least 10 emails with photos... I was excited about the rod but yeah... I personally would spend an extra $50 and get a diawa rebellion series rod or a megabass levante rod (extra $100 for the megabass one now after they redid that line) they're lighter, feel better, and look amazing
The same thing with the hook keeper happens on my Lews TP 1. An easy fix is to just put the hook keeper on the other side of the blank/“underneath” the rod
Lews reels solved my hook keeper issues! I personally don’t like the hook keepers behind the reel and on the bottom because 70% of my rods sit on the deck and I don’t like smashing my baits or hooks getting caught up in the carpet. I love the speed keeper on Lew’s reels. If you are worried about line getting caught in it you can flip it back with one finger and no possible hang ups. Definitely all personal preference but that’s become my go to. I would solve that issue with a Fuji hook keeper and butt up the rubber bands just behind that hook keeper so your line can’t get caught in there
I had a buddy let me try 3 of his Googan rods for a few weeks, and no way are they better than any 100 dollar rods. The Dobyns Fury and Shimano SLX are fifty bucks cheaper and way better. I thought the Googan rods are terrible. I even think the 13fishing Omen is better. The Googan rod should be around 80 to 100 bucks, your just paying an extra 50 bucks for the name.
I think the hook keeper is too small, that’s my only complaint. You can’t just put a hook through it you have to kinda clip it in, which is fine it’s just annoying sometimes
I had two Gold series rods and I was wondering if I was the only one running into the issue with the line getting caught in the hook keeper. I ended up selling them both because that just was not good to me. The rod feels good and they are good but I think they are attempting to cater to the NEW fisher.
@@uurdawg8174 definitely not putting hooks on my reals to just scratch them all to hell. Never been into that. Like I said there are better rods out there for the money.
@@OutdoorsWithMarshall really I mean it’s gonna get worn out any ways just like us reels get old I have a metanium and I hook mine up right there it’s not a Chid it’s a reel lol but not hate your opinion is valid
I bought 2 g rods for 85 each and would say they are the best rods i have ever bought 1 is a $230 and other is $250 the person i bought it from is geting them out the door he is tierd of working with the dealer
I don't like line keepers.. I don't like em on my rods, I don't like em on my reels.. one of the first things I do with a spinning reel is pull the screw and/or cut the damn thing off... LPBC rods? they get the file treatment...
Totally agree with you completely wrong place to put a hook hanger, I had the same problem with my Kastking rod. Keep up the great work.👍👍👍 Nigel ( Chicago )
I bought a couple of them... I like them but I've been a 13 guy for so long I can't switch over. Love my 13 rigs. But these rods I don't think deserve the crap they get because of the Googan name. They're decent.
Great examples of the Googan rods. Jim, you gave two important reasons why not to buy their rods. There plenty of manufacturers in $120 price point or less that will not have their line get stuck behind hook keeper. No Googan for me thanks.
I didn't care for their "system", lack of ratings and Googan has been hit and miss for me bait wise so far. Not trying to bash em' just not completely sold on them, I'm open to good products that do the job I need done that works for me. Drooled over rods for a few months with a price point, length, certain action in mind and with what's available I'm giving a Bass X a try and it should be here tomorrow...
That would be incredibly annoying when your pitching. Could cost you a nice fish as well. The no weight and line specs is very annoying to me. Just because they should know the specs for each rod they sell and it should be on the rod for guys that are looking for a rod with certain specs. I myself am guilty of not being a googan fan, they just aren't my cup of tea. But there baits are good, and like you said that shouldn't affect you using their baits cause liking or not liking the googans has nothing to do with it. Good video TJ81
I had a feeling that's what you were eluding to. I had some of the old No.8 Black Out rods and they had the same keeper. Made me want to tear my hair out, so I removed it.
Seems to be a common problem with many front hook keepers on rods. I have several from other companies that catch the line just like this one. I'm seriously thinking about cutting them off and carefully filing them smooth to the blank.
Great bud TJ, off topic, what spinning rod do you recommend for small-medium crankbaits? Do a lot of night fishing cranks, can’t use casting rods because of the dark and close quarters but I’m having a lot of fish shake me off lately. I’m guessing it’s the rod. Thanks!!!
@@TackleJunky81 I appreciate the suggestion!!! I looked at those rods but they have a fast action tip. Looking for a medium power moderate action spinning. Kinda hard to find. I’d love to hear if you have used any with those specs. As always, love the Videos.
@@jefflovinfishin621 They are 6'8" but if you look on the Okuma website they have a MF/F action. I'm not home to look at the moment, but the one I have is even labeled Shad Rap I believe and that's what I use it for.
@@TackleJunky81 oh I definitely believe you, I’m sure they are a good rod. I’m just personally looking for a medium power moderate action spinning. I found the St Croix Legend Glass crankbait spinning. It’s a 6’ 10” medium/moderate but not sure I wanna drop $280 on a spinning rod lol. So I figured what better guy to ask than the Tackle Junky himself if he knew of any other rods with those specs lol. Hopefully you are out fishing, I got a few pigs this morning. Thanks again for the responses!
@@jefflovinfishin621 yeah, I'm not a big spinning rod guy. The one I mentioned is the only one I have used for treble hook baits. Glad to hear you got on a few good ones. We were down on Table Rock just boating...driving home now.
Well I got the green go to rod & haven't had any issue other than I haven't caught any bass on it yet, 🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ however I did catch 3pike ranging from a pound up to 3.5 pounds just 4 day ago..
Almost every rod review someone has an issue with the hook keeper. it's all personal preference on where you like the keeper to be located. All companies should just start doing like the new Diawa STEEZ rod and put a hook keeper that you can move wherever you want. Or even take it off if you don't like to use them.
buy used reels from local tackle shop for nice and cheap but bomb reels, buy 20 dollar pole from walmart they are just as good if not better and can buy 5 or more for the price of 1. also all the expensive poles are a lot easier to break if you horse them around on snags. i think those specs are only important if you are new to fishing. if you fish for a year total fishing time. then you should be familiar with what rods are for what baits. to me anyways. i can use 1 rod for every bait. a medium i can use for almost everything. a ultralight for super small. and a heavy for big swimbaits or throwing heavy weeds. specs dont mean much anyways. they can all hold heavier and lighter line then they advertise and can all throw smaller and bigger baits then advertised. but there is limits to what you want to put up with. casting a super light bait ona heavy set up cant cast that far. casting a heavy bait on a lighter set up your pole is bent like you have fish on and its just the bait. so a pain to reel in. ect. but you can technically still do it.
Great info. I’ve got a Berkeley rod with the line keeper in an awkward position and it snags all the time. I watch out for this now so goo to know here. Thanks man!
Tried out my friend's Googan rod and came to the conclusion that anyone who fishes it over a Loomis, Megabass or a Dobyns is either a shill for them or enjoys the challenge of using subpar junk.
I aggressively agree happens all the time especially Texas rigging omg I though I was the only one I hate that it mad annoying wat I’m end up doing just pushing that hook holder inside hit it down it wouldn’t get hooked ever again
I think they intend people to use Googan baits with the rods gold or green series.. If you only use Googan then who cares about lure/line ratings. Great video.. Thanks for the input. 🎣🇺🇸🎣
Awesome Vid 🤘🤘🤘 I do prefer the line n weight recommendation on the rods it does help out. Hook keepers that gets ur line stuck like that is annoying IMO but I try to push it down if it lets me n use the Calcoast Cali clips 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
I own some highend rods such as nrx, conquest, megabass destroyers, ect and honestly any rod over 150 is good enough. A $600 rod is not much better than a $150. Its just the hype and name your buying into.
Tbh, I won't buy a rod that is more than $50. I caught a lot of fish on cheap rods. I do a lot of pan fishing, bass, and cat fish, so I use all open face. The specs don't matter to me. All that matters to me is feel in my hand and price. Thanks for the video.
I enjoyed all aspects of the video, aside from the COMPLETELY unnecessary, misleading, and untruthful click-bait name. If you've got something to say, then let your reviewing reputation speak for you, instead of putting out a blatant lie in the video title for the purpose of getting views. I totally dig your style of reviewing, but I'm not gonna click on any more of your videos. Life's too short for me to have to say: "Fool me twice, shame on me" for clicking another click-bait title. PLEASE stop doing that stuff. ONE comment about not liking the hook keeper DOESN'T line up with your video title and photo. C'mon, man... p.s. Besides, just get some needle nose pliers and carefully bend the bottom of the hook keeper upward until it is parallel to the rod blank. TA-DA! Now it's like all the GOOD hook keepers on G Loomis, CastAway, and other rods. See? I didn't have to make a misleading title. Just a simple piece of advice to fix the one annoying thing about the rod. Imagine that!
@@TackleJunky81Thanks for the reply, and if I came across as offensive, then my apologies. I was frustrated at not hearing some good critiquing of the product instead of only near-universal praise. There has to be something bad about literally every product, and I wish more people would point out the shortcomings. Basically 99.9% of rods on the market are light and sensitive, so I want to know what makes a specific rod stand out for good OR bad reasons. And I agree that a bad hook keeper is absolutely infuriating (like Dobyns rods).
That's a pretty big design flaw for a rod that would cause problems for typical usage for rod of that style, so how can it be recommended as a good choice given that design flaw??
@@TackleJunky81 I love ya man, but spend $150+ on a rod and then have to cut off a design flaw to make the rod more functional ? With so many other rods available in the category that don't require any post purchase modification, why recommend this rod?? Honestly I am just curious, as you're typically a very pragmatic and conservative buyer of gear and you have no problem saying no go on equipment that doesn't meet the grade.
@@nawinchester I think you're looking a bit to far in to this. The rod itself is good for the price and I do recommend it. Check out my review on the Kistler Helium that I just did. That rod is awesome, but they have the wrong keeper on that rod as well and like I say in that review if anyone is going to complain about something on a rod most likely it'll be a hook keeper. It'll work for some depending on how they are using that particular rod. The wrong style hook keeper doesn't make a rod trash.
Been fishing tournaments for 5 years been bass fishing my whole life. I disagree with the weight rating. I don't look at it one bit. I know what I throw on my 744 rods and so on. I don't own any googan rods and probably won't ever. I only use dobyns rods. Do you look at the weight rating before you buy a rod? Guess I just know the limits from past experiences 😂
I'm honestly not a fan of the googans themselves but as for their products that mostly are made through Karl's to my knowledge atleast are truly not bad lures my issue i have honestly is all the logos is just unnecessary imo. But as for quality with both soft and hard baits I've been happy with the stuff I've purchased and used. And honestly yeah people trash the products but you can't sit and say they don't catch nice fish because truth is they do period. I haven't ordered one of their rods honestly because one to many logos and two they just don't appeal to me and that's all. All my rods have that hook hanger below the handle and I've never had an issue either. It being above the rod is definitely a bad design.
Love the videos man. For the 150 dollar range I gotta say my doomsday rods are my favorite. Find myself reaching for my doomsday over my mojo's and bass x rods.
Honestly I don't think Boyd is capable of delivering the best of anything. I think giving the customer a good quality product, at a honest and fair price is against his very DNA. Gary Dobbyns will give you a truly quality product at a fair price, Boyd is going to copy the highest quality product he can find, cheapen it up in his many unnoticeable ways as he can and sell it back to you at a premium. Just my opinion tho.
@@shannonkirby9295 I personally don't have an issue with them, but to be honest I'm sure a part of it with other youtubers is jealousy. Love em or hate em they put in the work to get where they are.
I have to say this about the rods. They come in good batches. I've owned several. The warranty is outstanding. If you have any issues they will handle them quickly.
i personally do agree with you on the hook keeper cause i cant began to tell you how many i;d get home and my pole be caught up in the car fabric. which if you dont mind the cost you can get the bass pro shop hook keeper so yu dont get caught up in the car fabric. Lews and ugly stik GX2 have the best hook keepers they are above and on the bottom let me breakit down. if youre like me and gonna throw out a hot dog on a Texas rig on a J hook and cast out and let it set on the bottom then UGLY STIK GX2 has the best hook keeper for that situation , if youre like me or tackle junky and youre gonna be throwing out jigs zoom yum berkley PB spinner baits buzzkill baits then to be honest lews or the other brands have the best hook keeper granted that they are on the bottom of the rod. I say this because i do a lot of catfishing and the hook keeper on the ugly stik best acommadates me and i also do bass fishing so lew's having their hook keeper on the bottom best accommadates me as well.
Much better rod choices out there like the Dobyns Fury casting and spinning rods at $119. I believe the Googan products are over hyped and over priced.
I've tried numerous Googan products and have just not been impressed. All rheir baits (sift, harf and other) just don't last and have sub-par components. I refuse to spend another dime on anything from that company.
That’a exactly what bothered me. I sold em all. I was out on the water in a hot bite and became confused trying to change out lures. Don’t need that extra stress. Great video.
I have had my Googan Go To rod gold series since March and love it. I have thrown spinner baits, texas rigs, underspins, etc. great feel in hand, loads up nice, has good sensitivity, and is pretty light. Plus I fish mine mainly out of a kayak and have no issues with hook sets.
Yes sir, solid rod! 👊💪
Dang I’ve had 2 gold series break on me now. Never buying their rod again
It doesn't matter where you put a hook keeper someone is going to gripe about it. If the hook is below the reel it may not fit in a rod holder
I like it below but Idk were it is as long as I got one
I know many cut the hook keeper off of their rods no matter where they are and just store the hooks in the bait sacks or get a Fuji EZ Keeper. LOVE those things! The new Daiwa Steez AGS left the keeper off completely and gives you one you can attach wherever you like. Great assessment on the rod, fair and accurate. If anything, they gave their fans and shoppers at Karls a good rod at a good price. Not sure why many would care as much about the line/weight rating being on the rod. If you are shopping online, you're gonna look it up...
That's a great idea from Daiwa. It really is a solid rod. My complaints have nothing to do with how it performed. Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
TJ you have always kept it real when its come to the Googans, but I myshelf will never have anything to do with the Googan Squad and thats just me I have never liked the Googans period, I will spend my money on other rods and fishing tackle thank you for the vid
I understand brother and I really appreciate you checking out the video. 👊
I couldn't agree more. I won't buy a rod if it doesn't display the lure/line ratings. I find this especially important on my inshore rods...where you may have a range of 1/2-3oz. Same rod with a different power can be 1/4-1.5oz. And I refuse to give that gang a cent of my money. Thanks TJ!
Those googan baits done won a few tournaments this year!
Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
@@mr.altricebell8299
Lol compared to other companies that have won more than just a "few"
The difference is they aren't out there trying to rip off children
Literally have never paid attention to those ratings and have never had a problem...with that being said I am experienced enough not to have an 1 oz punching set up on a med light. I have exceeded or undercut those ratings by a relatively decent amount with no issues.
I own 3 of them. I really like them. But they keep breaking. Had finesse light rod 10 lb line, break on a 2 pounder. And the mh/f (go-to) break on a one pounder. Drag was set just fine. So I honestly would never buy one again. But they keep replacing them so I guess I can’t complain that much. But still. There is something cheap about them although they are very sensitive and feel great. And yes the hook keeper is a mother!
Customer service is fantastic over at Karl's! Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
I personally love my gold series. Plus I only paid $100 from tackle direct. Love how the reel seat ratchet’s tight, love the feel, the weight. Imo for the money you can’t go wrong. I paired my go to with a scorpion dc. Looks killer and gets the job done
👊💪
Loved mine too until the guide broke. def need hardier guide inserts
Line/Lure rating is extremely important as it’s the best way to gauge the power of the rod. As you stated not all MH are created equally because there isn’t an industry standard.
Yes sir! Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
I agree with everything you had to say really , I have the reaction rod and love it . I pitch small jigs with it and the line has got hung on the hook keeper a few times . the lure weight isn't so much an issue for me as I tend to go light anyway but I can see where it would cause issues for some
Overall it's a solid rod.
Good review, I personally don't get caught up in all the goon hate drama, I do like the plastics and appreciate your honest review.
Thank you brother! 👊
Been switching between the megabass mad bull & tequila, but I’m always going back to my kastking speed demon rod. It’s survived countless wars with ceiling fans.
👊💪
Let's be honest here- they didn't put the weight specs on because the are trying to at least push you toward buying their stupid box- this is the very type of underhanded bs that makes so many anglers hate the Goober Squad. I'm sure it's a sufficient medium heavy rod- not saying it isn't- but I'm never buying from a company that does things like this. The Goober Squad is going to learn that you might catch 15 year old kids and beginners with your little personality cult- and once you do you can trick them and use them out of every dime in their pocket- but you'll never win serious anglers, their money, or their respect doing things like this.
I just bought a rod for 150 bucks- it's the 13 fishing Omen Black- extra fast action- and it has the best tip for soft jerkbait fishing I've ever seen in my life- or for stroking a jig or chatter bait through vegetation. You're right- generally speaking there's not much to separate one 150 rod from the next- but every once and a while you get lucky and find a gem like this that's technique specific (by accident) and still only runs 150 dollars. You just have to know what you're looking for, ignore brand names and trends, and be patient. I also picked up a Powell Inferno moderate/fast medium 6' 10" hard jerkbait rod- also 150 dollars. It took me years to stumble across a general purpose rod like this that just happened to have the right qualities to be a true jerkbait rod- but I found it. Moderate enough to pin the fish, but fast enough to work the bait efficiently. These gems are out there but- you have to be patient, know the exact qualities you're looking for- and don't buy until you find them.
you gave me a good laugh when you said goober squad.
I hear ya, I found exactly what I was looking for in the Okuma TCS rods. Appreciate you checking out the video! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 I'll check those out- never had an Okuma before. I hear good things though- about their reels and rods.
@@stoneysdead689 Yes sir! The TCS line has more of a moderate action. The EVX and SX are faster actions. They have others, but those are the main series that I use.
@@TackleJunky81 I'm looking for a heavy mod/fast action for heavier chatter baits, moderate sized swim baits, etc. - any of the heavier moving baits. Plus if I'm in open water and not around cover I like a mod/fast for a jig rod. I'm definitely going to check out that TCS line- thanks or the heads up.
That’s strange that a Rod at that Price Point doesn’t have the Lure/Line Specs printed. I’m a tiny Budget Guy and checked my 28 dollar 7’3” Akataka MH and it has the Lure and Line recommendations printed. I will say the Akataka Rods are great for my Fishing needs, great action and especially the price. The 7’6” Heavy one piece I grabbed for 32 bucks just for heavy Topwater Frogs lol and it’s insane nice with a little flex but plenty of backbone. Man 150 bucks for just a Rod Blank lol wow. Stay safe my Friend Semper Fidelis
Nah, the “style” matters. Any of the “fold back” styles in front of the reel are problematic. I actually cut them off because of the very issue you described. The best design I’ve seen is a simple “D” type, sometimes a bit square, that is tied inline with the rod on both ends. There’s no open “hook” for the line to catch on.
And another thing, if that line does get caught behind, and you don’t notice and reel a bit, it can abrade the line and cause weak spots that can and will come back to haunt you when it counts.
I’ve owned almost every top end rod in the bass fishing market. Megabass Evoluzion, Loomis NRX and NRX+ to the new Megabass P5s including some Diawa stuff (BLX and AGS Steez) honestly it’s all personal preference. I love the top end of the market do to the weight of the rods and the crisp actions. Sensitivity is so subjective on all rods and honestly it’s all in the line you use IMO.
I completely agree, that it is critical to have line specs and lure specs labelled on a rod blank! I even prefer to see the power in relation to a number. For example, a Medium Heavy may be a 3 power or may be a 4 power, and it is very important information to know.
Appreciate your input brother and thanks for watching! 👊
I wish more US vendors would adopt the line keepers that come on UK carp rods. They’re kinda hard to describe if you’ve never seen one, but they remind me of the clip on a ball point pen’s cap. The main difference is it’s designed to hold the line around the hook not the hook. Itself.
Just to be clear. Line clips on a carp rod are meant to be used in conjunction with a bite alarm and/or open bail. I’ve just blundered my way into using them as a hook keeper too.
Gotcha, but then you have a loose hook that could get snagged on whatever.
@@TackleJunky81 Don’t get me wrong, it’s not ideal for every situation or every lure. In fact for the long hauls to-or-from the car I would still use a lure wrap of some kind. And I know carpin’ isn’t bassin’ but whenever I get my line caught in the hook keeper pitching and flipping I think “this would never happen on that style clip” and wonder if I could install one DIY.
First googan rod (green "go-to") tube showed up empty. Shop Karl's came straight and replacement was sent. It came in with a damaged tip. Refunded my money and I just cut the end eye off at the second. Rod broke on a 4lber a week later. I wanted to like it....I really did. Won't get another.
I personally will not be buying another. Mine fell apart after only a few hours of fishing on my bass boat... not even beating it on the bank lol I get it, defects happen but catchco will not get back with me about the warranty after at least 10 emails with photos... I was excited about the rod but yeah... I personally would spend an extra $50 and get a diawa rebellion series rod or a megabass levante rod (extra $100 for the megabass one now after they redid that line) they're lighter, feel better, and look amazing
Who grabs a rod with a crank bait on it and grabs the rod where the lure is to get stabbed by the hooks? Googan or not, that just doesnt sound smart
As a kayak angler I love that the hook keeper isn’t under the handle 😅
It should come on the tag when you buy it and it'll even say what Bates to use
The same thing with the hook keeper happens on my Lews TP 1. An easy fix is to just put the hook keeper on the other side of the blank/“underneath” the rod
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Rod specs, and hook keepers. They are important. Not sure why some companies over look the simple stuff.
Agreed! 👊
You pointed out every complaint i have about the rod. Thanks thought maybe it was just me
My pleasure and I appreciate you watching! 👊
Lews reels solved my hook keeper issues! I personally don’t like the hook keepers behind the reel and on the bottom because 70% of my rods sit on the deck and I don’t like smashing my baits or hooks getting caught up in the carpet. I love the speed keeper on Lew’s reels. If you are worried about line getting caught in it you can flip it back with one finger and no possible hang ups. Definitely all personal preference but that’s become my go to. I would solve that issue with a Fuji hook keeper and butt up the rubber bands just behind that hook keeper so your line can’t get caught in there
I do like the keeper on the Lews reels. Appreciate you watching! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 heck yeah brother
I love mine I have the 7’5” muscle it is solid I’ve had no problems with it.
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I 100% agree on the hook keeper ,my line gets caught in there all the time
Informative! Putting the min and max weight on a rod is a must.
Appreciate you watching! 👊
I had a buddy let me try 3 of his Googan rods for a few weeks, and no way are they better than any 100 dollar rods. The Dobyns Fury and Shimano SLX are fifty bucks cheaper and way better. I thought the Googan rods are terrible. I even think the 13fishing Omen is better. The Googan rod should be around 80 to 100 bucks, your just paying an extra 50 bucks for the name.
They definitely have some solid competition at that price point.
I think the hook keeper is too small, that’s my only complaint. You can’t just put a hook through it you have to kinda clip it in, which is fine it’s just annoying sometimes
I had two Gold series rods and I was wondering if I was the only one running into the issue with the line getting caught in the hook keeper. I ended up selling them both because that just was not good to me. The rod feels good and they are good but I think they are attempting to cater to the NEW fisher.
I can understand that brother! Appreciate you watching! 👊
just take off the hook keeper 😹😹😹
Lol just snip the hook keeper off lmao and hook your bait to your reel
@@uurdawg8174 definitely not putting hooks on my reals to just scratch them all to hell. Never been into that. Like I said there are better rods out there for the money.
@@OutdoorsWithMarshall really I mean it’s gonna get worn out any ways just like us reels get old I have a metanium and I hook mine up right there it’s not a Chid it’s a reel lol but not hate your opinion is valid
Title: “This rod will cost you fish!” Review: it’s a decent rod. Totally worth the $150”
I bought 2 g rods for 85 each and would say they are the best rods i have ever bought 1 is a $230 and other is $250 the person i bought it from is geting them out the door he is tierd of working with the dealer
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I don't like line keepers.. I don't like em on my rods, I don't like em on my reels.. one of the first things I do with a spinning reel is pull the screw and/or cut the damn thing off... LPBC rods? they get the file treatment...
Totally agree with you completely wrong place to put a hook hanger, I had the same problem with my Kastking rod. Keep up the great work.👍👍👍
Nigel ( Chicago )
Thank you brother and I really appreciate you watching! 👊
I bought a couple of them... I like them but I've been a 13 guy for so long I can't switch over. Love my 13 rigs. But these rods I don't think deserve the crap they get because of the Googan name. They're decent.
Yup, agreed! Thanks for watching buddy! 👊
My googan green series twitch is fantastic for all the topwater fishing I do. Walks like a dream
Right on! 👊
I agree with you on the weight specs. It really does help out. Stay Safe & God Bless!!!
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Great examples of the Googan rods. Jim, you gave two important reasons why not to buy their rods. There plenty of manufacturers in $120 price point or less that will not have their line get stuck behind hook keeper. No Googan for me thanks.
Appreciate you watching! 👊
It’s just the price point that makes it hard to want to buy in that range you have the dobyns and st croix
I didn't care for their "system", lack of ratings and Googan has been hit and miss for me bait wise so far. Not trying to bash em' just not completely sold on them, I'm open to good products that do the job I need done that works for me.
Drooled over rods for a few months with a price point, length, certain action in mind and with what's available I'm giving a Bass X a try and it should be here tomorrow...
Hope you enjoy your new rod bud! 👊
That would be incredibly annoying when your pitching. Could cost you a nice fish as well. The no weight and line specs is very annoying to me. Just because they should know the specs for each rod they sell and it should be on the rod for guys that are looking for a rod with certain specs. I myself am guilty of not being a googan fan, they just aren't my cup of tea. But there baits are good, and like you said that shouldn't affect you using their baits cause liking or not liking the googans has nothing to do with it. Good video TJ81
Thank you brother and I appreciate your input! 👊
I would like to see what you think of the green series heavy rod...
I'll grab one.
I had a feeling that's what you were eluding to. I had some of the old No.8 Black Out rods and they had the same keeper. Made me want to tear my hair out, so I removed it.
Seems to be a common problem with many front hook keepers on rods. I have several from other companies that catch the line just like this one. I'm seriously thinking about cutting them off and carefully filing them smooth to the blank.
Not a bad idea.
Any rod that doesn't have weight and line specs on it is a no no for me. Good video 👍
Thank you Morgan! 👊
Great bud TJ, off topic, what spinning rod do you recommend for small-medium crankbaits? Do a lot of night fishing cranks, can’t use casting rods because of the dark and close quarters but I’m having a lot of fish shake me off lately. I’m guessing it’s the rod. Thanks!!!
I use the Okuma EVX 6'10" MED or MH. Appreciate you watching buddy! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 I appreciate the suggestion!!! I looked at those rods but they have a fast action tip. Looking for a medium power moderate action spinning. Kinda hard to find. I’d love to hear if you have used any with those specs. As always, love the Videos.
@@jefflovinfishin621 They are 6'8" but if you look on the Okuma website they have a MF/F action. I'm not home to look at the moment, but the one I have is even labeled Shad Rap I believe and that's what I use it for.
@@TackleJunky81 oh I definitely believe you, I’m sure they are a good rod. I’m just personally looking for a medium power moderate action spinning. I found the St Croix Legend Glass crankbait spinning. It’s a 6’ 10” medium/moderate but not sure I wanna drop $280 on a spinning rod lol. So I figured what better guy to ask than the Tackle Junky himself if he knew of any other rods with those specs lol. Hopefully you are out fishing, I got a few pigs this morning. Thanks again for the responses!
@@jefflovinfishin621 yeah, I'm not a big spinning rod guy. The one I mentioned is the only one I have used for treble hook baits. Glad to hear you got on a few good ones. We were down on Table Rock just boating...driving home now.
Thanks for the info. Great video as always. What kind of soft plastic is on your rod?
YUM Money Craw. Appreciate you watching! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 did you dip claws in something? Looks orange
@@thechadfishing5623 No, Crawdad color.
Well I got the green go to rod & haven't had any issue other than I haven't caught any bass on it yet, 🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ however I did catch 3pike ranging from a pound up to 3.5 pounds just 4 day ago..
Appreciate you watching! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 hey bruh by chance do you know where I can buy a scorpion DC reel by chance??
@@luckylucky9006 I ordered mine from Japan Lure Shop.
@@TackleJunky81 ok thank you.
At $150 give me a Phenix every day of the week...PERIOD
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Almost every rod review someone has an issue with the hook keeper. it's all personal preference on where you like the keeper to be located. All companies should just start doing like the new Diawa STEEZ rod and put a hook keeper that you can move wherever you want. Or even take it off if you don't like to use them.
That's a great idea!
My line never gets caught up on my Loomis Rods!🤓
buy used reels from local tackle shop for nice and cheap but bomb reels, buy 20 dollar pole from walmart they are just as good if not better and can buy 5 or more for the price of 1. also all the expensive poles are a lot easier to break if you horse them around on snags. i think those specs are only important if you are new to fishing. if you fish for a year total fishing time. then you should be familiar with what rods are for what baits. to me anyways. i can use 1 rod for every bait. a medium i can use for almost everything. a ultralight for super small. and a heavy for big swimbaits or throwing heavy weeds. specs dont mean much anyways. they can all hold heavier and lighter line then they advertise and can all throw smaller and bigger baits then advertised. but there is limits to what you want to put up with. casting a super light bait ona heavy set up cant cast that far. casting a heavy bait on a lighter set up your pole is bent like you have fish on and its just the bait. so a pain to reel in. ect. but you can technically still do it.
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Great info. I’ve got a Berkeley rod with the line keeper in an awkward position and it snags all the time. I watch out for this now so goo to know here. Thanks man!
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Tried out my friend's Googan rod and came to the conclusion that anyone who fishes it over a Loomis, Megabass or a Dobyns is either a shill for them or enjoys the challenge of using subpar junk.
I aggressively agree happens all the time especially Texas rigging omg I though I was the only one I hate that it mad annoying wat I’m end up doing just pushing that hook holder inside hit it down it wouldn’t get hooked ever again
I totally agree lure and line specs should be on the rod
Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
Good rod review but I think I’ll stick to the okuma rods or kistler. Just my opinion.
I'm with ya! 👊💪
Here's a newspaper clip from one of the local tournaments they hold every Tuesday evening. Three bag limit.
Various cash awards.
Sorry it won't let me attach it. I'll try via Facebook.
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Big bass was 9.85 lbs. I just saw a post on MLF members, a 12lber was caught on the same Lake on a 4inch swimbait.
You are the right man to shed light on it buddy! 👊💪
Appreciate you brother! Hope all is well! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 appreciate you too buddy! Thank you Brother, we're doing good! 👊
I like googan rods. Good rods for the price. Best part about it is the feel of the rod. Super light and a great feel in the hand.
Yes sir, very comfortable and overall a really nice rod.
I think they intend people to use Googan baits with the rods gold or green series.. If you only use Googan then who cares about lure/line ratings. Great video.. Thanks for the input. 🎣🇺🇸🎣
Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
Awesome Vid 🤘🤘🤘 I do prefer the line n weight recommendation on the rods it does help out. Hook keepers that gets ur line stuck like that is annoying IMO but I try to push it down if it lets me n use the Calcoast Cali clips 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Thank you brother! Love the Cali Clips! 👊
I own some highend rods such as nrx, conquest, megabass destroyers, ect and honestly any rod over 150 is good enough. A $600 rod is not much better than a $150. Its just the hype and name your buying into.
Appreciate the feedback brother! 👊
A NRX, Conquest, Megabass Destroyer not much better than a $150 rod!?! Lol SMH
Tbh, I won't buy a rod that is more than $50. I caught a lot of fish on cheap rods. I do a lot of pan fishing, bass, and cat fish, so I use all open face. The specs don't matter to me. All that matters to me is feel in my hand and price. Thanks for the video.
Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
i bought googan rod because i researched and it was good and I love the googans
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Lol I feel like you really went out your way to dog them in the clickbait
I enjoyed all aspects of the video, aside from the COMPLETELY unnecessary, misleading, and untruthful click-bait name. If you've got something to say, then let your reviewing reputation speak for you, instead of putting out a blatant lie in the video title for the purpose of getting views. I totally dig your style of reviewing, but I'm not gonna click on any more of your videos. Life's too short for me to have to say: "Fool me twice, shame on me" for clicking another click-bait title. PLEASE stop doing that stuff. ONE comment about not liking the hook keeper DOESN'T line up with your video title and photo. C'mon, man...
p.s. Besides, just get some needle nose pliers and carefully bend the bottom of the hook keeper upward until it is parallel to the rod blank. TA-DA! Now it's like all the GOOD hook keepers on G Loomis, CastAway, and other rods. See? I didn't have to make a misleading title. Just a simple piece of advice to fix the one annoying thing about the rod. Imagine that!
10 4 brother! 👊
@@TackleJunky81Thanks for the reply, and if I came across as offensive, then my apologies. I was frustrated at not hearing some good critiquing of the product instead of only near-universal praise. There has to be something bad about literally every product, and I wish more people would point out the shortcomings.
Basically 99.9% of rods on the market are light and sensitive, so I want to know what makes a specific rod stand out for good OR bad reasons.
And I agree that a bad hook keeper is absolutely infuriating (like Dobyns rods).
That's a pretty big design flaw for a rod that would cause problems for typical usage for rod of that style, so how can it be recommended as a good choice given that design flaw??
You can always cut it off.
@@TackleJunky81 I love ya man, but spend $150+ on a rod and then have to cut off a design flaw to make the rod more functional ? With so many other rods available in the category that don't require any post purchase modification, why recommend this rod?? Honestly I am just curious, as you're typically a very pragmatic and conservative buyer of gear and you have no problem saying no go on equipment that doesn't meet the grade.
@@nawinchester I think you're looking a bit to far in to this. The rod itself is good for the price and I do recommend it. Check out my review on the Kistler Helium that I just did. That rod is awesome, but they have the wrong keeper on that rod as well and like I say in that review if anyone is going to complain about something on a rod most likely it'll be a hook keeper. It'll work for some depending on how they are using that particular rod. The wrong style hook keeper doesn't make a rod trash.
Been fishing tournaments for 5 years been bass fishing my whole life. I disagree with the weight rating. I don't look at it one bit. I know what I throw on my 744 rods and so on. I don't own any googan rods and probably won't ever. I only use dobyns rods. Do you look at the weight rating before you buy a rod? Guess I just know the limits from past experiences 😂
No, because I'm experienced, but most guys buying the googan rods probably aren't.
Great video thanks for the review I use googan products thanks
Thank you brother! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 not a problem will all ways be a supporter
@@TackleJunky81 4 days left then I’ll be back on the water 💪
I have a couple of lews reels that have the keeper on it. I also have some G-loomis rods that this happens to but hate to cut the keeper off of
Yeah, I can understand that.
Appreciate the video! Look forward to the next one
Thank you brother! 👊
i went with mojo bass from st croix and could not be happier.
Good choice! 👊
I agree on the hook keeper I have a couple st croixs that do the same thing pisses me off.
Appreciate you watching buddy! 👊
I'm honestly not a fan of the googans themselves but as for their products that mostly are made through Karl's to my knowledge atleast are truly not bad lures my issue i have honestly is all the logos is just unnecessary imo. But as for quality with both soft and hard baits I've been happy with the stuff I've purchased and used. And honestly yeah people trash the products but you can't sit and say they don't catch nice fish because truth is they do period. I haven't ordered one of their rods honestly because one to many logos and two they just don't appeal to me and that's all. All my rods have that hook hanger below the handle and I've never had an issue either. It being above the rod is definitely a bad design.
I'm with ya man...they catch fish! Appreciate you watching! 👊
Googan just trying to see how many fan boys they got who would buy their rod with no specs on it
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Love the videos man. For the 150 dollar range I gotta say my doomsday rods are my favorite. Find myself reaching for my doomsday over my mojo's and bass x rods.
Good deal brother! Appreciate you watching! 👊
You need to try the Duckett Micro Magic next! Best overall rod for the price in my opinion!
Honestly I don't think Boyd is capable of delivering the best of anything. I think giving the customer a good quality product, at a honest and fair price is against his very DNA. Gary Dobbyns will give you a truly quality product at a fair price, Boyd is going to copy the highest quality product he can find, cheapen it up in his many unnoticeable ways as he can and sell it back to you at a premium.
Just my opinion tho.
I'll check them out.
@@TackleJunky81 You won't be disappointed!!
Thanks for the pro tips Tj!
Appreciate you watching brother! 👊
Good review! Thanks!
Appreciate you watching buddy! 👊
Rod design is 7/10
Rod variety is 3/10
Hey TJ I was wondering if you would review bull bay rods they are a “higher in” rod company around the price of st Croix and dobyns.
To be honest I've never heard of them...I'll have to check them out.
Interesting that the hook keeper is at the bottom on their spinning rod
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Sheesh I bought a 13 Fishing Rod for 80ish dollars and that even had all the specs
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Spend the extra get a shimano or low end loomis.
Exactly!
Appreciate you watching! 👊
My hate for the googan gear is i feel they target young anglers with over priced cool lookin gear. Never been a fan of any of their stuff
Appreciate you watching! 👊
I do not know the story, James. What is the deal with the big wigs at googan? I have no dog in the fight, I am just wondering
Not sure what you mean brother?
@@TackleJunky81 a lot of you tubers seem to not like them. I was just curious, brother
@@shannonkirby9295 I personally don't have an issue with them, but to be honest I'm sure a part of it with other youtubers is jealousy. Love em or hate em they put in the work to get where they are.
@@TackleJunky81 ok, thanks
I have to say this about the rods. They come in good batches. I've owned several. The warranty is outstanding. If you have any issues they will handle them quickly.
Karl's has the best customer service! Appreciate you watching! 👊
ALL GOOGAN "HATE" Is 100% justified. Low quality products. Low quality anglers
Appreciate you watching man! 👊
@@TackleJunky81
Foshizzle
yeah that reel looks clean on that rod👍🏽
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i personally do agree with you on the hook keeper cause i cant began to tell you how many i;d get home and my pole be caught up in the car fabric. which if you dont mind the cost you can get the bass pro shop hook keeper so yu dont get caught up in the car fabric. Lews and ugly stik GX2 have the best hook keepers they are above and on the bottom let me breakit down. if youre like me and gonna throw out a hot dog on a Texas rig on a J hook and cast out and let it set on the bottom then UGLY STIK GX2 has the best hook keeper for that situation , if youre like me or tackle junky and youre gonna be throwing out jigs zoom yum berkley PB spinner baits buzzkill baits then to be honest lews or the other brands have the best hook keeper granted that they are on the bottom of the rod. I say this because i do a lot of catfishing and the hook keeper on the ugly stik best acommadates me and i also do bass fishing so lew's having their hook keeper on the bottom best accommadates me as well.
Appreciate the feedback brother! 👊
@@TackleJunky81 you're welcome sir
I’ve cut the hook keeper off of several rods for this reason.
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Much better rod choices out there like the Dobyns Fury casting and spinning rods at $119. I believe the Googan products are over hyped and over priced.
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Their plastics have good action but after 2 fish they are done and it just isn’t worth the money
I'd say a few fish per bait is pretty average across the board.
I've tried numerous Googan products and have just not been impressed. All rheir baits (sift, harf and other) just don't last and have sub-par components. I refuse to spend another dime on anything from that company.
Appreciate you watching! 👊
I can name 10 rods that are $150 and under that are better than googan rods
Appreciate you watching! 👊
Okuma has put googes crap to shame !! Mr Roland ! Please !?????
I'm a huge fan of the Okuma rods. 👊
That’a exactly what bothered me. I sold em all. I was out on the water in a hot bite and became confused trying to change out lures. Don’t need that extra stress. Great video.
Appreciate you watching buddy! 👊
You're sponsored by the company who makes rod..