Berkley Lightning: One Hot Rod!
Written: Apr 10 '04 (Updated Feb 02 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Action, comfort, toughness
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: If you can only spend $30 and only take one rod, this should be the one!
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| christian921's Full Review: Berkley Lightning Rod Classic 6' Medium Heavy 1 Pi... |
I've been fishing Berkley's for about 15 years now. I'm a budget fisherman who does most of his shopping at Wal-Marts or the such and I spend a lot of time picking the right equipment for the right price. Berkleys have never let me down when it counts.
This rod is paired with a Shakespeare 5bb Catera. They balance out very well together. Easy in the hand. The cork grip has a little of the foam rubber grip and is contoured slightly to hand. It is comfortable and easy to control.
It casts very well. The rod is firm enough that you don't whip your lure past your target. It's reliable once you get the casting curve down. The flex is there when you really swing for the fences.
The guides are smooth and stiff. I put my rods in the trunk of my car for 9 months of the year (just in case!) and the guides hold up well to the treatment. The guides take line well and haven't been prone to nicks that would catch or curl your line.
The graphite is very responsive to feel. You can almost feel the fish eye balling your lure. I retrieve with the rod at 90 degrees to my waist. When you get the strike you will feel it quickly. At that point I snap the tip up, with the rod flex you'll either set the hook or know it was just a bump of the lure. The Berkley is fast on hook sets.
Another thing I like a lot about the Lighting is how it lands the fish. I do a lot of bank fishing in small Nebraska lakes. There's a lot of steering to keep the fish out of the weeds and logs. The Berkley does well under load with a nice bend to the rod. It's stiff enough to give you the upper hand on all but the meanest of fish.
I fish this rod for river cats, panfish, and bass. It has served me very well in all regards. I know a 6' graphite isn't the best choice for river cats but this rod stands up well under the conditions. It does bow in the current but still lets me know I have a fish on! It preforms best going after the bass in the lakes but still holds its own on the catfish too. It's a little big for panfish but it's still a very good rod at the smaller fighters too.
The Berkley Lighting is a very good rod for the money. I fish it 75% of the time because it's such a great all around rod. It's always been my "go to" and will remain there for a long time.
For a great place to fish with this rod!
For some other great gear:
Plano StowAway 5-Pack
Plano Soft Sider tackle bag
Berkley's Vanish Transition Fluorocarbon line
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
christian921
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Member: Christian Stanley
Location: A country mile north of Omaha, NE USA
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 35 members
About Me:
I loved you even before I met you.
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