Quote:
every rod on the rack at $70 to $300 will detect a bite.



There is some truth to this.

When I was cutting my teeth on summer run fishing a long time ago(light line fishing eggs), I began with a loaner rod from a friend that had been through it's paces and was beat to hell…..an 8 1/2' Lamiglas S-Glass fiberglass noodle rod with broken ferrule glued together, 1" missing from tip, a couple guides re-wrapped in a hurry and out of alignment……..and I could detect bites as well as any rod I use today!

One of the best Cowlitz fishermen I know (and a member of this board) does VERY well with rods that are not $500 efforts.