Best rod up to £100, £200, £300 and £400 ?

[Persues]

Apologies if this has been done to death already.

The subject came up last night over drinks with friends and I hadn't a clue. Niether did they by the sound of things...

I thought I'd open the question up here and see what you folks think.

Criteria is simple; best overall performing mixed/rough ground rod up to each upper ceiling price bracket, regardless of brand.

This is not meant as a "what do you use" or "what's your personal favourite/wish list" but rather which rods within each price point would you consider the best overall mixed/rough ground rod based on experience or feedback from others.

One of my mates raised the interesting point that a rock rod ought to be inexpensive and tough to cope with being knocked about, and that casting capability was never a requirement as far as he was concerned since most rough ground fishing tends to be close in. He more or less made the case for two rods.

This is all my fault since I mentioned my intention to look at Century rods. At that point I got lost off in discussions about SK3 and SK4 rods, Leeda Ultra Power and other stuff that meant nothing to me.

Just thought I'd throw this one out there as a slightly different take on the "which rod" theme.

[rocketman]

in my opinion, and im sure many will agree , the ron thompson axcellerator will take some beating, you can pick one up new for £100 pound and i cant see much touching it even up to the £200 mark

[codseeker]

i,ll 2nd that cracking rods for the price

[g-force]

Yep, got to go with the above - RT Axe for about £100, can't think of any other contenders. For £100-200, a bit harder to choose from new - the Leeda Icon Ultra Power seems a nice rod, I know one or two people who use them - but for me the whole captive reducer thing would be wasted as I fish reel up, and it does add a bit of weight to the rod.

£300 / £400 plus - I've tried a good few rods from Century (TTR, Eliminator,Komp SS) and Zziplex (ZTI, Zeteques & others) plus Conoflex's and got rid of most of them - first rod of choice for me these days on the rocks is my Harrison P3 (blank cost about £225 plus building & rings and stuff). Not interested in looking for anything else at the moment (although I've a few other rock rods that come out now & again). Other more "all-rounders" that I swear by would be my Greys Platinum GSI & my SK4, both well capable on either beaches or rocks.

Gary