Have a look on trademe sometimes there are some good deals on top water rods.

Cheers

I started off buying the cheapest set i could, a 7ft rod and a finnor biscayne spooled with run of the mill 50lb braid that i thought "did the job"... While i had no problems with the gear i never really got into topwater because it was hard work casting all day and i struggled to get the lures to work properly no matter what i did so i kind of gave up on it thinking my technique was rubbish.

Then one night TAS got the better of me and i bought a shimano 8'6" topwater rod and finnor lethal 100 spooled with the cheapest 80lb hollowcore braid i could find and first cast with the new set made the old set feel like crap, i could cast further, sweep the lure properly and plug poppers well, and what do you know i started catching alot more fish instead of mainly just having them follow and turn away at my feet!

Fell in love with the sport!

Fast forward to 6 months ago, out with a mate flicking some lures.

He commented on my broomstick  i thought it was a choice rod...

I took a look at his rod and thought f@#% me my rod feels like a broomstick!

Again TAS got the better of me i bought a penn ocean assassin 8'2"rod and penn slammer 8500 spooled with shimano ocea ex8 PE8 braid.

Same as before, what a difference! night'n'day difference actually.

Morale of the story.... try before you buy and absorb all that the gurus on here have to say!

I should have, it would have saved me $800 had i have brought something more suited for the job in the first place plus you will hook more fish and really enjoy the sport a lot more, i was nearly put off fishing topwater because i brought a set that i thought would get the job done despite the interwebs all saying 8-9ft rods an a reel with decent retrieve.

To me the ocean assassin rod is probably the best value topwater rod around at the moment, they are $300 retail but if you look around can be picked up for $250 and probably cheaper as a combo.

Remember im still pretty new to the topwater game and this is only my opinion 

Good luck! 

I have used a 7 foot Troppo top water rod before and because of its short length i found casting long distances hard, i reckon something over 8 foot.

My other issue is that it is through Marine Deals, and while they are an awesome store, I feel like I should support my local fishing shop!