ChiCityBasser

I have several spinning combos right now with a 7' M/F that I use for shallow to mid cranks. I have a 7' MH/F Tube and Jig rod and I also have a 6'9" M/F that I use as a plastics rod.

Been using Cabelas brand flouro and no complaints

Great write up and review of the rods and thanks for sharing

Nice choice and at a great price.

I don't have the Smoke reel but will be adding a Smoke casting and spinning reel to my lineups for next spring. After reading a review on TW and talking with guys that have them they are great reels and very light as well after handling both at Cabelas. Here is another review also: http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/gear/reviews/quantum-smoke-pt-32649.aspx

The Field & Stream Tec Spec is a good choice in that price range but in fishing from the bank as someone mentioned there are obstacles with a 7' rod that might make it too cumbersome. I fish from the bank as well and only take my 7' casting outfits when I know I'm going to a lake with a clear shoreline. As someone else also said there are so many rods out that anyone you pick is bound to work well and any brand as well.

I have a couple of the older model Prodigy reels and really like them and have had no issues with them at all. If the new models are comparable to the Aggrest then I might have to invest in one at the sale price as well.

I use a 6'9" M/F rod with either a Owner 4/0 or 5/0 Twistlock hook with 6# flouro on spinning gear and set the hook with s swift jerk. I have them t-rigged and use the same setup for Fat Ika's as well and the same type of hook set.

Thanks for the great review on two quality products.

Right now I'm over 200 fishing from the shore and before the freeze I'm hoping to get closer to 250.

I'll be able to get out again and give the rod another test with some more lures and I'll try a spinnerbait next time out and see how it feels. The 6'9" spinning rod I have is very sensitive and been using it as a fat ika, senko and plastics rod and it has been great. I can feel every little tick on it from a fish and took some getting used to so I wasn't setting the hook too fast.

I got out with the rod today after having the Quantum Kinetic spooled up with 10# CXX per the recommendation from one of the salesman at Cabelas. I got a chance to toss some jerkbaits and some lipless cranks and the rod and reel handled both nicely.

Great review of both the rod and reel on something good that might have been overlooked.

True K_Mac those were the original rod ratings for the post and I agree that would be considered to be a medium to me as well. I had my wife take another look at it and she gave me the 1/4-3/4 oz rod ratings (time to get the eyes checked, lol) which I agree is about what range most MH rods would fall into but manufacturers differ. I'm gonna have a reel spooled up tomorrow to get out nd test the rod. I'm thinking the Kinetic reel and 10-12# Ultra soft with KVD line&lure and give it a try with spinnerbaits and some other lures on saturday. I agree also on manufacturers discontinuing a rod or upgrading components or other things as well. They changed the XMLTi from the full cork handles to the split grip eva handles and they also changed the reel seats as well.

My MH is a XMLTi 663x2 which it the 2 pc rod and looking at the rod ratings right now. I'm guessing as technology changes and materials ratings change as well. My model is 2-3 years old with a solid cork handles. I would say from your ratings your rod would be closer to a heavy than a medium. I have a XML 6'6" rod that has the same designations for line of 12-25# and lure weight of 3/8-2oz as well. When I ordered the rod it was suppose to be an MH but the the label under the shrink wrap plastic says its a heavy. The model# on that rod is XCLC66WJ which is their one pc 6'6" worm and jig rod. So yeah the designations from one manufacturer to another can be a bit confusing I agree.

Don't have one myself but there are some on ebay now right around $80 with shipping being $20

I did the same thing with a tec spec rod after a couple days and stated the same thing when I returned it with no problems.

Thanks J and K_Mac for the suggestions on usage for the rod and on the line suggestion also and thinking either the P-Line CXX or Yozuri Ultra Soft in 10-12# would be perfect.

Hey New, I have one of the models from 2 yrs ago and it is a short handle 6'6" MH model and just got the correct rating which are 1/4-3/4 oz. This model has a larger diameter through its length as well compared to the spinning model but that is a M as opposed to a MH so that is to be expected. I had only used it a couple times over the last couple years before putting it away. Gonna get a reel on it this weekend and try it with some of the recommendations from this post.

I had this rod sitting around and just pulled it out again and trying to figure out the best usage for the rod. It's the previous model to the Xmlti rods out now with this one having a cork handle. It's a short hangle rod and thinking it would work well as a jerkbait rod. Just trying to figure out some usages for the rod so I can figure out a reel to add to the rod. I have a Quantum Kinetic and a Quantum Accurist both 6:3.1 and thinking jerkbaits, spinners and maybe light jigs if possible. Any other suggestions or usages and also what line would you recommend?

Thanks for the update Glenn

I use 6lb mono/flouro/copoly on my 2000 size spinning reels. When I use braid I use mostly 30lb/8 diameter Power Pro on my spinning setups and have gone as heavy as 40lb/10 diameter.

Thanks for the apology and not a problem at all.

It's ok deep and no I didn't think you were talking bout my rod or reel choice at all. I think you asked a legimate question and don't think you highjacked the thread at all.

The reel will either be mounted on a Cabelas Xmlti or custom ALX rod of which both are extremely light rods. From what I understand most rods are tip heavy without a reel mounted but once the reel is mounted its where the rod balances out that determines if its tip heavy. Sure DVT can give a better answer as well. The reel actually felt good in my hands and thats why I mentioned it. Also with a lure mounted and position or way hold your rod/reel combo can make a difference as well.