The Rooster Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 Yesterday a Cabela's had its grand opening in my (not so) near area. It's about 1 1/2 hours away from me, but much closer than the BPS that I had before that was about 3 hours away. So I'm planning a trip soon. They have a rod that I am thinking about getting for jigs and plastics, it's the Mag Touch in 6'6" length, MH power. That handle looks interesting to me since the whole entire rod is graphite, handle and all. I'm wondering how sensitive it might be over cork handled rods. I'm also wondering how slick it might be to try to hold onto with wet hands. Hate to get one and have it fly out in the lake on the 5th cast or something. Mostly I'm wondering how it will compare to my Shimano Compre. I'm happy with it's sensitivity. I use it for jigs, plastics, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits. I'd like to have another just like it so I could keep a spinnerbait tied on, and a jig also, but it's the full cork grip which they don't make anymore, and I'm not big on the new ones they have now. I'm looking for a rod in the $100 - $120 range, not more than that. The Mag Touch is normally $100 but the one I want is actually on sale for $60 right now on their site. Hope it is the same in the store. There is also a St. Croix Premier that I like as well with the same power rating, 6'6" MH, 3/8 to 1 oz. lure weight. These, I can get in full cork grip. Is it worth it?? I'd probably use it for the spinnerbait/buzzbait rig where sensitivity isn't as important as with jigs and plastics. How would it compare to the Triumph, which I've heard is just nearly identical (same blank) except for the guides?? I actually have one of the Triumph rods here, but in M power instead of MH. I like it a lot. Quote
Bass_Fanatic Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 I would stay away from it. There are ALOT better options in your price range. The MagTouch, although I have never fished one but I have handled them quite a bit, feel terrible in my hands. The grip is so small in diameter it feels like your holding the rod above the cork on other rods. The concept sounds good, but they feel terrible. Look at the Veritas or Falcon Buccos for that price. Both are great rods and would blow the MagTouch out of the water! 1 Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 I have the 6'6" M spinning rod and true the grip does take some getting used to but I've never had it slip out of my hand while casting the rod. I've used the rod for plastics and light jigs and it is very sensitive. Haven't fished it much with spinnerbaits but I'll take it out tomorrow and let you know how well it does with those also. Quote
Super User islandbass Posted August 10, 2012 Super User Posted August 10, 2012 It is one thing to handle a rod in the store and fiddle diddle with it but such an opinion while valid does not give an assesment worthy of testing the rod's mettle while "on the water" so to speak. As an owner of one, I believe it's worth it's $99 price if only for the Alconite guides. Rods at this price point usually do not sport such guides. I have put my rod through some tough trials that none of my other bass rods have been through. My mag touch has battled pink salmon, coho salmon and large trout in addition to and lmbs and smbs, and quite successfully too. I have used it for crankbaits, hard jerk baits, inline spinners, soft plastics, jigs and even drop shotting. My model is a spledid all-around rod. If the $99 price is still too high, just wait until it goes on sale. It's a fair deal at regular price and a steal of a deal when it is on sale. Case in point. It went on sale at 50% off. I applied for the cabela's visa card and as an incentive, they offered a $25.00 credit. I didn't know it at the time until the operator mentioned it. So at the end I wound up paying only $25.00 for it. $25.00 for a rod sporting Alconite guides? Now that's a deal!!!!! With regard to handle, it is no worse of better than cork. I did notice that if the put the handle backward it's gripping power would have been superior to cork. In the sensitivity department, I would say it is on par with the compre and I can say this because I also have a compre. I can feel the subtle nibble on the drop shot and the spinning of an inline spinner with a size 3 blade. Lastly, my awesome mag touch is the two piece casting version. Quote
21farms Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 i bought one years back thinking it was a poor man's lamiglas XMG50. it thought it was okay. i did not find the handle slippery when wet BUT it gets very hot in the sun, necessitating a dip in the lake before handling it on summer days. i ultimately returned it under cabela's excellent "fish free for 90 days"-policy (which is now 60 days) because the rod felt heavier than i would have liked. Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted August 10, 2012 Super User Posted August 10, 2012 I just saw them on sale for 69.99 I believe in the bargin cave, if thats it order it online and have it ship to the new store. A friend that is in the bass club has one and a bunch of us used it, the feel is different at first but after you fish with it for 30 minutes or so it begins to feel pretty good. After we all used it which was 5 of us, 3 of the guys bought one, for me if I was in need of a good all purpose rod without breaking the bank I would get one, especially if you are on a budget. Compared to the Compre which I also fished with, I would say they are close, I think the edge would go to the mag touch just because it is lighter. The disclaimer is the compre I used was the older model with cork grips so I do not know if the new model is lighter or heavier than the old one. If you need a MH-F all purpose type rod and are on a budget, if you get the 69.99 price the mag touch is hard to beat. Quote
Super User islandbass Posted August 10, 2012 Super User Posted August 10, 2012 i bought one years back thinking it was a poor man's lamiglas XMG50. it thought it was okay. i did not find the handle slippery when wet BUT it gets very hot in the sun, necessitating a dip in the lake before handling it on summer days. i ultimately returned it under cabela's excellent "fish free for 90 days"-policy (which is now 60 days) because the rod felt heavier than i would have liked. That might very well be true about the heat. It gets pretty cold in the winter too, lol. Your hand will "warm it up" quickly though. @sj - I think it is interesting and cool that independently we arrived at the same conclusion in comparing the compre and the mag touch. My compre is the model back when they were around $90.00. Quote
The Rooster Posted August 10, 2012 Author Posted August 10, 2012 Hmm. I'll look at them when I go to Cabela's, but if it needs a dip in the lake to cool it off, and is noticeably cold in cold weather then I'd pass on it. I'm finicky about such things. I want to just grab it and use it without hassles or special conditions that have to be met first. No opinions on the St. Croix rods I mentioned?? Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted August 10, 2012 Super User Posted August 10, 2012 Hmm. I'll look at them when I go to Cabela's, but if it needs a dip in the lake to cool it off, and is noticeably cold in cold weather then I'd pass on it. I'm finicky about such things. I want to just grab it and use it without hassles or special conditions that have to be met first. No opinions on the St. Croix rods I mentioned?? Hmm. I'll look at them when I go to Cabela's, but if it needs a dip in the lake to cool it off, and is noticeably cold in cold weather then I'd pass on it. I'm finicky about such things. I want to just grab it and use it without hassles or special conditions that have to be met first. No opinions on the St. Croix rods I mentioned?? St.Croix makes a great rod but there are a ton of better choices for the cost of a premier. I wouldn't buy a St.Croix under the Avid series, if you are looking at a Premier you may as well get the Abu Garcia Vendetta, that rod fishes well above its price point, I have a 6'6" medium poer, fast action and it is a fantastic all purpose set up that is pretty cheap, in fact it is the cheapest rod I own and it goes on every trip. I know you said 120 was your max price but if you make the trip to Cabelas you need the check out the Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rods, they are 10 dollars more than your max but those rods are a pretty high end rod at a low price, I have a few of them and even if they were 200 I still would have bought them so that is another rod to look at. Quote
upnorthbassin Posted February 2, 2013 Posted February 2, 2013 Yeah, for $60 they seem like a good deal. I don't really like the feel of them that much though....although I haven't fished one...just handled them in the store. They have a real skinny layered texture grip. If you like the way it feels, buy it for sure...a rod with fuji alconite guides doesn't normally cost $60 and they seem like a great deal for the $60 although I don't own one. Quote
VolFan Posted February 2, 2013 Posted February 2, 2013 I have the 6'6" m f two piece and really like it. The grip is smaller than some, but I've never had a problem with the temp extremes. Really good grip, especially when wet, almost tacky. Is it a super premium rod? No. Is it a very good all purpose rod? Absolutely Quote
Super User Darren. Posted February 2, 2013 Super User Posted February 2, 2013 Bummer there's no Cabela's down here in VA. I've perused their site quite a few times, liked the looks of the Mag Touch rods, but... Prefer to be able to touch/feel a rod before I buy. Curious as to what it compares to. Croix Triumph, Premier? BPS Carbonlite? Quote
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