Shimano Cumulus 7'1'' Mhxf **updated**

[skeletor6]

Hello,

I have a NRX 893c which I love and have been using for anything from weightless senkos up to 1/2 oz jigs/t-rigs. This is by far my favorite rod. It primarily has been used in the 3/8oz or less range. I found this rod fantastic for these purposes, but I am looking for another rod to help me out with the heavier baits jigs, t-rigs along with some c-rigging. Sensitivity is my #1 concern in the rod that I will be getting.

Right now, I am planning on getting the Shimano Cumulus 7'1'' MHXF casting rod. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this rod and if they could share their feelings for it?

I've also heard as an alternative the NRX 873c will work well for these purposes. Can anyone offer a good comparison between the two rods and the pros/cons of each? I have heard nothing, but good things about each rod. I can find more information on the NRX 873c than I can on the Cumulus. What are your guys' opinions and which rod is going to be more sensitive?

As of right now I plan on getting the Cumulus unless there is something I will be really missing with the NRX 873c.

Thank you.

EDIT: Decided on the Shimano Cumulus. Just looking for information and experiences with the rod before I go out and try it.

[Hooligan]

Love the cumulus. It has a wonderful feel and is extremely light in hand. It is extremely powerful and fishes more like a heavy than a MH in that sense, but can cover a much wider range of baits than a H. The two are very similar in terms of sensitivity, I'd call it pretty much a dead match. The cumulus is a bit faster than the NRX, but not by much.

[skeletor6]

Love the cumulus. It has a wonderful feel and is extremely light in hand. It is extremely powerful and fishes more like a heavy than a MH in that sense, but can cover a much wider range of baits than a H. The two are very similar in terms of sensitivity, I'd call it pretty much a dead match. The cumulus is a bit faster than the NRX, but not by much.

Thank you Hooligan, that sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I need something to compliment the 893c for bottom contact fishing, but yet also overlap some of the 893c's weight ranges while going heavier. The wider range of baits will work well for the lack of great bottom contact sensitive rods at the moment. What range of weights does the cumulus fish well? Also, have you found the cumulus to work well for c-rigs? In addition, what techniques have you found this rod to excel at?

Also, I have read some reviews noting this rod to be tip heavy. Have you found that to be the case? Nonetheless, what reel would you find suitable to pair it with;

1.) Curado 50e

2.) Curado 200e7

3.) Chronarch 50mg

4.) Chronarch 100mg

Or is there a different reel I should be looking to pair with it?

Thank you for your help.

[Hooligan]

I have one with a Chronarch 51 MG and one with a Curado 200 on it, the Curado definitely balances the rod a bit better. I don't really get that it's tip heavy, don't feel that way at all.

[skeletor6]

I have one with a Chronarch 51 MG and one with a Curado 200 on it, the Curado definitely balances the rod a bit better. I don't really get that it's tip heavy, don't feel that way at all.

Perfect. Thank you for clearing that up! I got the Cumulus on the way right now. I will put my Curado 200e7 on it and go from there. Glad to know someone else has this rod as it seems difficult to find any current information on it.

Seeing that you have two of them must mean they are pretty decent rods. Is there a sweet spot that this rod has in terms of its performance? Would the tip on it be able to throw 1/4 ounce jigs well and also be able to handle 3/4 ounce c-rigs?

Thank you so much. As I cannot find enough solid information on it and this will be my first Shimano Rod.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

I really like the cumulus rod. I use it for pitching 1/4 oz t-rigs usually with some kind of creature. It will do a great job with the 1/4 oz jigs, but I think the 3/4 oz c-rigs might be pushing the limits a little bit. The heaviest thing I have fished is a 1/2 oz football head and trailer. It did a good job with that but I don't think I would go much heavier. I really try to keep my wights in the sweet spot but if your ok pushing the limit I think it could get the job done but may be a little underpowered.

[Hooligan]

I don't think that a 3/4 ounce rig is pushing the limits with the rod. It performs well up to a 3/4 football jig with a big trailer on it- easily the weight that you're going to hit with a rig. For instance, I fish a C-rigged Eeliminator or a smoking Rooster on a 3/4 ounce rig with that rod. It handles it fine. Where's the sweet spot? 1/2 ounce football jig with a rage lobster with one tail section off.

[Gone_Phishin]

Another big fan of this stick here. I have a Core 51 with 8-12lb 100% paired with this model. At one time this was my dedicated Roboworm combo...until I fished the Baby Rage Craw. 90% of the time I have a 1/4oz tungsten bullet weight, force bead, and the craw tied on.

I generally fish this stick until the grass starts to get really thick later in the summer.

I think you will be very happy. I can only recall one person who wasn't a fan on the 7'1" Cumulus, and that was simply because he was expecting it to fish heavier.

[skeletor6]

I don't think that a 3/4 ounce rig is pushing the limits with the rod. It performs well up to a 3/4 football jig with a big trailer on it- easily the weight that you're going to hit with a rig. For instance, I fish a C-rigged Eeliminator or a smoking Rooster on a 3/4 ounce rig with that rod. It handles it fine. Where's the sweet spot? 1/2 ounce football jig with a rage lobster with one tail section off.

Perfect. 1/2 ounce is the cutoff of my NRX 893 rod that I use and 3/4 ounce was as heavy as I was looking to use the rod. There was some speculation from luckyhands about it going heavier, I trust your advice and I am glad it will handle the job just fine.

Another big fan of this stick here. I have a Core 51 with 8-12lb 100% paired with this model. At one time this was my dedicated Roboworm combo...until I fished the Baby Rage Craw. 90% of the time I have a 1/4oz tungsten bullet weight, force bead, and the craw tied on.

I generally fish this stick until the grass starts to get really thick later in the summer.

I think you will be very happy. I can only recall one person who wasn't a fan on the 7'1" Cumulus, and that was simply because he was expecting it to fish heavier.

Thank you for your review on it. I am really glad it works well with 1/4 ounce baits as well as being able to go up to 3/4 ounce. That is exactly how I will be fishing it. For jigs, c-rigs, t-rigs, 1/4-3/4 ounce. 99% of my jigs and tungsten leaders are 1/4oz-3/4oz so that's enough for me. And also the waters I fish are not heavy with vegetation.

Do you think it will handle and be able to swim a 3/4oz Northstar Flip n Swim jigs with a 5'' keitech swimbait well?

[Gone_Phishin]

In my hands, that is too heavy; that is a lot of weight there. I would feel much more comfortable with a heavier-powered rod for that application.

[skeletor6]

In my hands, that is too heavy; that is a lot of weight there. I would feel much more comfortable with a heavier-powered rod for that application.

Do you think any of its power capability differences has to do with the overall lightness of the rod. I played around with it a little bit, it is ridiculously light. I could see how the weight of the rod would lead one to think it's pulling too much weight. Is the rod itself flexing in such a way that indicates it is being overpowered? Or does it just feel more difficult to move the weight with the lighter rod?

I am just thinking, they are making rods lighter and stronger. Some people feel that with the NRX rods, when they go to set hook, they do not have much there to set the hook with or that they may actually break the rod. I wonder if this same circumstance applies with the cumulus rods. I've heard split decisions of this rods upper end capabilities. It is just strange that such highly experienced members feel a substantial difference on its upper end capabilities.And it being able to handle 3/4 ounce baits well is a huge factor in whether I can keep this rod or not.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

[Gone_Phishin]

Do you think any of its power capability differences has to do with the overall lightness of the rod. I played around with it a little bit, it is ridiculously light. I could see how the weight of the rod would lead one to think it's pulling too much weight. Is the rod itself flexing in such a way that indicates it is being overpowered? Or does it just feel more difficult to move the weight with the lighter rod?

I am just thinking, they are making rods lighter and stronger. Some people feel that with the NRX rods, when they go to set hook, they do not have much there to set the hook with or that they may actually break the rod. I wonder if this same circumstance applies with the cumulus rods. I've heard split decisions of this rods upper end capabilities. It is just strange that such highly experienced members feel a substantial difference on its upper end capabilities.And it being able to handle 3/4 ounce baits well is a huge factor in whether I can keep this rod or not.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

You are definitely right, the stick is just scary light. The walls are quite thin, but I don't think that is the determining factor. I don't know a ton about blanks, but some of the top shelf St. Croix blanks are very light, and they are crazy powerful.

My thinking is a 3/4oz jig, plus a 5" swimbait, is a lot of weight. The 7'1" Cumulus is deceivingly powerful, just not that powerful. It does a lot of things very well, I would simply prefer another stick for big, honkin' swim jigs.

Hope that helps.

[skeletor6]

You are definitely right, the stick is just scary light. The walls are quite thin, but I don't think that is the determining factor. I don't know a ton about blanks, but some of the top shelf St. Croix blanks are very light, and they are crazy powerful.

My thinking is a 3/4oz jig, plus a 5" swimbait, is a lot of weight. The 7'1" Cumulus is deceivingly powerful, just not that powerful. It does a lot of things very well, I would simply prefer another stick for big, honkin' swim jigs.

Hope that helps.

That does help. Thank you very much for putting it into perspective! It is a lot of weight to pull.