Tatula Rods Power Rating. Over, Under Or Dead On... ???

[webertime]

So I've been looking at the Tatula rods over the past few days. I'm reading all the reviews I can. One thing that is sort of driving me crazy is the complete lack of continuity within the reviews about the Tatula's rating. Some say they fish heavier than labeled (like St Croix or Abu). Others say they are a little light. I figure some of you have fished these and can give me an honest assessment (or a really convincing lie). I want a bait casting set up for weightless plastics and small Texas rigs. I'm looking at the 6'10" M xf or 7'1" MH f.

[Tywithay]

They fish a little more powerful than the ratings, in my opinion.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I had the 7'1 MH and I feel it was basically dead on for a MH. The lure ratings were a bit generous though. It could handle 3/8 - 3/4 oz stuff easily. 1/4 oz things were a bit more difficult and I think a medium would suit that better. Once you got into the 1 oz range you could feel that it was too much for the rod. I never went over 3/4 oz jig + trailer (total = about 7/8 oz) though. For what you are looking to do, I would go for a medium. The x-fast action on the 7'1 mh is not well suited for plastics IMO, especially if you use braid. The 7'1 MH x-fast is a fantastic flipping/pitching rod though. Especially in timber. There is no 7'1 MH fast rod though I wish there was.

 

The model you mentioned, the 6'10 M x-fast, is definitely not suited for plastics. It has the megatop tip which is a tip that is extremely flexible and soft that is meant for dropshotting. That is why the lure rating goes down to 3/32 oz where as the other M power rods have a minimum lure rating of 1/4 oz.

 

In my opinion, none of the tatula rods are a good match for soft plastics. All of the rods have regular (moderate) actions or extra fast actions except for two, but both of those are higher than M power. I hope daiwa comes out with some more rod models for the tatula because it is a very nicely built rod for the price, but the models available are very technique specific.

[Tywithay]

I had the 7'1 MH and I feel it was basically dead on for a MH. The lure ratings were a bit generous though. It could handle 3/8 - 3/4 oz stuff easily. 1/4 oz things were a bit more difficult and I think a medium would suit that better. Once you got into the 1 oz range you could feel that it was too much for the rod. I never went over 3/4 oz jig + trailer (total = about 7/8 oz) though. For what you are looking to do, I would go for a medium. The x-fast action on the 7'1 mh is not well suited for plastics IMO, especially if you use braid. The 7'1 MH x-fast is a fantastic flipping/pitching rod though. Especially in timber. There is no 7'1 MH fast rod though I wish there was.

The model you mentioned, the 6'10 M x-fast, is definitely not suited for plastics. It has the megatop tip which is a tip that is extremely flexible and soft that is meant for dropshotting. That is why the lure rating goes down to 3/32 oz where as the other M power rods have a minimum lure rating of 1/4 oz.

In my opinion, none of the tatula rods are a good match for soft plastics. All of the rods have regular (moderate) actions or extra fast actions except for two, but both of those are higher than M power. I hope daiwa comes out with some more rod models for the tatula because it is a very nicely built rod for the price, but the models available are very technique specific.

I thought the megatop rod was a 6'10" mlxf?

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I thought the megatop rod was a 6'10" mlxf?

The 6'10 M x-fast casting rod has the megatop. I believe you are thinking of the spinning rod model that also has the megatop which is a 6'11 ml x-fast.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

No rod rating can be dead on due to the subjective nature of the terms. APRW1's comments regarding the weights that cast well are more meaningful.