Finesse Rod

[thehooligan]

Thanks, I will check it out.  Is this a rod you use often?

 

I had the 682 which is a power lighter and 6'8 length. Was just a hair too light for my finesse fishing. Ive considered going back for the 683. I think you would really like the 713, should work great with 1/8oz. The recons are a little overrated, so there typically a 1 -1 1/2  power lighter then there rated. 

 

I typically throw 1/16oz flickshakes, shakeyheads, and 1/8oz dropshot. Have considered getting a custom built rod over the winter on a k2, scv, or nfc blank. Or finding a production rod...

 

Im hoping to get a k2 blank in my hand someday, ive got to handle nrx's and scv blanks...

[Cgrinder]

The reel seat on the *** rods is not comfortable for me to use.  I have large hands and it tends to pinch my fingers on the trigger.  Even with that said if it casted well it might be something that I would consider, I could always make modification to the trigger to make it work for me.   See if you can cast a 1/8th oz road runner on it, that has kind of been what I have tested with.

 

You know, I have a similar problem with *** reel seats but for whatever reason, the Aussie *** seat doesn't bother me as much. Which reel are you planning to put on the rod? I believe I have some 1/8 Road Runners.

[J Francho]

I'd say the Avid might work for you. The 3S69MLXF lower range is 1/8oz and retails for $100.

 

I was just gonna say that SCIII spinning blank might be the ticket.

[Goose52]

thehooligan mentioned the Phenix Recon C682L (6'8" light-power, 1/16 - 3/8 lure rating) so I'll chime in.  It's a foam, split-grip so maybe out of the running but there's no doubt it will load at 1/8oz.  I use that rod nearly exclusively to fish weightless Kalin 5" grubs on a 1/0 EWG hook.  Weight = .177oz - closer to 3/16 (.1875oz)  than 1/8 (.125oz) but watching how much the rod loads with just a grub it's certain it would still have effective loading at a true 1/8oz.  I have a PX Type R on the rod with 8lb line and just took it out on the driveway and with a conservative brake setting got 55-60 feet casts with it and a weightless grub is not the most aerodynamic bait to toss.  I have a Pixy with ABEC 7 ceramics and 6lb line that on that rod will beat that distance by a bit.

 

Phenix also makes the C712L rod (7'1" - same line and lure rating) that would perform as well or better I expect.

 

I also have several of the other rods mentioned above - the Avid 6'9" ML-XF and the LTB 6'9" ML-XF. They both will also toss the weightless Kalin grub but don't have the range of the Phenix rod.  I don't typically toss anything lighter on BC gear than the 5" grub so can't give any reports on TRUE 1/16 to 1/8oz baits.

 

Weightless grub:

 

 

The Phenix will handle the lighter weight baits, but still has enough power to hookset through the plastic and into a bass...

 

[sofarfrome]

This is what I use and it is an excellent set up.

 

Rod: *** *** Black Casting Rod 6'10" Medium - $225 shipped from TW

 

Reel: Abu Garcia REVO MGX - $235 shipped from ebay, new

 

The rod is top notch for the money and the reel is also amazing.

[aavery2]

You know, I have a similar problem with *** reel seats but for whatever reason, the Aussie *** seat doesn't bother me as much. Which reel are you planning to put on the rod? I believe I have some 1/8 Road Runners.

Custom Fuego 

[aavery2]

I want to thank everyone for all the responses , overwhelming at this point but I sure have some great ideas,  feel like I am torn between a custom on a St.Croix spinning blank and the Phoenix 713.    Love to hear what anyone else wants to say.

 

I can see a custom on the Avid blank with recoils and the Alps MVT reel seat, but it will be expensive, the Phoenix is within my original budget .... It's nice to have choices.

[DelcoSol]

I am also in the same boat looking for a BFS rod. It's new to me so I am not sure if I will like it so I am back and fourth on how much money I want to invest in the rod. I am between the above mentioned Phenix, a Dobyns DX701, and the ML ***. I am concerned about the reel seats though. The *** looks like the one on the Veritas and I hated the way it had the sharp edge on the cap causing blisters. The reel is another story all together. I just picked up an Alphas Type R, I also have a Core and a Chronarch 50e. My other option is to sell one or two of those and just buy a Pixy.. Mainly looking to throw weightless worms, and 1/8 oz jig heads with something like a Keitech on it. 

[Goose52]

The Phenix is as close as I will probably get to a factory BFS rod.  Instead of ordering a true BFS rod from Japan I would probably go with a custom on a spinning rod blank.  I have a 5 1/2' light -power spinning rod and one of these days I'm going to put one of my Pixys on it just to see how it will load and cast (if the reel will fit in the reel seat and I don't get honked up by the first guide being so far off the blank... )

[Cgrinder]

Custom Fuego 

 

 

I'll see what I can do. My Fuego has a 100M spool though so it might not go well. I've got a couple other reels to try too.

[thehooligan]

The Phenix is as close as I will probably get to a factory BFS rod. Instead of ordering a true BFS rod from Japan I would probably go with a custom on a spinning rod blank. I have a 5 1/2' light -power spinning rod and one of these days I'm going to put one of my Pixys on it just to see how it will load and cast (if the reel will fit in the reel seat and I don't get honked up by the first guide being so far off the blank... )

Couldn't agree more. Id love to have a custom built off my 6'3 Fenwick smallie or 6'8 1st gen cumara spinning rod blank. Its just easier and cheaper to go pickup the recon, lol. Ill be thinking this over the winter...

[aavery2]

I'll see what I can do. My Fuego has a 100M spool though so it might not go well. I've got a couple other reels to try too.

I have the Stock spool, the Zillion spool and a 100M, what scares you about the 100M.

[Cgrinder]

I have the Stock spool, the Zillion spool and a 100M, what scares you about the 100M.

 

Oh I was just under the impression that the 100M spool doesn't do terribly well with light lures. I could be wrong, I haven't had a lot of time with my Fuego sadly.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

thehooligan mentioned the Phenix Recon C682L (6'8" light-power, 1/16 - 3/8 lure rating) so I'll chime in.  It's a foam, split-grip so maybe out of the running but there's no doubt it will load at 1/8oz.  I use that rod nearly exclusively to fish weightless Kalin 5" grubs on a 1/0 EWG hook.  Weight = .177oz - closer to 3/16 (.1875oz)  than 1/8 (.125oz) but watching how much the rod loads with just a grub it's certain it would still have effective loading at a true 1/8oz.  I have a PX Type R on the rod with 8lb line and just took it out on the driveway and with a conservative brake setting got 55-60 feet casts with it and a weightless grub is not the most aerodynamic bait to toss.  I have a Pixy with ABEC 7 ceramics and 6lb line that on that rod will beat that distance by a bit.

 

Phenix also makes the C712L rod (7'1" - same line and lure rating) that would perform as well or better I expect.

 

I also have several of the other rods mentioned above - the Avid 6'9" ML-XF and the LTB 6'9" ML-XF. They both will also toss the weightless Kalin grub but don't have the range of the Phenix rod.  I don't typically toss anything lighter on BC gear that the 5" grub so can't give any reports on TRUE 1/16 to 1/8oz baits.

 

Weightless grub:

 

 

 

The Phenix will handle the lighter weight baits, but still has enough power to hookset through the plastic and into a bass...

 

 

 

To mention more about the LTB like Goose has about the lower range

The LTB 6'9" ML/XF casting I feel doesnt work all that well with say a small crank like Bitsy Minnow that weighs .0823 ounces. It doesnt load in the tip well and distance control suffers for me. Yeah the BM is under the LTB load rating but  I do better with a 7' M/F Smoke rod thats only rated down to 1/4. Im not recommending the smoke just comparing my personal findings of the LTB weakness at the lighter end. 

[aavery2]

Oh I was just under the impression that the 100M spool doesn't do terribly well with light lures. I could be wrong, I haven't had a lot of time with my Fuego sadly.

This is my observations the three spools that I mentioned, the stock Fuego spool a TDZ100ha and 100sha, and the TDZ-100M.   The 100M out performs all the other by a small margin during normal casting situations, but I notice that it performs much better when pitching lighter baits.  My belief is that there is a difference between the Mag Z and Mag V outside the shape of the spool.

[benthinkin]

Do you have experience casting weights in the 1/8oz range with a model of this rod?

the rod does everything perfectly. from shakeyheads to dropshots and 5/16 ounce finesse jigs and all weights and sizes the rod performs extremely well.

[benthinkin]

Do you have experience casting weights in the 1/8oz range with a model of this rod?

I havent done much of 1/8 ounce. what I have done is fairly light casting. If you are looking for something that can cast an 1/8 ounce a mile and still have backbone I am having trouble thinking of anything.

[timsford]

*** makes a 6'10" medium light fast action rod in the *** black series. Its a special order rod from 13 or any of their retailers as its made for the aussie market. It would be hard to get it to try it out but from everything ive heard its an excellent rod. A lot of guys are using it with tuned pixys and 50 series shimanos and casting baits as small as 1/16 oz

[Tim Kelly]

I use a 7ft high mod MHX popping blank spiral wrapped with microguides. I think it's rated something like 1/16 to 3/8. Throws pretty much anything light pretty well with my avail spooled morrum. Not a huge amount of backbone, but how much power do you want in a rod used with 6lb line? The rod weighs next to nothing and does a very good job. Pretty sure it didn't cost more than $200 to build and it's a much much more sensitive and pleasurable rod to use than the Volkey BFS that many people buy for this application.

[Jaheff]

Late to the party and nothing to really add, but I agree with Goose52 and thehooligan. I enjoy finesse fishing with my C713.