IROD rods

[jmcarriere]

Does anyone here use any of the IROD gensis II rods if so what do you think if them more specifically freds magic and bubs punch rod

[Big Swimbait]

Great rods that perform way above their price point IMHO. I have the Fred's & 2 of their swimbait rods.

 

[kickerfish1]

Member "Finzz" here does. I know he has a few I-Rods. Maybe he will see this and offer his thoughts.

[Catt]

I test drove a iRod Genesis II IRG744C & wrote a review for a major website.

 

iRod will not disappoint 

[CroakHunter]

1 hour ago, 1201vilbig said:

Great rods that perform way above their price point IMHO. I have the Fred's & 2 of their swimbait rods.

 

Do you only use your magic stick for frogs?

[deep]

I have a Fred's magic stick. 754.

 

Very very versatile rod. I've fished everything from 1/2 oz jerkbaits to topwaters/ cranks/ jigs and t-rigs/ swimjigs/ chatterbaits/ frogs all the way up to small (5", real not hollowbelly) swimbaits/ 1.25 oz punch rigs on it. Paired with the right line/ reel obviously (I have more casting reels than rods).

 

Sensitive enough (for me) to feel bites and catch fish.

 

One little detail that might or might not bother some of you: the handle length, especially when jerking, walking or pitching (I'm used to long rods with long handles, so I'm okay with it).

[fishwizzard]

I have a Fred's Magic Stick that I bought for frogs, but have ended up using it far more often for small swimbaits, like Huddgills or 68 Specials.  It will cast a 1/2oz frog just fine, but I cannot deal with that long butt section for anything other than slowly reeling in a swimbait with the tip up.  I am debating whether to not to get two or three inches lopped off the butt and a weighted cap added to keep the balance, but it might be more trouble and expense then it is worth.  I may just keep it for swimbaits and inshore fishing

 

The rod is very light and incredibly strong.  My biggest "catch" with it was a snapper with a shell about 16-18" across who hit a whopper plopper almost as soon as it splashed down.  It felt like I was pulling in a cinderblock but the rod handled it very well and I was very surprised to see how deep it bent under that much load. 

[CroakHunter]

8 hours ago, deep said:

I have a Fred's magic stick. 754.

 

Very very versatile rod. I've fished everything from 1/2 oz jerkbaits to topwaters/ cranks/ jigs and t-rigs/ swimjigs/ chatterbaits/ frogs all the way up to small (5", real not hollowbelly) swimbaits/ 1.25 oz punch rigs on it. Paired with the right line/ reel obviously (I have more casting reels than rods).

 

Sensitive enough (for me) to feel bites and catch fish.

 

One little detail that might or might not bother some of you: the handle length, especially when jerking, walking or pitching (I'm used to long rods with long handles, so I'm okay with it).

 

19 minutes ago, Bunnielab said:

I have a Fred's Magic Stick that I bought for frogs, but have ended up using it far more often for small swimbaits, like Huddgills or 68 Specials.  It will cast a 1/2oz frog just fine, but I cannot deal with that long butt section for anything other than slowly reeling in a swimbait with the tip up.  I am debating whether to not to get two or three inches lopped off the butt and a weighted cap added to keep the balance, but it might be more trouble and expense then it is worth.  I may just keep it for swimbaits and inshore fishing

 

The rod is very light and incredibly strong.  My biggest "catch" with it was a snapper with a shell about 16-18" across who hit a whopper plopper almost as soon as it splashed down.  It felt like I was pulling in a cinderblock but the rod handled it very well and I was very surprised to see how deep it bent under that much load. 

Thanks guys. It is in the list of new rods I'd like to try for .5-.75 oz jigs

[fishwizzard]

I have spent a little time fishing a 3/4oz jig on mine and it worked quite well in terms of casting.  I cannot speak much to the sensitivity as it was all on very soft bottoms.  I have gotten a pair of bass with it using a Huddgill and neither were hard hits and I was able to feel the slight change of weight when the bass sucked the lure in.  

[WRB]

Irod IRG 754F Freds Maigic Stick was one of the 1st signature rods Matt Newman offered about 7 years ago as I recall and remains one of his most popular rods.

I use this rod for several presentations from deep diving big crankbaits, rats, 1oz-2oz swimbaits and wake baits, very versitile rod. I don't use it for jigs!

Tom

[Finnz922]

15 hours ago, jmcarriere said:

Does anyone here use any of the IROD gensis II rods if so what do you think if them more specifically freds magic and bubs punch rod

I have both. These were the first 2 rods I purchased from Irod before I had any sort of relationship with them. As a few guys have stated so far, Fred's Magic Stick is just that; Magic. It can handle a variety of functions and do them all very well. It is a 4 power/Heavy rod though, so it's limitations is under 1/2oz for sure. For me it is a frog rod first and anything else second. The Dobyn's guys will argue the 735 is a better frog rod or at least equivalent, but I haven't found a better frog rod for the money. Of course "for the money" is subjective. 

 

Bub's punch rod is a beast of a rod and is perfect for punching up to 2oz weights.

 

These rods are plenty sensitive and there is no need to worry there. They are fairly lightweight, though that doesn't matter to me as much. I have Zillion's on both. What I love most is that when you are hooked up these rods have the horse power to get them out of the thickest stuff.

 

If you want workhorses for the heavy-lifting, trench digging, dirty work, then these rods are for you. 

 

 

[jmcarriere]

12 minutes ago, Finnz922 said:

I have both. These were the first 2 rods I purchased from Irod before I had any sort of relationship with them. As a few guys have stated so far, Fred's Magic Stick is just that; Magic. It can handle a variety of functions and do them all very well. It is a 4 power/Heavy rod though, so it's limitations is under 1/2oz for sure. For me it is a frog rod first and anything else second. The Dobyn's guys will argue the 735 is a better frog rod or at least equivalent, but I haven't found a better frog rod for the money. Of course "for the money" is subjective. 

 

Bub's punch rod is a beast of a rod and is perfect for punching up to 2oz weights.

 

These rods are plenty sensitive and there is no need to worry there. They are fairly lightweight, though that doesn't matter to me as much. I have Zillion's on both. What I love most is that when you are hooked up these rods have the horse power to get them out of the thickest stuff.

 

If you want workhorses for the heavy-lifting, trench digging, dirty work, then these rods are for you. 

 

 

I am actually looking at all of the IROD rods the things that worry me about the freds magic stick is that it is a 7'5 length and with only being 5'9 thats on the long side for me for working a frog

[Big Swimbait]

16 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

Do you only use your magic stick for frogs?

No! It is probably the most versatile rod I own. I use it for any bottom contact bait. 

[Finnz922]

5 hours ago, jmcarriere said:

I am actually looking at all of the IROD rods the things that worry me about the freds magic stick is that it is a 7'5 length and with only being 5'9 thats on the long side for me for working a frog

I like the 704 for frogs also, but it's no Magic Stick. The rod length does take a few to get used to. I'm only 5'11".

[jmcarriere]

9 minutes ago, Finnz922 said:

I like the 704 for frogs also, but it's no Magic Stick. The rod length does take a few to get used to. I'm only 5'11".

Ive been talkung to mike over there i currently have a 7'6 rod that i use for frogs amd have a hard time and not sure 1 inch shorter will make much difference

[WRB]

Your height has little to do with working Freds Magic Stick as a frog rod unless you palm the reel and try to work it using only your wrist. Rods with longer handles are designed to use your forearm agianst the handle to transfer leverage. I am only 5' 7 1/2" tall and use 8' HX swimbait rods with ease, Freds 7'5" H fishes more like like a MH+ with 16 1/2" long handle that fits my forearm perfectly, no issue using this rod with frogs and getting solid hook sets after making a long cast.

Tom

[IndianaFinesse]

42 minutes ago, WRB said:

Your height has little to do with working Freds Magic Stick as a frog rod unless you palm the reel and try to work it using only your wrist. Rods with longer handles are designed to use your forearm agianst the handle to transfer leverage. I am only 5' 7 1/2" tall and use 8' HX swimbait rods with ease, Freds 7'5" H fishes more like like a MH+ with 16 1/2" long handle that fits my forearm perfectly, no issue using this rod with frogs and getting solid hook sets after making a long cast.

Tom

How do you hold the rod if you don't palm the reel? I've always palmed casting reels, and haven't figured out another good way.

[WRB]

Most of today's baitcasting rods don't have fore grips or may have a short 1 1/2"-2" foregrip that is usually a cork or foam covered reel locking ring. Irod Gen 2 rods have a short foam padded locking ring that can be used as a modified foregrip. 

In lieu of holding the reel by it's side plate in a full palm grip you move your hand foreward and hold the padded locking ring/foregrip with the ring and pinky fingers, the reel side plate resting agianst the palm, the thumb on top of the level wind plate, the middle finger under the level wind to complete the hold. The line going over the index finger to feel any line movement. A full foregrip rod hold, like a swimbait rod,  with the reel resting agianst the base of your thumb changes your leverage by 3"-4" and seats the rod handle under your forearm.

Picture is worth a 1,000 words...I don't post pictures.

Tom

[buzzed bait]

recently picked up a jr swim in the gen 2 and really like it!  only used it on one short trip and caught zero fish on it, but it's super light and perfect for the 1.5-3oz baits i intend to use it for.  very happy thus far with the purchase.

[new2BC4bass]

On 9/5/2017 at 1:46 AM, deep said:

I have a Fred's magic stick. 754.

 

Very very versatile rod. I've fished everything from 1/2 oz jerkbaits to topwaters/ cranks/ jigs and t-rigs/ swimjigs/ chatterbaits/ frogs all the way up to small (5", real not hollowbelly) swimbaits/ 1.25 oz punch rigs on it. Paired with the right line/ reel obviously (I have more casting reels than rods).

 

Sensitive enough (for me) to feel bites and catch fish.

 

One little detail that might or might not bother some of you: the handle length, especially when jerking, walking or pitching (I'm used to long rods with long handles, so I'm okay with it).

Not obvious.  However, if I assume others to be like me (and you!), then it is a fact for all of us. 

[Bassin_Harrison]

On 9/5/2017 at 2:12 PM, Finnz922 said:

I have both. These were the first 2 rods I purchased from Irod before I had any sort of relationship with them. As a few guys have stated so far, Fred's Magic Stick is just that; Magic. It can handle a variety of functions and do them all very well. It is a 4 power/Heavy rod though, so it's limitations is under 1/2oz for sure. For me it is a frog rod first and anything else second. The Dobyn's guys will argue the 735 is a better frog rod or at least equivalent, but I haven't found a better frog rod for the money. Of course "for the money" is subjective. 

 

Bub's punch rod is a beast of a rod and is perfect for punching up to 2oz weights.

 

These rods are plenty sensitive and there is no need to worry there. They are fairly lightweight, though that doesn't matter to me as much. I have Zillion's on both. What I love most is that when you are hooked up these rods have the horse power to get them out of the thickest stuff.

 

If you want workhorses for the heavy-lifting, trench digging, dirty work, then these rods are for you. 

 

 

Hi! You seem to know what your talking about with these iRods so I have a question. Have you tried the iRod Fiber Rods? Are they any good for the price? I was looking for a shorter frog rod and I've seen 2 people say that the 7' Heavy is great for frogging... what do you think? 

Thanks in advance! 

-Harrison

[Finnz922]

4 hours ago, BigBass'n_Harrison said:

Hi! You seem to know what your talking about with these iRods so I have a question. Have you tried the iRod Fiber Rods? Are they any good for the price? I was looking for a shorter frog rod and I've seen 2 people say that the 7' Heavy is great for frogging... what do you think? 

Thanks in advance! 

-Harrison

Yes, the Fibers are basically the G2 blanks with no name components. I use the G2 704 for a short frogging rod. So IMO the Fiber 704 would do just fine. I have the Fiber in the 754, 744, and 703. All awesome rods. You will be happy with them.

[Bassin_Harrison]

7 hours ago, Finnz922 said:

Yes, the Fibers are basically the G2 blanks with no name components. I use the G2 704 for a short frogging rod. So IMO the Fiber 704 would do just fine. I have the Fiber in the 754, 744, and 703. All awesome rods. You will be happy with them.

GREAT!!!! Now I can finally stop looking at rods ? Had already picked out a reel.