Help Me Spend Some Money! (NEW ROD)

[GEAUXFISHN]

I have a new Shimano Aldebaran 50HG that I purchased yesterday and intend to use it for casting  1/4 to 1/2 oz. Texas Rigs and for casting/pitching/flipping  1/4 to 1/2  Football Jigs, Swim Jigs, and Finesse Jigs. This will be it's primary use but I also want to be able to throw Stanley Ribbits and other 1/4 to 1/2 oz. top water baits. It may see a spinnerbait or chatterbait occasionally also. I am considering a Megabass Destroyer Series FMJ 7.1' casting rod due to the excellent reviews it has received for casting Texas Rigs and swimming/pitching/flipping Jigs. My only concerns are will it be suitable for  1/4 ounce Texas Rigs and jigs since it is rated for 3/8oz. to 1 1/4 oz. lures and how well it will work for throwing Stanley Ribbits and 1/4 to 1/2 oz. topwater poppers and spooks etc..  I plan on using this rod primarily for bank fishing on local small lakes and large ponds and I am hoping you guys can give me some feedback or advice on how this rod will work out for my intended uses when paired with the Shimano Aldebaran 50HG or if I should  select a different rod altogether.

[kingmotorboat]

First of all welcome to the forums baw. I don't know much about megabass. Primarily Dobyns, daiwa and Powell. Third of all, where are you located?

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

For over 3 bills + , have a look also at St. Croix

Legend Elites!

[GEAUXFISHN]

Thanks for the warm welcome kingmotorboat. I live in Southwest Mississippi, right on the MS/Louisiana line. I will take a look at the Legend Elites also Darren. Thanks.

[kingmotorboat]

Nice I'm in swla. Dobyns DX also is another good one in that range. I'm sure I can find some more to throw at you lol. Living vicariously through you

[bigfruits]

the FMJ is my favorite jig rod in a mix of other MB, NRX, GLX and St. Croix LE rods.

 

i dont think you would be happy casting 1/4oz total weight on the FMJ. The Daemos might be a better option, another of my favorite rods in the quiver.

 

the 1/4oz total weight might still not load the Daemos as much as youd like but totally doable. 1/2oz jigs (plus plastic) would be the heaviest i'd throw on it. not because the rod would break but because of comfort, accuracy and control. I think the Daemos would be a better pick for the moving baits on your list unless you are throwing into a mess and need the power of the FMJ.

 

The Aldebaran 50 is a sweet little reel. Probably not the best choice to chuck a 1oz bait a mile but should hold up to moderate pitching.

 

 

[kickerfish1]

The FMJ may not be ideal for topwater or for spinnerbaits. It will be ideal for everything else you mentioned and give you plenty of power to move fish towards you. Keep in mind when you take a 1/4 oz weight and put a piece of plastic like a beaver or brush hog, you will be close to a 1/2 oz. The only place you may struggle with a 1/4 oz weight would be fishing ribbon tail worms. I would just bump my weight up to 5/16 or 3/8 and call it a day.

 

The most versatile rod I can think of for everything you mentioned would be the Loomis GLX MBR 844. It can be had for around $350ish.

[bigfruits]

GLX 844 would be a great option. Ive only fished the old version but i am certain that its more versatile than the FMJ. Loomis has a great replacement plan (for a fee) should you break the rod so you can treat them like $100 rods on the bank. St. Croix has a similar plan.

 

you really need want 2 rods to fish walking 1/4oz topwater and 1/2oz jigs.

[Angry John]

With the broad group of lures you mention you may want something like the Power versatile or white python.  They are the most broad based rods for single rod purposes i have found.  Gary at TTT said the pv is good for frogs and i dont know that i would use the WP for them but definitely the spinner baits would be ace.  The medium fast taper has a broader application and for heavy jigs it helps keep them pinned.  So may cool mb rods. 

[GEAUXFISHN]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I've never purchased a Megabass rod before and really didn't have a clue about them as far as their versatility. I just ordered the FMJ for fishing  Texas Rigs/Jigs and also ordered a GLX 844 to fill in for the FMJ should it not work out for all my intended uses. I probably could have just bought the 844 but I haven't bought any tackle since before 2005 and I really want to try out the Megabass FMJ. I ran a guide service in Louisiana for over 10 years and targeted  Specks,Flounder,and Redfish during that time. I would occasionally catch a few Bass when I had clients who wanted to only target Redfish in the marshes,canals,and duck ponds but I didn't exclusively fish for them. I used all Shimano bait casters and spinning reels on Falcon Rods during the first five years of having my guide service due to special pricing I received as a guide. After that I received sponsorship from American Rodsmith when I began fishing the FLW Redfish Tour and used their rods exclusively on tour and while guiding along with Shimano reels until Hurricane Katrina took both of my boats, my tackle, my business, and my familys home on Lake Pontchartrain away in 2005. My Wife and I decided to move back to Mississippi after that and I haven't even had the desire to fish again until recently so I'm now starting over purchasing all new tackle. I was so devastated by the loss of my Charter Service that I actually let Katrina kill my desire to fish for over 10 years. I guess I really still had the desire but I was to disgusted at the thought of having to start buying all the things I lost from scratch again. I'm now ready to do that and as painful and expensive as its going to be, I'm actually excited to get back on the water and wet a hook again. On the bright side of things, I get to buy a sparkly new Bass boat for personal use this time instead of buying center console bay boats for customers to fish out of. While I'm typing if anyone can recommend a great spinning rod for shakey heads , drop shots, and other finesse techniques I'd really appreciate the info. I ordered a pair of Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500 spinning reels and just need the rods now. Thanks again and I look forward to spending time here with ya'll in the future.

[Angry John]

Hard to pass on the deal currently in the for sale area of the mlxf st croix and C4i.  

[Angry John]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/201485-wts-st-croix-legend-elite-stradic-ci4-fa/?tab=comments#comment-2263555

[anderb54]

You're going to love that FMJ. It's an awesome jig/texas rig rod, and it's a more than capable spinnerbait and chatterbait rod. 

[fishwizzard]

I have also been looking at either the FMJ or a nrx 873ccr as a dedicated jig rod.  It's neck and neck so far, but I have had no luck finding either to get my mits on before I buy. 

[GEAUXFISHN]

Fishwizard, I'll let ya know what I can about how they feel and function when they arrive. I had to order them online because I couldn't find either to look at hands on anywhere locally or even within a two hour drive.

[Fishinthefish]

Have a rainshadow Eternity blank built by mike at DVT.

 

ETEC72M-SS

[bigfruits]

On 2/22/2018 at 3:58 PM, fishwizzard said:

I have also been looking at either the FMJ or a nrx 873ccr as a dedicated jig rod.  It's neck and neck so far, but I have had no luck finding either to get my mits on before I buy. 

had both, traded my 873 and never looked back.

[XzyluM]

Might want to check out Van's Sporting Goods. They have a pretty huge selection of hunting and fishing stuff. It's real close to the Bass Pro in Pearl. Being on the MS/LA line would probably put you about an hour from me, so that would be about a two hour drive.