New rod ? MH OR H and what is good

[Ksam1234]

I know it all comes down to preference but in the price range I’m looking for I would say some outclass others. I hate retieing all the time.  I usually go back and forth between my spinnerbaits , small swimbaits , chatterbaits baits. Jigs and heavier T rigs all on the same rod and it uses a lot of line. So I’m looking for something to use dedicated for pitching into light or heavy cover. T rigged and jigs , prince range is 200-300$. I got a 200$ gift card for tackle warehouse for my birthday ! One thing I need to have is a hook keeper , so rods like the Zodias .. I love the feel and look but I would like a hook keeper ! So what do you all suggest for that? I was looking at those new 6th sense sensory rods or the unicorn , those look amazing but I haven’t found any reviews. Or the shimano explode or the new poison adrena but I haven’t seen reviews either. I’m not sure if they come with hook keepers either 

[BassNJake]

My tourney partner uses these and likes them

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fuji_Ez_Keeper/descpage-FUJIEZK.html

 

Not sure about others but I cast right and reel left

That means after I cast/pitch my bait out and want it to fall on slack line, I pull the line out with my left hand.

If the bait keeper is on the left hand side of the rod, the line will often get caught in the keeper.

so I avoid rods with keepers on the left hand side.

 

Most times I'll hook the bait to the holes in the reel handle

As my rods lay on the deck, I can see what bait is on what rod.(not that that helps you in a yak)

 

[Ksam1234]

On 8/21/2019 at 12:57 PM, BassNJake said:

My tourney partner uses these and likes them

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fuji_Ez_Keeper/descpage-FUJIEZK.html

 

Not sure about others but I cast right and reel left

That means after I cast/pitch my bait out and want it to fall on slack line, I pull the line out with my left hand.

If the bait keeper is on the left hand side of the rod, the line will often get caught in the keeper.

so I avoid rods with keepers on the left hand side.

 

Most times I'll hook the bait to the holes in the reel handle

As my rods lay on the deck, I can see what bait is on what rod.(not that that helps you in a yak)

 

Yeah I fish out of yak as of now. For probably another 2 years when my house is paid off. Then I turn that mortgage into a boat loan haha. 

[JediAmoeba]

I usually hook my baits onto the top of the reel

[Junger]

Megabass Orochi Tour Versatile. It should come with a Fuji Keeper, but I also use these:

 

[Choporoz]

Don't get a Kistler Helium 3.  It will spoil you for all other rods.

 

 

 

[Ksam1234]

1 minute ago, Junger said:

Megabass Orochi Tour Versatile. It should come with a Fuji Keeper, but I also use these:

 

Mehabass orochi? I never even thought of those. I love megabass!

[Barry S.]

Any of these ALX Rods would fit what you're looking for...

https://alxrods.com/collections/zolo-series/products/zolo-deputy-71-medium-heavy-fast-casting

https://alxrods.com/collections/zolo-series/products/zolo-toadface-72-medium-heavy-fast-casting

https://alxrods.com/collections/ikos-series/products/promise-7-7-medium-heavy-fast-casting

https://alxrods.com/collections/ikos-series/products/promise-73-73-medium-heavy-fast-casting

 

[LonnieP]

4 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Don't get a Kistler Helium 3.  It will spoil you for all other rods.

 

 

 

X2

[Junger]

4 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

Mehabass orochi? I never even thought of those. I love megabass!

I think Tackle Warehouse is going to have their Labor Day sale soon, so wait for that if you can. I think it's 15% off off the top of my head. I think Megabass is excluded though.

[BassNJake]

I always thought I'd damage the guide eye by hooking to it, if not the first time maybe after several years of use it would. But never tried it.

I've got a couple older rods where braid has worn grooves into the guide, so a hook .... not gonna test it

 

[JediAmoeba]

10 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

I always thought I'd damage the guide eye by hooking to it, if not the first time maybe after several years of use it would. But never tried it.

I've got a couple older rods where braid has worn grooves into the guide, so a hook .... not gonna test it

 

They are showing you what not to do, hence the "x".

 

Admittedly I do hook my treble baits to the eye, but through the feet, not the actual guide.  I hooked my pants, shorts and shirts way too many times carrying them while hooked to the d**n hook keeper or on the reel.

[WRB]

Heavy or MH that is the question only you can decide.

ALX Deputy 7'1" MH fast rated 1/4-1 oz lures.

Dobyns DC 734S/H 7'3" H fast rated 1/4-1 oz lures. 

Kistler Helium 3 7'1", MH XFast rated 1/4-1 oz lures.

All within your price range, all have hook hangers, ALX is a faster action then Dobyns, Kistler is 1/2 oz lighter weight and incorporate a padded reel lock ring/short foregrip.

TW sale gets you 15% off list.

Tom

 

[BassNJake]

2 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

They are showing you what not to do, hence the "x".

 

Admittedly I do hook my treble baits to the eye, but through the feet, not the actual guide.  I hooked my pants, shorts and shirts way too many times carrying them while hooked to the d**n hook keeper or on the reel.

hahahahhaaa ... yeah sometimes I'm that stoopid

I thought it was a plus and showed 2 different ways to do it.

 

I've also used the feet of the guide

[Junger]

Totally slipped my mind, the Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS 7' M/MH rod. I have two of them and they're spectacular for about 90% of presentations. It can throw true 1/8oz lures all the way up to 1oz jigs/trailers with plenty of backbone and a nice soft tip. I didn't like the silver color at first, but I got past it after throwing it. Should be around $238 after the labor day discount and worth every penny for that price.

[Randy Price]

I'm a St. Croix guy so in your price range an AVID would work and they have hook keepers plus a great warranty!

[scaleface]

  I fish in hvy cover a lot and MH is what I opt for  . I'm limited in the number of combos to carry , so they have to cover other techniques when called upon .

[Ksam1234]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Heavy or MH that is the question only you can decide.

ALX Deputy 7'1" MH fast rated 1/4-1 oz lures.

Dobyns DC 734S/H 7'3" H fast rated 1/4-1 oz lures. 

Kistler Helium 3 7'1", MH XFast rated 1/4-1 oz lures.

All within your price range, all have hook hangers, ALX is a faster action then Dobyns, Kistler is 1/2 oz lighter weight and incorporate a padded reel lock ring/short foregrip.

TW sale gets you 15% off list.

Tom

 

I was thinking the Kistler helium now or the megabass orochi , or the 6th sense unicorn.  Al seem very good. Do you think the extra fast tip on the helium is good for flipping/pitching though? Jigs and T rigs? I would think think fast is good so you use more of the backbone to drive hook home

[LonnieP]

25 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

I was thinking the Kistler helium now or the megabass orochi , or the 6th sense unicorn.  Al seem very good. Do you think the extra fast tip on the helium is good for flipping/pitching though? Jigs and T rigs? I would think think fast is good so you use more of the backbone to drive hook home

The Kistler’s tip is more closer to fast than XF. I love mine for pitching jigs.

[tander]

5 hours ago, BassNJake said:

My tourney partner uses these and likes them

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fuji_Ez_Keeper/descpage-FUJIEZK.html

 

 

 

Don't rule out a rod just because it does not have a hook keeper. These by Fuji work really well. I like they flip out of the way when you don't use it.