Need a ML baitcaster

[NHBull]

Folks,

I have zero experience with companies that sell ML casters and I need to try one.

My ortho and neurologist both said to lessen my time with spinning setups..(Long story)

This would be for neco, NED, weightless wacky, and small SB.

The Shimano Expride A, ML has my attention

Thanks,

Al

 

[dodgeguy]

I fish.1/6oz ned rigs on a Lews Tournament Pro with a bass pro Patriot 7 ft medium rod with no issues. Reel can be had for $139 at Sportsmans Outfitters. You aren't getting a better deal than that and it's as smooth as can be. 27 position externally adjustable centrifugal brake is awesome.

[jbsoonerfan]

I have the Zodias in a 6'10" ML that I use for ned rigs, weightless soft plastics and 1/16 oz t-rigs. I haven't had the chance to use it very much but it loads well for casting. It actually has more backbone than I had expected. Maybe @Efishin can chime in, I think he has more experience with this rod.

 

My reel is a Scorpion BFS XG with 20lb Sufix 832.

[Efishin]

4 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I have the Zodias in a 6'10" ML that I use for ned rigs, weightless soft plastics and 1/16 oz t-rigs. I haven't had the chance to use it very much but it loads well for casting. It actually has more backbone than I had expected. Maybe @Efishin can chime in, I think he has more experience with this rod.

 

My reel is a Scorpion BFS XG with 20lb Sufix 832.

The Zodias 6'10 ML is an awesome stick but it all depends on budget on what I would recommend. I use a lot of ML casting rods and definitely have my favorites. Let me know as I don't mind helping at all.

[NHBull]

8 minutes ago, Efishin said:

The Zodias 6'10 ML is an awesome stick but it all depends on budget on what I would recommend. I use a lot of ML casting rods and definitely have my favorites. Let me know as I don't mind helping at all.

Thanks, minimizing pain is priceless ?

[Efishin]

13 minutes ago, NHBull said:

Thanks, minimizing pain is priceless ?

? I have an obsession with high end ML and M casting rods. My favorite MLs I have ever fished are: 7'1 ML Phenix K2 and the 7'3 ML Daiwa BLX. Although the next recommendation is a M, it is something I figured I would bring up which is the GLX 892 casting rod and has a lot of nice tip which is a great rod. All three are my favorite high end rods casting rods that I use instead of spinning. My recommendation depends on how light/heavy you plan to go. Plus, if my rods exceed what you are looking to spend.

[NHBull]

5 minutes ago, Efishin said:

? I have an obsession with high end ML and M casting rods. My favorite MLs I have ever fished are: 7'1 ML Phenix K2 and the 7'3 ML Daiwa BLX. Although the next recommendation is a M, it is something I figured I would bring up which is the GLX 892 casting rod and has a lot of nice tip which is a great rod. All three are my favorite high end rods casting rods that I use instead of spinning. My recommendation depends on how light/heavy you plan to go.

I am pretty  deep with GLX'S, mostly MBR' and a few Conquest....I had a 7'M conquest in my hands a lot last year!.....and lime I said, if I can spend more time with a BCer in my hands when throwing wacky, neco, light swimmer and needs, I am golden  

[Efishin]

1 minute ago, NHBull said:

I am pretty  deep with GLX'S, mostly MBR' and a few Conquest....I had a 7'M conquest in my hands a lot last year!.....and lime I said, if I can spend more time with a BCer in my hands when throwing wacky, neco, light swimmer and needs, I am golden  

I have tendonitis in both wrists and they have helped so much!

[NHBull]

1 minute ago, Efishin said:

I have tendonitis in both wrists and they have helped so much!

How does the GLX compare to the Phenix and Daiwa

[webertime]

Fed Ex just dropped off a 69mlxf St Croix Avid casting rod today.  It feels a lot like the spinning equivalent so far.  Backyard testing...  bombs an 1/8 oz ds weight.

4 minutes ago, NHBull said:

How does the GLX compare to the Phenix and Daiwa

The GLX 842 is super nice.  Phenix has a more moderate taper for sure. 

[Efishin]

7 minutes ago, NHBull said:

How does the GLX compare to the Phenix and Daiwa

The Phenix is the softest of the bunch and can handle the lightest weight. The GLX has the good power but the extra length helps casting light lures a bunch. All depends on how light you plan to throw. 

[HKBasser]

Jackall Poison Adrena 6'6 ML

[new2BC4bass]

Would a custom rod be a good option?

[HKBasser]

I personally fish the neko rig a load, but I fish it on a L baitcaster.

[Efishin]

What weight neco, wacky rig?

[NHBull]

27 minutes ago, Efishin said:

What weight neco, wacky rig?

Weightless wacky 

Neco is usually 1/8 -3/18ish

[WRB]

What you are looking for is a finesse bait casting rod to use with Ned rigs and light T-rigged worms etc. 

What is medium light verses medium verses 2 power without any standard to judge by?

All you can do ask others their opinion or pick up and try out a rod. Rod makers add lure and line weight that we all know doesn't tell us very much. Action is also listed, want does fast verse Xfast mean in a finesse casting rod without testing it?

Don Iovino is in the Fishing Hall of fame for his fineese bass fishing skills, Don should be a good resource! Don's finesse Majot Craft casting rod will perform everything you want and is under $130. You can call Don and discuss your application.

I use Don's Major Craft Splash-it rod for 1/8 oz dart jigs with 4" finesse curl tail worms and 1/16 oz Ned jig with 3" Ned worm, the Ned jig w/worm is heavier then the dart.

Don's finesse casting rod is slightly lighter power with somewhat slower action then the Splash-It rod, both are listed as medium power, fast and Xfast action.  I prefer the Splash-it rod for finesse bait casting with original TD Feugo reel, 5 lb Max UG mono line or 7 lb Sniper FC line.

Tom

PS, Splash-It rod weighs 3.7 oz.

[Yumeya]

Kistler Medium lights are a lot lighter then most other medium lights, it would work excellent for Ned rigs.

I also have a GLX 842 that is amazing but the Kistler is lighter in action.

[FryDog62]

After 3 surgeries to my right hand/wrist and a bone and SL ligament removed - I too had to make the switch to 100% baitcasting 2 years ago.  
 

I just can’t “work” a lure well using a left handed spinning reel and was frustrated so made the switch to b/c.  Funny, when you absolutely have to change it makes it a bit easier to commit to the transition.  
 

Add to that someone who finesse fishes the majority of time, and also skips weightless plastics, the journey hasn’t been without a lot of experimentation to find the right rod/reel combo.
 

Here are the rods/reels I have ended up with and am very positive about each combo:

 

•MajorCraft Don Iovino 6-10 XF. Listed as a Medium, but it is a true ML finesse rod.  I use primarily for Ned-Rigging, great sensitivity for those light bites.  

 

•Phenix Feather 7-1 ML Fast.  I use for drop-shotting, but you could use for a lot of applications.  It is a Fast action vs. XF so when finicky smallmouth pull on the worm they don’t “feel” the stiffer XF rod tip as much (but I feel them!).

 

•Phenix Feather 7-1 MH XF.  Yes MH, but those that know Phenix (like MajorCraft) they are about a half power lighter than stated.  I use this rod for Neko rigging with 10 lb fluoro.  It is easily finesse/light enough, but has a little more backbone than the other finesse baitcasters I use - because many times I Neko near weed edges, lay downs or docks and need to get the fish away from cover quickly.  It works, I throw tubes For smallmouth with it occasionally too.
 

•Loomis NRX 7-1 M XF.  Only rated to 3/8 oz so is another rod that fishes somewhere between a Medium and Medium Light.  I use this as my wacky rig set up.  Also has Steez SV reel which allows me to skip weightless wacky worms as far and accurately as any spinning combo I’ve used.

 

Not sure your budget, but these rods range between $120-500... maybe something in there you’d like.  Good luck in your search!  -Fry

[Stephen B]

13 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

After 3 surgeries to my right hand/wrist and a bone and SL ligament removed - I too had to make the switch to 100% baitcasting 2 years ago.  
 

I just can’t “work” a lure well using a left handed spinning reel and was frustrated so made the switch to b/c.  Funny, when you absolutely have to change it makes it a bit easier to commit to the transition.  
 

Add to that someone who finesse fishes the majority of time, and also skips weightless plastics, the journey hasn’t been without a lot of experimentation to find the right rod/reel combo.
 

Here are the rods/reels I have ended up with and am very positive about each combo:

 

•MajorCraft Don Iovino 6-10 XF. Listed as a Medium, but it is a true ML finesse rod.  I use primarily for Ned-Rigging, great sensitivity for those light bites.  

 

•Phenix Feather 7-1 ML Fast.  I use for drop-shotting, but you could use for a lot of applications.  It is a Fast action vs. XF so when finicky smallmouth pull on the worm they don’t “feel” the stiffer XF rod tip as much (but I feel them!).

 

•Phenix Feather 7-1 MH XF.  Yes MH, but those that know Phenix (like MajorCraft) they are about a half power lighter than stated.  I use this rod for Neko rigging with 10 lb fluoro.  It is easily finesse/light enough, but has a little more backbone than the other finesse baitcasters I use - because many times I Neko near weed edges, lay downs or docks and need to get the fish away from cover quickly.  It works, I throw tubes For smallmouth with it occasionally too.
 

•Loomis NRX 7-1 M XF.  Only rated to 3/8 oz so is another rod that fishes somewhere between a Medium and Medium Light.  I use this as my wacky rig set up.  Also has Steez SV reel which allows me to skip weightless wacky worms as far and accurately as any spinning combo I’ve used.

 

Not sure your budget, but these rods range between $120-500... maybe something in there you’d like.  Good luck in your search!  -Fry

The 7'1 ML Feather is awesome! The K2 7'1 ML is amazing too!!!

[bwjay]

I've read that St. Croix's 6'10" MLXF rods like those in the Mojo and Avid X family are special in some way, better than the other blanks, likely due to a fine-tuned action that makes casting easy and keeps fish pinned while still having backbone. At least that's my guess, any time someone says a rod is special or magical.

[fishwizzard]

For me, Ned and small paddle tails is a different rod then Neko and wacky rigging senkos.  

 

For Neds and 4" Easy Shiners I use a Megabass P3 Cliffhanger and love it.  There is a current version  that should fish about the same.  It's favors the lighter end of it's rating and has a sweet spot of around 1/4oz.  It's a great caster and responds well to a slow easy sidearm.  

 

For Nekos, dropshotting, and lighter wacky rigging I use a Megabass XXX Black Themis.  It favors the higher end of it's rating and has a sweet spot right around 3/8oz.  It's got a very standard XF action and gives good hooksets on both tiny DS hooks and smaller "standard" wire jigs.  It's not the best caster, but for me no XF rod has ever cast very well.

 

You also might want to check out the MB Hein, it's listed as a crankbait rod but there is a lot of info about it on TT where most guys seem to use it as a general finesse rod. 

[new2BC4bass]

18 hours ago, WRB said:

What is medium light verses medium verses 2 power without any standard to judge by?

All you can do ask others their opinion or pick up and try out a rod. Rod makers add lure and line weight that we all know doesn't tell us very much. Action is also listed, want does fast verse Xfast mean in a finesse casting rod without testing it?

I picked up a Villain 2.0 6'10" ML-EF casting rod I found at a great price.  TackleTour (and a few posters) have given the new series high marks for sensitivity.  I was hoping it would fish true to its rating of 1/8-1/2 oz.  I've not fished many Abu rods, but they all fished a bit heavy.  This rod is no exception.

 

Originally tried it with a Curado 51E spooled with 8# Big Game.  Lure was a jig and 4 inch finesse worm.  Weight 8.65 grams (.3051 oz.).  119/390 oz. for that gentleman who prefers his fractions to be close.  Slightly less than 5/16 oz. for most of us.    Wasn't impressed.

 

Tried it with a Steez SV103H and 8# AN40.  Cast further, but not great.  #5 Shad Rap (3/16 oz.) only casts fair.  I have other rods that do better with this lure.  So...for me...I wouldn't fish lower than 5/16 oz. with this rod.  No way would I try the 1/8 oz. low end of its rating.  I could try a Pixy.  See if it does better than the other 2 reels.  Not holding my breath, tho.

 

So, yeah.  Ratings are only a guide.  And not even a good guide sometimes.