Daiwa Aird rod--count me a fan

[plawren53202]

I think I'm through the honeymoon period on the Daiwa Aird-X ML spinning rod I recently picked up, and I am still firmly of the opinion that this is a whole lot of rod for the price (got mine for $55). The construction seems really well done; the components like reel seat and guides seem quality (the reel seat is a little different than what I am used to, but I am actually really liking it because more of your hand is in direct contact with the rod blank). It surprised me at how light it was for a $55 rod when I first got it. And it's pretty eye catching for a basically all black rod.

 

But now I've had a chance to put it through the paces. First as an aside, not specific to the Aird necessarily, but this was my first ML rod. The ML really hits a sweet spot for me for dink largemouths in a lot of the highly pressured public ponds I fish, and creek smallies. The Aird is extremely sensitive, especially for this price range. This past weekend I used it for straightlining minnows for crappie at Kentucky Lake. They were biting very tentatively and just barely nibbling. I was catching at least twice as many as anyone else on our boat, and I think this was largely due to the sensitivity of the Aird, I was feeling bites no one else could feel (also probably due partly to having Sufix 832 mainline, no one else was using a braid/leader combo). Tonight at my subdivision pond, same story, the little dink bass were just barely nibbling on the wacky worm I was throwing and I could feel every tap.

 

Then on the opposite side of the spectrum, at one point this weekend while crappie fishing, I hooked a gar that was pushing 36 inches or so. The Aird, especially for a ML, surprised me in how well it handled a fish that size. Then went right back to feeling the slightest crappie nibbles.

 

This rod was my first Daiwa purchase, so needless to say I have been impressed. As I have been also with the Daiwa Regal LT reel (1000 size) I paired it with. 

 

My experience with this model really makes me want to give one of their casting rods a try, as well as a heavier action spinning rod. But based on my experience with the ML spinning, if you are looking for a super quality rod in the sub $100 price range, the Aird X is a really strong choice.

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

I think I'm through the honeymoon period on the Daiwa Aird-X ML spinning rod I recently picked up, and I am still firmly of the opinion that this is a whole lot of rod for the price

I'm past the honeymoon stage...have 4 Aird-X rods myself. Medium spinning, medium casting, medium-heavy casting and heavy casting. Of my remaining rods, my Laguna medium-heavy casting might be upgraded to an Aird, but my ML (Fury) and MH/M (Okuma) spinning and my MH/M (Fury) casting will probably remain as is. I'd upgrade the Spinmatic, except the Aird-X UL only comes in a 5'6" and I want longer.

 

Aird-X definitely fishes above its price-point.

[Bluebasser86]

I have a couple and they've been great rods for the money. One is even worked into my starting lineup as my spinnerbait rod.

[Kyle S]

Loving my Aird-x rods. Currently I have three so far. One 7' ML spinning that I use for drop shot and lighter finesse techniques, and (2) 7' medium casting rods. I've got a dedicated 13 fishing "crank bait" rod....but as soon as I threw a square bill on the 7' medium Aird-x, there's no going back for me for at least a little while lol. Looking forward to expanding my lineup of aird-x rods!

[Teal]

@plawren53202 if you like the aird x. Try one of the next rods up.  Daiwa xt can be found for 80 bucks.  My son has one.  I love it.  The daiwa tatula line can be found for 109.  I've seen plenty of debate between the dobyns serria and the daiwa tatula.  I cant respond to that cuz I've never fished a serria, but I can say that I've never found a serria for 110 bucks.  Based on value, the tatula is a great rod.   Glad you are happy with your AIRDX.  I like shopping daiwa, they havent let me down yet

[BrianMDTX]

Have an Aird X MHF casting rod and now  a MF spinning rod on the way. They are great rods for the $$. 

[plawren53202]

4 hours ago, Teal said:

@plawren53202 if you like the aird x. Try one of the next rods up.  Daiwa xt can be found for 80 bucks.  My son has one.  I love it.  The daiwa tatula line can be found for 109.  I've seen plenty of debate between the dobyns serria and the daiwa tatula.  I cant respond to that cuz I've never fished a serria, but I can say that I've never found a serria for 110 bucks.  Based on value, the tatula is a great rod.   Glad you are happy with your AIRDX.  I like shopping daiwa, they havent let me down yet

Oh man don't tempt me, one of the things I was excited about the Aird was that it was a step in the "less expensive" direction from the last 2 rods I bought, Dobyns Furys. ?  But the XT and the Tatula are pretty reasonably priced, so if the Aird is any indication, they must be really great rods at a good price.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, plawren53202 said:

Oh man don't tempt me, one of the things I was excited about the Aird was that it was a step in the "less expensive" direction from the last 2 rods I bought, Dobyns Furys. ?  But the XT and the Tatula are pretty reasonably priced, so if the Aird is any indication, they must be really great rods at a good price.

The OG Tatula rods are great for the money (even at full price AFAIC).  I assume the new model is just as good.

[nascar2428]

Like many others on this site, the glowing reviews and recommendations had me curious about the Aird-X. I needed a rod to go with my new tat-100 purchase. The Aird-X felt like a solid rod, however the XT could be had for less than $80 with a five year warranty it was a no brainer for me.

[ChrisD46]

On 7/7/2020 at 12:30 AM, MN Fisher said:

I'm past the honeymoon stage...have 4 Aird-X rods myself. Medium spinning, medium casting, medium-heavy casting and heavy casting. Of my remaining rods, my Laguna medium-heavy casting might be upgraded to an Aird, but my ML (Fury) and MH/M (Okuma) spinning and my MH/M (Fury) casting will probably remain as is. I'd upgrade the Spinmatic, except the Aird-X UL only comes in a 5'6" and I want longer.

 

Aird-X definitely fishes above its price-point.

*I've been thinking a 7' M/F bait cast rod could see some use (If they make one in the Aird-X) for some finesse soft plastics , jerk baits or cranking 1.0's and 1.5's ... What are you using the medium Aird bait cast rod for ? 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

*I've been thinking a 7' M/F bait cast rod could see some use (If they make one in the Aird-X) for some finesse soft plastics , jerk baits or cranking 1.0's and 1.5's ... What are you using the medium Aird bait cast rod for ? 

Yes, they have a 7' M/F - AIRX701MFB is the model number. I'm using mine for jerkbaits, wacky rig, shallow cranks, and flukes (including donkey rig).

[islandbass]

I KNEW I should not have clicked on this thread. Bait monkey ? woke up and is rattling his cage. Quietly exiting this thread ... to look at these rods ... rods I don’t “need” but the monkey ? wants. 
 

Thanks, OP! ?

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, islandbass said:

I KNEW I should not have clicked on this thread. Bait monkey ? woke up and is rattling his cage. Quietly exiting this thread ... to look at these rods ... rods I don’t “need” but the monkey ? wants. 
 

Thanks, OP! ?

Hey - look at the bright side. At least we're not trying to convince you into a Legend or Xtasy.

[plawren53202]

14 minutes ago, islandbass said:

I KNEW I should not have clicked on this thread. Bait monkey ? woke up and is rattling his cage. Quietly exiting this thread ... to look at these rods ... rods I don’t “need” but the monkey ? wants. 
 

Thanks, OP! ?

The struggle is real...see another thread on here, I've been fighting the monkey to buy a Duckett Jacob Wheeler rod just because I think it looks really cool ?

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Hey - look at the bright side. At least we're not trying to convince you into a Legend or Xtasy.

In all seriousness, that was a big reason I made the original post. I'm at a point in fishing, and life, where my fishing tastes/needs far outpace my budget. As in, I have gotten really dependent on good quality gear, like using really sensitive rods to pick up on bites you might otherwise miss...but I've got one in college, another headed there in a year, a special needs kiddo, blah blah blah, so I really have to put some thought into finding good quality gear that doesn't break the bank (or else I need to find a sponsorship deal LOL). The Aird (and the Regal LT) is definitely one that falls into that category...and I suspect there are lots of other people who similarly need to find good quality stuff on a budget.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, plawren53202 said:

and I suspect there are lots of other people who similarly need to find good quality stuff on a budget.

That's me to a 'T' - retired, fixed income...I need the 'budget' rigs in order to be able to afford to go fishing. I may have 10 rigs, but I've put out less than $900 over three years getting them.

[plawren53202]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

That's me to a 'T' - retired, fixed income...I need the 'budget' rigs in order to be able to afford to go fishing. I may have 10 rigs, but I've put out less than $900 over three years getting them.

Part of me would of course love to buy $300+ rods and reels just for the fun of it, because let's face it, really high end stuff is fun. Because of life circumstances I have accepted that that ain't gonna happen, and I'm perfectly happy (and feel blessed to own) just good solid gear.

 

I hate it because I have been fishing long enough that if I'm fishing with a rod that isn't sensitive or a reel that isn't solid, I can feel it and it affects both my ability to fish like I want, and my enjoyment of the experience. That's why I'm so glad that some of the manufacturers have really stepped up over the past years to offer really solid gear at manageable prices.

 

Guitar is my other hobby and the exact thing has happened in that industry. 20 years ago when I started playing guitar, a $200 guitar (adjusted for inflation) was pure junk. Now you can get some really surprisingly good stuff for cheap if you know what to look for and what manufacturers to buy from.

[islandbass]

50 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Hey - look at the bright side. At least we're not trying to convince you into a Legend or Xtasy.

Now look what ya done did. My monkey is parroting those words. Hey, (to bait monkey) where’d you learn how to say NRX?!