St. Croix Mojo Bass vs. Daiwa Tatula Casting Rod with Daiwa TW103

[TheJudgeBM]

I ordered a new reel, and now I am trying to decide between these two rods. The rods I am looking at are:

• St. Croix Mojo Bass 6’8”, Medium Heavy, Fast - $145.00, Rated 3/8-1oz

• Daiwa Tatula Casting Rod 6'10", Medium Heavy, Fast - $150.00, Rated 1/4oz-1oz

 

The reel that will go with on of these rods is a Daiwa Tatula SV TW103HSL. I will be using 30lb braid running to a fluoro leader most of the time. My reasoning for the rod being under 7ft is that I fish from a kayak and in rivers/lakes at a ratio of about 3:1, although that may change a bit because I have been enjoying lake fishing recently the better I get at it.

 

I do plan on using this setup for a lot of things, but I do currently have a medium spinning setup for lighter plastics, inline spinners, dropshots, etc. I also have a Fuego CT with an Ugly Stik Elite casting rod (MH 7'). That Ugly Stik honestly tires me out after a day on the water; it feels really heavy.

 

The lures I like to fish and plan to use on this new setup include:

• 1/4-3/8 jigs (bitsy jigs, etc) w/trailer trailer, rarely 1/2 jigs
• 1/4-3/8 swim jigs w/trailer
• 1/4-1/2 total weight for plastic swimbaits
• Super Spook Jr's
• 1/4-3/8 spinnerbaits, rarely 1/2
• 1/4-1/2 Chatterbait with trailer
• 1/4-1/2 lipless crankbaits
• 1/2 or lower T-rigged craws and other plastics
• Possibly a buzzbait (never tried one)
• Frogging in light vegetation (sparse lily pads) over weeds that stop right under the surface

 

Lures that would be nice to throw on this setup, but would be fine if I only could on my other setups:

• Tubes
• Squarebill crankbaits
• 2/5 Bullet Popper
• 1/4-1/2 Jerkbaits
• 1/4 mepps spinners (probably a hard ask)

 

I've only been able to hold a 7'1 MH/F Mojo Bass in person and it felt really light, but hard to get a true judgement of feel without a reel on it. I'm also not sure what to think of the split handle. They look cool but I've fished full cork my whole life and have to come to enjoy the feel of them.

There is nowhere near where I live to hold a Tatula Rod, but I've heard great things about it (and read most posts here about it). Both of these have a 5-year warranty. My main concern with the Tatula is how stiff it is. I've heard it is a little more stiff than a fast; could I still get away with throwing 1/4oz lures at the lowest? My concern with the Mojo is similar since it has a minimum rating of 3/8oz, but also, would it have enough backbone for smaller jigs and swim jigs? The reel should help with some of these applications I would think.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

[newapti5]

I never owned a Mojo rod, but the Tatula rod is what I would choose - I'm also a full-grip guy.  But besides jigs and t-rigs, you also mentioned some treble hook applications. I would go with the "regular" action models. It still has a lot of backbone for single hook applications.  Actually, TTU701MRB would be the model I recommend for an all purpose rod. I use mine mostly for 3/8oz chatterbaits, but it could do so much more. 

[TheJudgeBM]

30 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

I never owned a Mojo rod, but the Tatula rod is what I would choose - I'm also a full-grip guy.  But besides jigs and t-rigs, you also mentioned some treble hook applications. I would go with the "regular" action models. It still has a lot of backbone for single hook applications.  Actually, TTU701MRB would be the model I recommend for an all purpose rod. I use mine mostly for 3/8oz chatterbaits, but it could do so much more. 

I see to get regular action I would need to go to the heavy or medium power. I’d rather go medium power for the regular action. Do you think it would still be able to handle 1/2oz lures like 3/8oz swim jigs with a trailer?

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, TheJudgeBM said:

• Tubes
• Squarebill crankbaits
• 2/5 Bullet Popper
• 1/4-1/2 Jerkbaits
• 1/4 mepps spinners (probably a hard ask)

Tatula 7' Medium Reaction.

[newapti5]

1 hour ago, TheJudgeBM said:

I see to get regular action I would need to go to the heavy or medium power. I’d rather go medium power for the regular action. Do you think it would still be able to handle 1/2oz lures like 3/8oz swim jigs with a trailer?

 

If you're talking about the total weight, a 3/8oz jig with a matching size trailer would be 1/2~3/4oz. It's still within that model's lure weight rating. I use that for 3/8oz chatterbaits, which usually weight 3/4oz with a trailer, and that medium power regular action model handles them pretty well.  

 

The heavy power models are way too stiff for treble hook applications. 

[T-Billy]

Tatula for the win. Very nice rods. Mojo didn't impress me at all for it's price.

[TheJudgeBM]

6 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Tatula for the win. Very nice rods. Mojo didn't impress me at all for it's price.

 

12 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

If you're talking about the total weight, a 3/8oz jig with a matching size trailer would be 1/2~3/4oz. It's still within that model's lure weight rating. I use that for 3/8oz chatterbaits, which usually weight 3/4oz with a trailer, and that medium power regular action model handles them pretty well.  

 

The heavy power models are way too stiff for treble hook applications. 

Looks like I’ll probably go with the 7ft medium/regular over the 6’10” mh/f fast then. Just wanted to make sure the medium could work for jigs as well and it sounds like it.

[Cbump]

One of my favorite combos is my Mojo Bass 7’ MHMF (spinnerbait model) with that reel. I use straight braid and it’s my Chatterbait setup. Freaking nice. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 6/20/2022 at 11:20 PM, TheJudgeBM said:

I see to get regular action I would need to go to the heavy or medium power. I’d rather go medium power for the regular action. Do you think it would still be able to handle 1/2oz lures like 3/8oz swim jigs with a trailer?

There is a 7' MLR.  https://daiwa.us/products/tatula-bass-rods

 

Too light for what you want, but I love mine.  Am a fan of the Tatula line.

[VirginiaKayakBasser]

I just got a new Tatula 6-10 MH that I use mostly for lighter Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and swimbaits.  Fished with it twice now and it has become my favorite.  Light weight, sensitive, well balanced, easy to cast, and really drives in a Texas rigged hook. I will probably get more.  Most of my other rods are Dobyns Sierras, Furys and 20 year old All Star Graphites. This is a great rod!