MG Freestyle Rod Rec’s

[MontclairDave]

Been having lots of success with Magdraft 6” with the built-in harness, and my various MH/mod-fast action rods (rated up to 1 oz) work great for keeping fish pinned. But I want to try throwing the MB Freestyle with a weighted belly swimbait hook like the 8/0 Owner Beast. I’ve read/heard that the Freestyle requires a bit of a faster, maybe heavier-powered rod rated up to 1.5 oz? What are you guys using to throw the Freestyle, and what other uses can you get out of the rod? (I don’t want to get something too specialized…kayak angler so have to keep the rod sitch simple!) 

 

Thanks!

[casts_by_fly]

I don't throw magdrafts, but do throw similar size and weight soft swimbaits.  My Amistad does the duty there.  Falcon expert amistad, 7'3", 3/8-2 oz.  I fish it down to a 3/8 and beaver and up to a small umbrella rig or 7" keitech on 3/8 leaded hook (both end up around 2.25-2.5 oz).  

[MontclairDave]

4 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I don't throw magdrafts, but do throw similar size and weight soft swimbaits.  My Amistad does the duty there.  Falcon expert amistad, 7'3", 3/8-2 oz.  I fish it down to a 3/8 and beaver and up to a small umbrella rig or 7" keitech on 3/8 leaded hook (both end up around 2.25-2.5 oz).  

Ah, it was meant to be! I have a Falcon Head Turner which I love for so many presentations (including the treble-hook Magdraft). Wil keep my eye on any sales Falcon may be running soon. Thanks!

[casts_by_fly]

25 minutes ago, MontclairDave said:

Ah, it was meant to be! I have a Falcon Head Turner which I love for so many presentations (including the treble-hook Magdraft). Wil keep my eye on any sales Falcon may be running soon. Thanks!

 

Good luck with that.  I've never seen a falcon on sale.  You sometimes get retailer sales that the whole store is X% off but never falcon specifically that I've seen.

[Big Hands]

A 6" Magdraft Freestyle with a 1/2 ounce 8/0 Beast Hook weighs 1.67 ounces. I throw it on a Phenix X-13 rated at 1/2 - 3 oz. 

 

[Derek1]

10 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Been having lots of success with Magdraft 6” with the built-in harness, and my various MH/mod-fast action rods (rated up to 1 oz) work great for keeping fish pinned. But I want to try throwing the MB Freestyle with a weighted belly swimbait hook like the 8/0 Owner Beast. I’ve read/heard that the Freestyle requires a bit of a faster, maybe heavier-powered rod rated up to 1.5 oz? What are you guys using to throw the Freestyle, and what other uses can you get out of the rod? (I don’t want to get something too specialized…kayak angler so have to keep the rod sitch simple!) 

 

Thanks!

If you like a little bit of a shorter rod on your kayak. I throw it on the Cara eye crosser. 6’11”Rated to 1.5 but handles it just fine.  Also does everything I’ve tried with really well. 

[casts_by_fly]

5 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Ah, it was meant to be! I have a Falcon Head Turner which I love for so many presentations (including the treble-hook Magdraft). Wil keep my eye on any sales Falcon may be running soon. Thanks!

 

22 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

If you like a little bit of a shorter rod on your kayak. I throw it on the Cara eye crosser. 6’11”Rated to 1.5 but handles it just fine.  Also does everything I’ve tried with really well. 

im glad Derek recommended this one. I have one but haven’t fished it yet so can’t recommend it yet. People call it a short amistad but it feels more like a next step heavier head turner. I can’t wait to fish it in a couple weeks and my plan is big chatterbaits with it early. 

[Derek1]

19 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

im glad Derek recommended this one. I have one but haven’t fished it yet so can’t recommend it yet. People call it a short amistad but it feels more like a next step heavier head turner. I can’t wait to fish it in a couple weeks and my plan is big chatterbaits with it early. 

I think it will do just fine. 

[MontclairDave]

3 hours ago, Derek1 said:

If you like a little bit of a shorter rod on your kayak. I throw it on the Cara eye crosser. 6’11”Rated to 1.5 but handles it just fine.  Also does everything I’ve tried with really well. 

Yeah that one does sound like it would handle better out of the kayak. Supposed to be a good frog rod so hopefully it could do double duty. 

[softwateronly]

Love the freestyle, probably my most successful soft swimbait.  My best hook up/land set up turned out to be my frog rod, expride 7'3XH.  Sometimes I feel like the tail balls up in their mouth and you have to punch through quite a bit of plastic to get past the barb.  The powerful mod/fast action of the expride drives the hook yet keeps them pinned on the way to the boat.

 

scott

[Derek1]

4 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Love the freestyle, probably my most successful soft swimbait.  My best hook up/land set up turned out to be my frog rod, expride 7'3XH.  Sometimes I feel like the tail balls up in their mouth and you have to punch through quite a bit of plastic to get past the barb.  The powerful mod/fast action of the expride drives the hook yet keeps them pinned on the way to the boat.

 

scott

I bet that rod can chuck that bait a mile. 

[softwateronly]

1 hour ago, Derek1 said:

I bet that rod can chuck that bait a mile. 

It does and it seems to help me. With the clear water they seem less shy when the boat has some distance. 
 

scott